%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal: Arsene Wenger Must Solve Midfield Conundrum
Arsenal have lost some steam in the Premier League. Without Santi Carzola, Arsenal’s midfield is in disarray. Arsene Wenger must solve this issue before the team’s title chances go up in smoke yet again.
Arsenal have managed to navigate their three November fixtures without suffering a defeat. During their notoriously dour autumnal slump, the Gunners have had a mixed bag of success and disappointment.
Related Story: 30 Greatest Transfers In Past 30 Years
While a Champions League victory against Ludogrets started the month well, two draws against bitter rivals has left the fan base rather anxious. In a vacuum, two cumulative points against an unbeaten Spurs squad and on the road at Old Trafford may be decent results, but the squad’s performances have been rather poor, to say the least.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
In my opinion, the main issue that Arsene Wenger must solve is the midfield conundrum. At the beginning of the season, the midfield was the team’s strongest asset. Long-time golden boy Jack Wilshere had to leave the Emirates in search of playing time, because of Arsenal’s midfield depth. The arrival of Granit Xhaka gave many supporters hope for this season’s title push. Ironically at the moment the midfield looks to be the team’s biggest issue.
Deja Vu is a feeling that Gooners are all too familiar with. Finding out the news that Santi Cazorla would lose major time with another yet Achilles issue was a massive blow. Their title hopes were dashed last season when the Spanish wizard went down. The miniature maestro is an essential cog in the midfield machine; he provides amazing distribution from the base of midfield and with his two-footed dribbling, Cazorla expertly links the Gunners’ defense with its attack. Santi has an underappreciated understanding with Ozil and Alexis and knows where and how to supply Arsenal’s star players and give them the service they need.
Arsenal have plenty of midfield options but at the moment none of them are pairing properly. The manager seems to have an issue trusting Granit Xhaka as a sure fire starter. This is particularly head-scratching because the swiss ace has the class to flourish in Arsenal’s midfield. Xhaka was certainly Arsenal’s best player in the North London Derby. The new Arsenal man completed 5 tackles and made 4 interceptions versus Spurs via Whoscored. Xhaka certainly has the needed defensive acumen as well as the craft necessary to function well in the midfield. His omission from the starting XI is bizarre, to say the least.
Francis Coquelin has arguably been the most solid midfield player this season. The feisty Frenchman does his job well and his position in the midfield is certainly cemented. However with his natural running mate sidelined it is up to Coquelin to gel with another player. Mohammed Elneny is a fine footballer but for me, he is the ultimate squad player.
Elneny can slot in just about anywhere in almost any situation. He is extremely tidy on the ball and can even produce a moment of imagination, like the ball that sprung Ozil for THAT GOAL. However, the tireless Egyptian midfielder just does not bring the needed creativity when he is played in a box-to-box capacity. While I’m happy to have Elneny in the squad, I just don’t believe he can start over Aaron Ramsey (when played in the middle) or Xhaka.
In my opinion, the best answer for this situation is giving Xhaka and Coquelin a real run of games to see if that partnership can flourish. I believe that would provide us with the most defensive solidity with two players who can certainly hold their own. Xhaka’s passing range and vision can and will allow Arsenal to also have the creativity needed to unlock defenses. I would like to see the partnership of Ramsey and Xhaka at some point and perhaps the upcoming League Cup match versus Southampton would be a perfect stage to utilize that personnel package.
Next: Arsene Wenger's Best Starting XI
It is time for Wenger to earn his paycheck. Losing Santi Carzola can not be the end of Arsenal’s season yet again. The manager has plenty of good options in midfield and it is time for him to figure out this equation. With PSG coming to the Emirates on Wednesday, it is about time that Arsenal and Arsene Wenger figured out their best midfield permutation.