Yeah Bellerin and Mkhitaryan were the ones I was unsure about.
Didn’t think two full backs there would be ideal if we want to have some creative possession when building up and countering. Mkhi’s quite a versatile player given his attributes. You could easily put Kolasinac/Monreal down the left side and Lichtsteiner on the right if we’re playing it extra safe but it does invite more pressure.
Bellerin’s mainly there because at some stage there does need to be a counter and our midfield and defence needs outlets. Bellerin still has the ability to transition quickly from a defensive position to getting behind the full backs.
I said this team before the season started and I still think it is the best we can do.
Unless Emery can turn Bellerin, Mustafi and Socratis into proper defensive players we are stuck with it.
I just hope Emery isn’t as stubborn as Wenger and doesn’t persist with the same under performing defenders and sorts it out it in the next transfer window.
Well we aren’t signing anyone so, how tf can we lineup this year and get some better results? Here’s the lineup I expect to get shit on by the top clubs in the league (fully healthy):
Fuck it give Özil that deeper role that Cazorla excelled at late in his career. I do think Torreira and Guen will have improved. Nketiah is a possible break through season. Loan Mav.
And here’s the team I would like to see given the chance to develop and play in cup/EL group throw aways:
Just want to see the young guns - hardly anything to be excited about, but at least I will be watching our boys Willock, Nelson, ESR, and Eddie closely - and if other break in, that will be exciting…
Arsenal can’t play with the back four until a defensive LB will not be signed. That tactic plan guarantees protection in every zone of the pitch, especially the half spaces. Could be good to have a player with the same quality but different intensity that Ozil, but what the german offers in terms of passing is absolutly needed at the moment.
We’ll probably see Xhaka involved in some capacity knowing Emery but that second team would actually be pretty fun to watch and a massive improvement on the shit lineups that lost us the league and the Euro final.
Not sure who I would want playing on the right but Miki is a good an option as we’ve got I guess. Not realistic for a complete overhaul but we are on the verge of remedying several trouble areas anyways.
I’d go with that.
It would mean we have a strong bench as well, with players like Xhaka, Mkhitayran, Iwobi, Mustafi, etc, who are all experienced but I don’t think we’re going to get Zaha.