Arsenal: So that’s what happens when world-class attackers start

Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, and Alexandre Lacazette are yet to play a minute of football together. They started against Everton. Arsenal scored five goals. So that’s what happens when world-class attackers all start together.

Arsenal were excellent against Everton. While any conclusions drawn should be tempered by the abysmal performance of the Toffees, who lacked any semblance of effort or desire, failed to track the runners through midfield areas, and were disorganised and undisciplined in their defending, the fluid, cutting display of the Gunners should not be underestimated.

Related Story: Arsenal Vs Everton: 5 things we learned

What was especially pleasing about Arsenal’s performance was their attacking potency.

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

They had 17 attempts on goal in the first half alone. That is more than any other team has had in one half of Premier League football in history. By the end of the game, they had engineered 30 attempts, scoring five of them, and missing a whole lot more. They are fairly basic statistics. But they do paint a picture of the attacking creativity and threat that Arsene Wenger’s side posed throughout. But why, just a week after their worst attacking display of the season, did Arsenal suddenly explode into action? Well, the answer is not a complicated one.

For the first time all year, Alexis Sanchez, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil all took to the pitch at the same time. Not only had they not started a game together, but whenever one was coming on, it was always at the same time as another was coming off. Although there were injury reasons for this lack of starting rhythm and star quality, given the ability of the players, and the disparity of that ability between them and their replacements, that is criminal.

And it was, alongside a surging Aaron Ramsey and bombarding Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac, the front three that created many of the chances and sweeping attacking moves that Arsenal put together on Sunday.

I guess that is what happens when you play your best players, your most precious assets, the only world-class attackers that are in your squad, the weapons that this team is built around, the triumvirate that is the only hope of a title challenge.

Wenger, thankfully, has seemingly learned his lessons. It has taken him far too long for him to get Sanchez, Ozil and Lacazette on the pitch at one time. But such were the plentiful results, it is difficult to see how he veers away from the starting trio moving forward.

Next: Arsenal Vs Everton: Player ratings

Arsenal were phenomenal in attacking areas on Sunday. That is what this team is capable of, when they play their best. But for much of the year, they haven’t been allowed to play their best. Perhaps now, though, Wenger can let his stars rip.