Arsenal: 5 things we’d like to see vs West Brom

Arsenal take on West Brom in the Carabao Cup second round on Wednesday night and after the anguish of the previous two fixtures, it’s most welcome.

It would be wrong to suggest that Mikel Arteta is now feeling the heat. He’s been sat on a witches cauldron since October 2020.

The pressure is now different, though. Having overseen an upturn in solidity and defensive structure, all with a band of not-so-merry men holding the club back, much of that was offset by an appalling run of results in which Arsenal’s chances of scoring were about as slim as Willian turning down a churrascaria buffet.

Bringing in five new faces this summer, including two who once the squad is all fit are expected to be first team regulars, he has no room to hide as the excuses of not being blessed with players he wants can’t be coughed up.

Arsenal: 5 things we’d like to see vs West Brom as Mikel Arteta takes his side to the Hawthorns for Carabao Cup second round action on Wednesday

Premier League defeats to Brentford and Chelsea are somewhat certainly going to be followed by another loss to Manchester City (defeatist, much?) therefore sandwiching two title contenders with an EFL Cup trip to Championship opposition presents an opportunity to lift some spirits.

While nobody especially cares for this competition when the sole aim of the season is to push Arsenal back into European contention, it’s now a must-win fixture. Losing to Chelsea and quite possibly to Manchester City will not define the season, but falling to defeats at Brentford and against second tier sides will rightly see Arteta’s stock plummet further.

Rather importantly, too, a few goals wouldn’t go amiss. The feeling of the ball hitting the back of the net is all-too familiar for supporters. Just a shame it’s always at the wrong end.

This Wednesday night’s football may not be the Wednesday night football that the club would prefer, but it’s nonetheless welcome. Here’s what we’d like to see against the Baggies.

1. Martin Odegaard Making his Second Debut – Pepe Link-Up

Perhaps it’s more like one and a half debuts? Martin Odegaard has received clearance to play (again) for Arsenal and his second debut for the club is one that not only will aid the soft touch in the final third, but also lift the spirits of supporters.

Seeing new signings in action provides the fans with a lift and if his presence and performance can match that excitement then it’s precisely what the doctor ordered heading into the weekend.

What looks like being a preferred attacking trio behind the striker of Emile Smith Rowe, Odegaard and Bukayo Saka isn’t expected to feature, at least from the off, on Wednesday, so what the Norwegian can do in bringing the best out of those around him will make for interesting viewing.

Someone who could benefit the most from the 22-year-old being in the team is Nicolas Pepe. His best form in red and white came with Odegaard in the side.

The Ivorian’s best traits are his finishing and those blistering runs into the final third, and with someone who can actually thread those through balls to him in, the chances of him being in more threatening positions to score and not picking the ball up half way up the touchline increase.

Furthermore, we’re just excited to watch Odegaard play in the No. 8. Even if he hasn’t kicked a ball for two weeks.

2. Aaron Ramsdale’s Distribution

This is why he was signed, right?

£30m doesn’t get spent if it’s not going to be used for Carabao Cup second round clashes against Championship opposition. That’s why you pay the big bucks.

But we digress, until Aaron Ramsdale begins proving himself in an Arsenal shirt it will be Bernd Leno keeping the first team jersey, so matches such as these are of huge importance to him and the club.

Signed for a variety of reasons, one of those was his short distribution. It’s an interesting point since his time at Sheffield United was spent hoofing it as far away from his goal as he could onto David McGoldrick’s noggin’. In fairness to Ramsdale, he can kick.

"“The way I play is that I can play it long, very comfortable playing short and can mix it up playing passes into midfield, and hopefully that’s something I can add to the team,” were his words upon signing."

Specifically those passes into midfield will be worth keeping an eye on, seeing whether he can bypass a high press either lofted or drilled, and if his short range passing is as strong as the scouting department believe it to be.

All eyes on his feet.

3. A Well Drilled and Cohesive Unit

Arteta has numerous reasons to be under the cosh from supporters and one area of his management that is fairly unarguable is that he’s struggled to coach a cohesive press.

One notable exclusion is the 4-2 victory over Leeds last season in which Arsenal counter-pressed superbly, but as witnessed against Chelsea, facing strong opposition and trying to press high has left the side brutally exposed in midfield and disorganised in defence.

Now, West Brom are obviously not Chelsea. No surprises there. Nevertheless, it will be important to see that under the kinds of pressure at this minute that Arteta can drill his players positionally to know which spaces can be left unattended and where others must be occupied.

This summer and this season has seen Arsenal press flimsily, with one body moving while others are static, and the wrong players moving out of positions to leave others horribly exposed. These are coaching errors and ‘even if it’s only West Brom’ (which is 100% not a phrase that can be used at this moment in time) there has to be some improvement in that regard.

Will the players looks befuddled or regimented? This is a key point, regardless of the opposition.

4. Appearances for Miguel Azeez & Other Youngsters

If we’re being honest, the most likely of any to get some minutes in this fixture is Miguel Azeez, and all the indications are that Arteta is set to field a strong side on Wednesday in a bid to boost his chances of securing a positive result.

That’s a shame.

Of course, ideally, the squad would be fully fit and there would be six delicious Premier League points in the bag meaning that Azeez could even have started this match with a few other possible inclusions across the squad.

Understandably, it must be added, Arteta will field a side he feels is most capable of giving the team the confidence boost it so sorely needs.

This is the least glamorous fixture Arsenal will play all campaign long and with Azeez staying in north London and featuring predominately for the Under-23 side this term, if he is going to get a sniff of first team action it is most likely to come at the Hawthorns.

Kevin Betsy’s side face Tottenham on Friday and if Azeez, and possibly others, can get a run out later in the game there would be smiles all round.

5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Getting the Nod at No. 9

There were some fans getting on Folarin Balogun’s back after the Chelsea game. Yes, really, some people criticised the 19-year-old in only his second ever Premier League match after coming on to play an unfavoured left-winger role with ten minutes to go in a clash Arsenal were outclassed in and already trailing 2-0.

Yes, really. He needs time, and minutes.

Alexandre Lacazette is back in training and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also came on at the weekend, but while it may be too soon for the former, the latter could do with starting this one ahead of Manchester City.

On the one hand it would be great to see Flo given the nod once more, but should Odegaard start then any semblance of chemistry that can come from him playing off Aubameyang is essential.

If the captain isn’t scoring then Arsenal are in for an awful season. It’s as simple as that. Give him 55-60 or so minutes (if he’s ready) and then bring Flo on to mop up the remains of the beleaguered West Brom defence.

Aubameyang has to start scoring and he won’t do that if he isn’t playing.