Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Competition breeds success

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has stated that he and Hector Bellerin are in direct competition to start on Sunday. Such competition can bring success to Arsenal.

The FA Cup final is here and with it, Arsenal have the chance to win a trophy and end the season on a high. They must overcome the Premier League champions, Chelsea, if they are to do so, a task that will be demanding for the 11 men that Arsene Wenger pits against the Blues.

The process of choosing those 11 men, however, is one that will cause Wenger to make some rather difficult and testing decisions. There are many players in the Arsenal squad that are deserving of starting, and, even with the defensive crisis thanks to injuries and suspensions that is plaguing his mind currently, there are still a number of different options to choose between.

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One position that will require some deep thought is right wing-back. Both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Hector Bellerin have impressed in spurts in the role and with the former returning from injury this week, Wenger could be forced to try and squeeze both into the side. Chamberlain, though, recognises the competition that he faces as he tries to engineer a starting role for himself:

"“Hector’s more naturally suited to the right-back role, but since the wing-back situation has come into play, that’s played into my hands and my favour. Both of us are capable of playing the position and since Hector’s been playing again, he’s been playing really well. That obviously makes competition for places tough but that’s what it’s like when you’re at a top club. As long as both of us play as well as we can when we’re getting the opportunities, that’s the best thing for the team.”"

And Chamberlain and Bellerin’s competition to start is far from the only one. Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal are having the same fight on the other flank. David Opsina and Petr Cech between the sticks. Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck at centre-forward. All will be desperate to be given the nod but only 11 can.

That is the secondary, and perhaps more significant, benefit of having a deep and varied squad. While most see a squad as cover for injuries and suspensions, as a tool to offer rest and rotation, throughout a long and arduous season, it also brings inner competition, meaning that players’ motivation is added to by the threat of being replaced.

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It is this competition that will help spur on the players that are lucky enough to feature on Saturday. They will be aware of those that they have kept out of the line-up and will be keen to impress. Could it now lead to success? Only time will tell.

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