Podolski and Walcott out of West Brom clash - Santi on the wing?

Details: Written by Barnaby Merrill; Published: Thursday, 06 December 2012 22:58

With the crunch clash with high-flying West Brom on the horizon, Arsenal won't be cheered up by the fact that their two first-choice wingers are out of the game with injuries.

Piling up

Podolski, who's had a minor injury all season, has finally moved to the sidelines, while Walcott has not regained fitness despite a rest. They join Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny on the sidelines. (Koscielny has completed week 1 of his 'three week' injury, let's see how long that one lasts).

It's not an ideal situation, but one that tends to happen over the season. What's the issue is many Gooners are contemplating a wing duo of Gervinho and the struggling Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain. Olivier Giroud has lacked service of late, and they aren't the two to give it to him.

However, the return of Tomas Rosicky to fitness has presented an interesting alternative.

Back to basics

Santi Cazorla currently plays a free 'number 10' role in midfield, though he's been forced deeper and wider as the team has struggled. Before this he was a winger for both Villarreal and Malaga, cutting in to create a-la David Silva.

By playing Rosicky in the midfield three and putting Cazorla back into the position he's played more in (he's not out of position at number 10, he clearly enjoys it), Arsenal can replicate to a degree the formation that saw them challenge for trophies.

Back in the 'glory days' of 2010-11, Arsenal played one 'wide forward' winger and a creative midfielder out wide, normally Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri. Rosicky can take the role of Cesc Fabregas (while he lacks the Spaniard's complete game, he has an eye for a pass and reading of the game that rivals his) while Cazorla becomes what we all wanted Nasri to be had he not buggered off to Man Sheik.

Rosicky and Oxlade-Chamberlain can swap positions, as can Cazorla and the youngster. Fluid as you like, and fast and creative too. When Podolski comes back, swap Cazorla to the right and carry on.

These two injuries may prove very useful.

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Comments

#8 Me 2012-12-07 21:53

A defeat tomorrow would not be a disaster. We are not a top four club anymore, more like a mid table team and the longer this goes on the more likely Wenger will go - he is the problem. As soon as he is gone you will see a positive change at the club. Wenger really is a poor manager now..

#7 Me 2012-12-07 21:51

Cannot see anything other than a defeat for Arsenal and more pressure on Wenger to go. Taxi for Wenger !

#6 Rendy 2012-12-07 19:53

If those two are out, it is back to our normal dull play. I hate to single out players, but the way Ramsey has turned out to be is totally discouraging. He looses possession easily and he is slow in tracking back. I hate to see him week in week out being given a chance wbile there are youngsters better than him like Eisfeld. Geovinho is another disappointment.

+1 #5 lucian gooner 2012-12-07 18:28

i would really wish for Rosicky, Carzola and Ox to start the game. Ramsey and Gerv seem to lack any attacking threat at the moment and they lose possession too quickly.

#4 yy 2012-12-07 18:22

Our only creative spark put on the wing? You must be joking, ehh? The problem is Arteta has no legs and needs a partner in the Wanyama mould. Cazorla desperately needs rest, too. Why not give a start to Eisfeld? Bench Ramsey - give someone else a chance. Starting Gervinho and Ramsey is a recipe for disaster - and honestly I cannot see us winning this game.

+3 #3 Sipho 2012-12-07 08:43

i really would like to see santi,the ox and rosicky to start against WBA, but i'm afraid wenger starts with gervinho and ramsey. and if that doesn't work out he'll make a substition after 70 minutes..just like always.. i really don't understand why he keeps trying it with those two.. it's so frustrating. is it because gervinho accidentally scored some goals at the start of the season? and that ramsey had some assist although he loses the ball all the time?

let's hope for a change!

+2 #2 Mr Fox 2012-12-07 05:15

We need creativity, no brain dead wingers. I truly wish Wenger would try a Rosicky, Cazorla, Arshavin diamond with Giroud up top.

-4 #1 davi 2012-12-06 23:46

I thought Cazorla was a natural winger, as opposed to players like Nasri and Rosicky who are really central players and are more inclined to cut inside and play through passes when given a wide role. Cazorla is more likely to beat his man and put the ball into the box, I would have thought (although obviously he can pass the ball as well).

Honestly, I can't see this match ending well. We have been so poor recently, it would be hard to see us winning this game anyway, but really Theo and Podolski are our most potent attackers atm. Giroud can score when given the service but these 2 are also the most likely to give him that service. I think playing Cazorla out wide would really help in that regard (he'd probably make a more effective winger than either of them!) but can anyone really see Wenger making that big of a change?
Another interesting option would be to put Santos on the left wing. He looked decent there in preseason, and you'd imagine it would suit him well, but I'm not sure I'd try that in a game like this.
We're also severely lacking a physical presence in the midfield and Arteta just looks knackered. I have always seen him as our main defensive midfielder since he joined, but he was much more effective last season when Song was getting stuck in alongside him, and early in this season, when Diaby was doing similar. I think Coquelin *can* go some way to resolving this issue, but it didn't look that way on Tuesday. He tried, but has been a bit of a passenger in most of his recent appearances. He's clearly a talented player but he's still finding his feet, and I can't see anyone else who can do the job who's fit and available.
IMO we should start with Cazorla, Giroud and Gerv up front, with Arteta, Rosicky and Coquelin in midfield. I think it will probably be Gerv, Giroud and Ox (or Ramsey) up front with Caz, Arteta and Rosicky in midfield and unless something magical happens, we will probably lose. WBA are looking great this season and have been something of a bogey team for us recently, so it's hard to see us winning in any case.

The other thing is - hold a deeper backline! Why have we shed this tactic!? It was working wonders earlier in the season, but it's been completely forgotten and we've gone back to the old system which puts extra pressure on the defenders and leaves us more open to counter attacks. It's ridiculous!

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