Arsenal vs AC Milan: Can we just not take a striker? I’m serious

Arsenal have to travel to the San Siro to face giants-again AC Milan. Given the context, I am starting the “leave all the strikers home” movement.

Arsenal screwed the pooch in the planning department (well, in just about every other department too, but let’s start with planning). They whittled their Champions League qualification options down to the Europa League and sold off arguably their best option at winning that in Olivier Giroud in order to bring in a striker that was cup-tied.

Brilliant. What could go wrong.

One knee surgery later and the only thing that needed to go wrong, did. Alexandre Lacazette is out for both legs against AC Milan barring a miraculous recovery and that leaves the Gunners in a predicament.

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Do they trust “cement shoes” Danny Welbeck or do they trust in the spirit and enthusiasm of Eddie Nketiah?

For those of you, like me, who are less than enthused about either idea, fear not, I have come up with a third option that will leave all parties satisfied – no striker at all.

Going in to face a team that is setting all kinds of precedents since Gattuso took over, the Gunners are on the back foot. AC Milan have surrendered just three goals in their last 10. Arsenal have surrendered 17. There are so many reasons to lack faith in this club that I don’t even want to start listing them. I’ll get too far off track.

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Instead, let’s talk about my third option – no striker. I do not trust Welbeck. Not for a second. And while I love Nketiah and would happily prefer him over Welbeck, my plan is to leave Milan with as few goals surrendered as possible, which is why I’m busting out the 5-5 formation.

Don’t worry, it gets better.

With a back three, two wing backs, a holding midfield and three attacking midfielders, the Gunners can essentially do all the things they normally do. They can keep possession, pass around the box, and, if they’re paying attention, maybe they can catch an Aaron Ramsey or Granit Xhaka long shot for a goal.

Better yet, maybe late runners into the box can provide an outlet that they otherwise wouldn’t have received because, let’s be honest, Welbeck isn’t in the box all that often anyway.

It sounds like a joke, but I’m serious. I’m not saying we park the bus, I’m saying that rather than waste a position on Welbeck, we allow more skilled players like Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (and Granit Xhaka) to all play together, spread out the pitch and try to make a run.

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After all, I have far more faith in them to score a goal than I do Welbeck.