Arsenal: 3 things Mikel Arteta must consider in this winter break

Arsenal have a lengthy lay-off after yet another draw. Here are three things that Mikel Arteta should be considering during the break.

We are at the start of a much-needed winter break for Arsenal and the Arsenal fans. Mikel Arteta has said he wants to use the break in Dubai as a chance to really get to know the team and for them to bond.

For us fans, it’s a break from the stresses of watching the club struggle over the last few weeks. There are certainly things to ponder for Mikel Arteta over the lay-off as he tries to get his club back to their best and playing the attacking football that we have become accustomed to.

On the bright side, this club has only eight goals conceded in the time since Mikel Arteta took over (four against Chelsea), which is a significant improvement on the defensive end. However, in an attacking sense, we have only scored ten in nine games (five have come in three games).

Things need to change in an attacking sense and the following is three things should be considered.

3. Drop the number 10 role and play a front two

It worked with Ian Wright and Kevin Campbell, and it worked with Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp/Kanu. I can’t see why it’s not being considered with Lacazette and Aubameyang.

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For whatever reason, Mesut Ozil is just not doing it in the No. 10 role. Whether he is declining or just can’t be bothered is something else to discuss but his stats of one assist and zero goals this season is abysmal when you consider the stats of other No. 10s in the league who some Arsenal fans put Ozil in the same league as.

It’s clear Mikel Arteta rates Alexandre Lacazette and wants him to get his confidence back. Lacazette isn’t currently offering the team goals but it’s his hold-up play that has impressed Arteta and most fans, which brings other players into the game.

A positive move with this would be to move Aubameyang into the central role alongside Lacazette, who would act as the target man to create more chances for Aubameyang rather than him feeding off scraps for most games and having to cut inside from the left a position where he only seems to get two or three chances a game.

Lacazette isn’t a natural finisher and seems to have lost his pace this year, however he is strong and fights for the ball and can be a nuisance to defenders. Aubameyang is a natural finisher and still has his speed, so it would make sense to play each other side-by-side.

On to No. 2.