Arsenal: Should Ozil, Giroud and Koscielny Be Risked?

Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud are set to return after their summer break. Should they be risked against Leicester City?

Injuries are the topic of conversation on the Arsenal faithful’s lips. As they are every year, they could be set to derail the season before its even begun. Entering the year with Per Mertesacker, Gabriel Paulista and Danny Welbeck all set to miss at least two months – four and even six in the case of Mertesacker and Welbeck – Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi added to the misery, each picking up injuries that will see them miss around a month.

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Treading the fine line between risking your star players for short-term success and resting them for long-term longevity is a task that all top managers must undertake. Wenger seems to consistently walk the wrong side of the line, and he now has another major decision to make regarding his star player.

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With Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Mesut Ozil all missing the opening game due to their international exertions earlier in the summer, Wenger must now decide whether to play his three stars on Saturday against champions Leicester City at the risk of injury and even longer on the sidelines. Speaking on the dilemma, Wenger stated:

"“Maybe I will take a gamble on bringing them back early but I have 48 hours to decide. It is very difficult. The clubs always pay for the fact that the players played in these tournaments. You give the player a normal holiday, and they are not ready to start the championship, or you don’t give them the holiday and they are mentally and physically jaded. I gave him [Koscielny] holiday at the start because I thought we would have Gabriel and Mertesacker. Unfortunately, we lost the two, and on Sunday we were short of experience.”"

This leads me to the question: Should Ozil, Giroud and Koscielny be risked? The answer to each scenario perhaps is determined by the options already in the squad. For Olivier Giroud, there is no other player at Arsenal that can replicate his hold-up ability, while in Ozil’s case, if needed, Santi Cazorla can fulfill the role as primary creator.

There is one of the three, however, that cannot be afforded to not be risked. Without Laurent Koscielny last weekend, Arsenal’s back four looked lost, confused by the fluid and dynamic movement of Liverpool’s attacking play. Wenger himself admitted that his side lacked experience at the back, and against another dangerous front-line this weekend, Koscielny must be in the side.

Ozil and Giroud, however, can be coped without. A midfield trio of Francis Coquelin, Granit Xhaka (or Mohamed Elneny depending on your preferences) and Santi Cazorla is not to be scoffed at. Meanwhile, away from home against a fast Leicester attack, a counter-attacking style utlising the pace of Walcott, Chamberlain and Sanchez in attacking areas may well negate the need for Giroud.

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It is a selection headache that will linger until kick off, and it will be fascinating to see which way Wenger chooses to go. Would you be more inclined to risk Ozil, Giroud and Koscielny or would you rather rest them in light of Aaron Ramsey’s injury last weekend? Let us know in the comments below!