Arsenal: Hector Bellerin not the problem, but Lichtsteiner can be solution

Arsenal’s defense is a problem, and while Hector Bellerin isn’t the crux of the problem, starting Stephan Lichtsteiner might be a solution.

I really do understand that Unai Emery has a plan at Arsenal and that we should let it play out before demanding too many changes. I only wanted to say that because in the last few days, I’ve talked about all the changes he should be making.

And now I’m here to talk about another. Because I really do tire of seeing this defense get shredded like a block of muenster cheese every time they are asked to defend a counter attack.

It’s hard to pinpoint any one problem because it isn’t just one problem. Yes, the defensive midfielders aren’t really defensive midfielders and that is a problem. Yes, the fullbacks seem to be far better at the attack than the defense. Yes, the centerbacks are actually pretty solid. Yes, Petr Cech isn’t great with the ball at his feet.

There are a lot of problems here. So it’s not like there is a quick fix or anything we can just quickly swap in order to fix everything.

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That said, there are minor changes we can make to see if they would alleviate the stresses a bit. And swapping out Hector Bellerin in favor of the hard-line kingpin Stephan Lichtsteiner would be one way to work our way towards a solution.

That’s not to say the Hector Bellerin is the problem, because there isn’t any one problem, but I do think that his defending has become a problem. Mainly in that he really can’t defend. Like, he’s really bad at it. He gets spun more than a spool of yarn.

And I don’t think I need to talk any more about how incapable he is of holding an offside line. The amount of times he has played a guy onside through the middle is nauseating. Mustafi and Sokratis are actually pretty solid at coordinating, but Bellerin isn’t.

That’s another way Lichtsteiner helps. He is a defender first. And right now, I think that’s a damn good thing to have when we only have two guys on the pitch who are defend first. He is a veteran who understands positioning and defensive shape and I think he could have a huge effect on solidifying a shaky defense.

Save Bellerin for if we need an offensive kick at the end, but start with Lichtsteiner. Let his understanding of the defensive side of things serve us well.