Arsenal: Gedion Zelalem Could Start Against Liverpool

Arsenal has a problem. Well, several problems. Their opening day starting XI is not fit. Not only are striker and center back understaffed, but No. 10 too.

Arsenal has themselves a situation. With the striker and defensive conundrums still unsolved mysteries, they now have to contend with yet another problematic situation at their least problematic position.

Mesut Ozil, despite showing up in a sleek polo in Los Angeles, is not going to be ready to face Liverpool on opening day. The Euro vacation is still in effect and he hasn’t had time to train.

It didn’t initially seem like a problem. Santi Cazorla was there, he looked good and Jack Wilshere could always fill the role as well.

But now we have found out that Cazorla will not be fit until the end of August and Wilshere is hurt again, this time it is a ‘minor patella’ issue. While Wilshere is expected to be back in as little as a week, these minor things usually have a way to turning into something much worse, and Arsenal should be prepared not to have Wilshere for the start of the season.

Which is where the conundrum comes into it. Who else can play that crucial lynch-pin role in the middle of the pitch? The only midfielders left are Xhaka, Elneny and Coquelin, none of whom play an attacking role.

That leaves the option for Alexis Sanchez to play centrally, but something tells me Wenger wants him in his natural position, given all the other moving parts already shifting around in the Arsenal formation.

Alex Iwobi could fill the role, but to be frank, I have been less than impressed with him thus far into the preseason.

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What I am suggesting might be a bit crazy, but every day I’m liking the idea more and more. Start Gedion Zelalem. The young American is supposed to be given his shot in the Arsenal first team anyway. He is incredibly similar to Mesut Ozil, something that was reinforced all year. The three main criticisms of Zelalem have been the exact same that we had of Ozil when he first came to Arsenal. He often looks disinterested, he has no physical game and he would rather pass than shoot.

But Ozil has turned those things into magic. Zelalem had a crucial loan at Rangers this past year and learned how to cope with increased physicality. He is already a technical master, but now he knows how to tap dance around tackles.

Zelalem is not going to be fully up to speed to take on a top Premier League side, but he knows how to pass, he has an eye for probing balls and he doesn’t get caught in possession.

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We have talked far too much about ‘baptisms by fire’ lately, but this is another case. It is a fantastic learning experience and given the fact that the only other real options are Alex Iwobi and Jeff Reine-Adelaide, you might as well go with the option that is the most similar to what you’re used to.

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