Arsenal: Nacho Monreal walking around forbidden territory again

With Arsenal’s defense facing a near catastrophe, Nacho Monreal may well have to step back into forbidden territory in an attempt to make things right.

Arsenal nation is a bit mortified with the serious injury sustained by Shkodran Mustafi against Azerbaijan. He came up lame, without any contact, and all we can do now is wait. Which is tough to do, seeing as how Laurent Koscielny looks to be still on the mend as well.

Meaning that the Gunners defense, which was finally starting to get back into a flow, will be tested with a hodge-podge of inexperience and guys out of position. Also known as what helped them surrender eight goals in their first three matches.

Koscielny and Mustafi are the two anchors of this defense, and without them, that leaves Nacho Monreal as the sole representative of this first team defense.

Last time that was the case, Arsene Wenger decided to think himself into playing Monreal as the center-most defender. It was clear from the onset that this was not a good idea.

As a left-sided defender, he needs to remain on the left side and not be forced to play out of his usefulness, because if defense is the question – which it is – then the least we can do is rely on what we have, and Monreal is certainly reliable.

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The central defensive position should be forbidden territory for Monreal, but no doubt, knowing Wenger, he is playing around with the idea of him in the center again.

This is not a good idea. With Per Mertesacker on the bench, who should have been the center-most defender earlier in the year in a similar situation, is the best option. At the very least, he is an effective communicator and a veteran.

Slipping the German out there only makes sense, but we also can’t use him in a one of the two wide centerback positions, that would just be silly.

Having Mertesacker out there may not fill too many with confidence, but it beats having Monreal back there flanked by two inexperienced Englishman. No matter how talented they are as individuals, the back three is all about communication and that should be the objective here.

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Monreal is in fantastic form and I’d put him in the same category as Sead Kolasinac. Keep the injury troubles away from them. You don’t need to create more troubles. Leave the players that are working where they are working so well.

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