5 Short Term Fixes to Get Arsenal's Season Back on Track Ahead of Middlesbrough Clash
With Arsene Wenger
refusing to comment on his future, a lack of direction from the board,
fan relations reaching boiling point and two wins from eight league
games, Arsenal need a miracle to finish in the top four. Oh, and we
haven’t even mentioned the likelihood of finishing below Tottenham for
the first time since 1995.
But while it’s all very much doom and gloom at the Emirates, there are a few short-term fixes that Wenger can implement to help Arsenal finish the season on a strong note and maybe, just maybe, win the FA Cup.
5. Play 3-4-3
Since the turn of the year,
Arsenal’s biggest problem has been the lack of protection provided to
the defenders. Too often, the Gunners are caught high up the pitch with
multiple players out of position.
Wenger isn’t known for
his tactical changes, but a move to the 3-4-3 formation could give the
defence more protection, while allowing Mesut Ozil to play in a free
role similar to the one Eden Hazard occupies for Chelsea.
Move Nacho Monreal to
the left side of the centre backs – a position he’s played before – and
give Kieran Gibbs a run at left wing back. The formation change could
help Arsenal to be more solid at the back without losing any attacking
flair.
They seem to have neither in the current 4-2-3-1 set up.
4. Start Alexis Sanchez Back Up Front
At
the start of the season, Wenger played Alexis Sanchez in the no. 9
position. Since then, the Chilean has gone on to score 18 goals and
assist a further nine in 28 Premier League matches.
The last four games,
however, have seen Sanchez revert to the left wing - with Danny Welbeck
occupying the striker role. In those four fixtures, Sanchez has scored
once and registered zero assist,s while Welbeck has neither scored or
assisted.
It was a strange move
from Wenger to take his best player out of the position he was most
effective in. Hopefully against Middlesbrough, Arsenal fans will see
Sanchez back in the striker role and scoring goals again.
3. Play Per Mertesacker
Playing
Per Mertesacker might seem like a controversial shout, especially
considering the ire he has faced from Arsenal fans in the past, but the
Gunners are usually more solid when the captain plays.
Mertesacker offers
leadership and a calming presence. He’s also a good passer and excellent
reader of the game. The World Cup winner’s shortfalls have come into
focus when Arsenal play a high line, something that clearly isn’t
working no matter who plays at centre back.
If Arsenal adopt a more
cautious style similar to ones they have in the latter stages of
previous seasons when they’ve needed to salvage results, they could
still end this campaign strongly.
Yes, Mertesacker hasn’t
played this season and might be a bit rusty, but right now the
alternatives just aren’t working. It’s time for The Big F***ing German.
2. Ensure They Start on the Front Foot
Arsenal
have been laborious and sluggish at the start of both the first and
second halves of games too many times this season. They are more
reactive than proactive to situations, which is a reflection of their
manager.
For the final eight
games they need to start on the front foot, pressing and harrying the
opposition into making mistakes. Even if results don’t go their way, by
showing some fight they might just start to get the fans who have
recently turned against them back on side.
1. And Put Simply, Just Beat Middlesbrough
Ok, so it might be an
obvious suggestion, but if Arsenal can win their next game hopefully
they will be able to turn the tide and find some form.
All runs start with a
win, and the longer they go without a victory, especially away from
home, the harder it is going to be for them to get out of this rut. A
good win over Middlesbrough, followed by an FA Cup semi-final victory
over Manchester City, will set Arsenal up nicely for the final stretch
of the season.
Otherwise, they could be looking at finishing 7th, and that certainly wouldn’t justify Wenger’s comments about leaving the club in a better position than when he took the reins.
POSTED BY:OPUOMONI PRIYE
DATE:04/18/2017
Share story
0 comments: