Arsenal: Arsene Wenger already overthinking Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Arsenal brought in Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a seemingly simple reason, but with Arsene Wenger, nothing is simple. And now he is overthinking it.

When Arsenal insisted on getting a replacement for Alexis Sanchez before they let him go, it seemed pretty simply why – because that replacement would do what replacements do and replace the guy they were brought in to replace.

Alexis Sanchez was a creative attacker, so his replacement would be a creative attacker. Conveniently, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a creative attacker and the man who has been the fill-in replacement, Alex Iwobi, has been less than inspiring. He’s actually been pretty woeful.

It couldn’t be more simple. The attack was at its best with a world class front three, you lose one of the front three and bring in a new solution to fill that gap and push Iwobi back to the bench where he belongs.

But then again, simplicity to Arsene Wenger is like a medium-rare steak to an ostrich.

Le Prof has philosophized himself into one hell of an idea, and by “one hell of” I mean why the hell is he even thinking it? He wants to play Mkhitaryan as a box-to-box midfielder. Maybe the high of realizing Granit Xhaka is actually a decent box-to-box midfielder hasn’t worn off yet and Wenger is determined to field a starting XI solely composed of box-to-box midfielders.

Here’s what he had to say, as quoted by the Independent:

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"I think Mkhitaryan can play in all positions in midfield. In a box to box role, certainly not a defensive role or as a holding player, but all the other positions are not out of reach. Until now he has played in a wide role but he can certainly absorb that role in a kind of winger or playmaker. I don’t rule it out for him to become a box to box player."

Now, there is a lot of intelligence in there. He can be a winger or a play-maker. That’s what he is. But to even propose that he can be a box-to-box midfielder is enough to make my head spin. No, he can’t. Just because Santi Cazorla could doesn’t mean everyone else can.

Mkhitaryan is an attacker. He is here to replace Alexis and elbow Iwobi out of the way. If he is doing anything else, you’re doing it wrong. If at any time you think he can be a wingback, you’re doing it wrong. For God’s sake, just once don’t make this more difficult then it has to be. We have an experienced 28-year-old attacking midfielder who has made a killing as an attacking midfielder, now just play him as an attacking midfielder.

Next: Arsenal's Ideal XI With Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Wenger is not as good at playing people out of position as he would like to think. He has maybe a 50/50 success rate, which isn’t awful, but when you have no reason to test it, then why do it? Let things be the way they are supposed to be. The End.