Arsenal: Wenger Needs To Risk At Least Two Stars vs Foxes

Arsenal’s team is depleted without their star players, and Arsene Wenger must risk their fitness if he wants to compete with the Premier League Champions.

Last time out against Liverpool, it was abundantly clear how many players Arsenal were from having a title-winning squad.

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They had glaring weaknesses in central defense – but that was far from the only issue.

Their central midfield lacked steel and lacked communication between the players. Thirdly, their forward line lacked directness and Alexis Sanchez, the striker on the day, seemed to have no idea what he was doing.

Incredibly, all of these problems can be more or less solved in one fell swoop.

Granit Xhaka; Laurent Koscielny; Olivier Giroud.

And Mesut Ozil for the added creativity.

That’s a perfect world. One in which all of these players can be in the Arsenal lineup week-in, week-out without any of them being injured.

We don’t live in this fantasy: three of the aforementioned four players aren’t fit at present.

Arsene Wenger has said that Koscielny, Giroud and Ozil are all tired from their summer football, and not match fit yet. He ‘may gamble’ on their fitness – though he didn’t seem convinced.

The problem with the Premier League is that fixtures come far too often for everyone to be 100% ready every time. And it doesn’t need mentioning, but against Leicester City is certainly a fixture for which sacrifices must be made.

The overarching problem with last week’s team was a lack of experience in position. Laurent Koscielny is the first player that Arsene Wenger must gamble on if he wants a chance at a rebound victory.

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Claudio Ranieri was asked if he thought anything of Arsenal’s weaknesses in defense. He didn’t have much to say, but a cheeky smile begs the inference that he knows exactly what his plan will be against those inexperienced center halves.

His Leicester City strikers will be hungry to get off the mark. That combination could be disastrous if Arsenal don’t bring back their best central defender, Laurent Koscielny.

The second player that is crucial to bring back is Mesut Ozil.

Arsenal’s  No. 10 has taken over that role for good and ousted all the other central attacking midfielders. Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere have been moved elsewhere.

These players aren’t used to being main creators, and that creates a disconnect in the Gunners’ buildup. Ozil is the man who is in charge of the line-cutting passes – perhaps Cazorla is equally capable of playing those balls, but he simply isn’t used to that role in the Arsenal side.

Against Liverpool both goals from open play were created in absence of a No. 10. The wingers finished well, but they will have more opportunities if there’s an attacking midfielder to play them in.

Third, and perhaps least important, is Olivier Giroud.

Since Robert Huth is back to full fitness and Wes Morgan will be his partner, Leicester’s defense will be up for any physical challenges. In the Gunner’s 5-2 victory over the Foxes last year it was Alexis who caused the problems.

It would be safe bet to start the Chilean again, as Sanchez will be ready to bounce back after a lackluster game on match day 1.

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Ozil and Koscielny were such big misses, and it would be a little too safe to risk a first two-loss start to the campaign since 1992 over risking Arsenal’s stars’ fitness.