Arsenal: Right Wing Question Mark Offers Tactical Versatility

The transfer rumors consistently linking arsenal to a host of right wing players would have you believe that the doubt surrounding this position is a major weakness for the team. I believe the opposite- It is a huge strength.

The rumor mill has been at it again, kicking up dust where there really shouldn’t be. The links to Mkhitaryan, Mahrez and the like have been welcomed, but they should be a cause for concern. The cause for this is simple, if signed, they would expect to be starting week-in week-out. This would kill our tactical versatility.

Over the last season and a half, Arsène Wenger has experimented with a variety of options on the right hand side. From Aaron Ramsey to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Theo Walcott to Joel Cambell, many have tried but none have really made the role their own. This is not a bad thing. Each of these players offers something quite different, and I feel that this variability is a hugely underrated pro of our current squad.

In the first half of last season, Aaron Ramsey was forced into a wide role that he did not want, and he struggled to find much individual success there. However, he did do a job for the greater good of the team. Drifting inside, he opened up space for the surging runs of Hector Bellerin on the overlap, and served to augment a somewhat undersized Coq-zorla partnership in central midfield. This opened up space for the pacy trifecta of Walcott, Sanchez and Özil.

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil formed an effective partnership with Theo Walcott in the early months of last season (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

At the same time, Wenger looked to experiment with Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain in the role. Off-form, and struggling to develop an understanding with the likes of Bellerin and Özil, he seemed to have lost the backing of much of the fan-base. However, though his end-product is often lacking, it is clear that he brings fairly unique attributes to the side: the ability too take on a defender, get to the byline, drop a shoulder and cross. In defense of his performances last year, he did not have many opportunities in the same first XI as ideal-cross-target Giroud. He does frustrate, but I believe that there is no winger quite in the same mold in the current squad.

Upon injury to the Ox, the hitherto unknown Joel Campbell came into the side, and did what I deem to have been a superb job. Being left footed, he offered a mirror of what Sanchez does on the other side: cutting inside onto the stronger foot, while looking to release a through ball or clipped-in-cross, while linking up with full-back and striker. Add to this a goal-threat and a work-rate to die for, and you have what I deem to be a hugely under appreciated player.

Aaron Ramsey struggled to find much personal joy on the right side of Arsenal’s attack. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

Later, in order to salvage something from a now wrecked season, Wenger threw the dice and introduced rookie Alex Iwobi into the starting XI, who proved an immediate success, with the goals and assists flowing. Iwobi is, in my opinion, an entirely different player to the likes of Campbell and the Ox; he is built more in the mold of Ozil than of Sanchez. He does not prefer to take on defenders, instead collecting the ball, and looking for a quick release. He then uses his intelligence to find good positions and open space, freeing up the game immeasurably.

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At the same time Alexis Sanchez was also played on the right side. A class above the inconsistent brigade, he offers pretty much all the attributes I have discussed. Not much to say about him here, really. He’s a guaranteed starter, and this article is more about who might line up opposite him.

The final game of last season featured Jack Wilshere taking up that role, and again offering a fairly unique output. Wilshere (when fit) cuts inside onto his favored left-foot, and likes to exchange snappy one-twos with Özil and Giroud. His style of penetrating dribbles are now a unique commodity in the squad, given Rosicky’s departure. Theoretically, his inwards movement should open up space for Bellerin on the overlap, although the two haven’t yet had much time to develop an understanding. A combination of all these factors would make Wilshere my pick to start in the role next season (should he be available).More on that later. However, he has indicated that he is happier in a central role than out on the flanks, so we will have to see how that develops.

“The point of all this is: arsenal have not only a long list of right-wingers, but also a list of very different wingers. Each can be selected as per the opponent, or the tactic for the day.”

In years gone by, Theo Walcott was the default option on that flank, in a time when we were not blessed with such a plethora of pacy wingers. His function was reasonably simple, he would use his blistering pace to stretch opposing defenses, and offered a goal threat in-behind by piercing the channel between the left-back and his center-half. After last season’s failed experiment with him as center forward, expect him to move back to the right-wing next term. With him having upped his work-rate considerably, I am one of few who actually thinks he could make a useful contribution to our season.

While Walcott was out injured for a year having ruptured his ACL, Wenger purchased Danny Welbeck as a cover in multiple roles. Though he is another who wants to play in a central role, and while has proved himself to some extent, his diligent work-rate and tidy ball-control and searing pace make him an attractive option on the flank as well.

Beyond this very long list of options, arsenal also have a stream of promising youngsters coming through the ranks as well, including Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Chris Willock, Ainsley Mainland-Niles, Wellington Silva and Serge Gnabry. Each has a bright future ahead of them, and I would be interested to know what stylistic-type they develop into.

Playing long-ball? There is a tailor made option. High press? The same. Possession? Another whole list of players.

See where I’ m going with this?

Arsenal have afforded themselves a luxury of choice in the right-wing position. Whoever starts there will probably determine the choice of game plan, and have a huge tactical impact, dictating the roles of Bellerin, Özil and whoever the striker is.

Now, suppose Arsène Wenger fulfills the wishes of so many, and buys an established, world-class, proven right winger. We would be shooting ourselves in the foot by removing this huge strength of unpredictability. Is any high-profile signing going to be willing to be shunted around the pitch, or even benched, to suit this end? No more than Özil or Alexis would.

Suppose we attract Henrikh Mkhitaryan. We would then be forced to play slow, intricate, possession-based football. With Riyad Mahrez, a narrow, contorted game centered solely upon dribbling. Neither is straight-up bad, but why would we want just one style when we can have six or seven?

Next: Arsenal's Top 3 Summer Needs

What do you think, Gooners? Do you think that having a variable in the XI is a good idea, or would you prefer to eliminate the uncertainty?

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