Tag Archives: Arsenal

Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil to be dropped for Aston Villa

9 Replies

One of the best things about having 56437 attacking midfielder’s in the current squad is that it allows us to rotate, to chop and change, to rest players when unfit, or take them out of the limelight when out of form. And that is exactly what needs to be done against Aston Villa.

Both Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil have had poor starts to the season. In the last 2 games against Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, both have looked well off the pace. We have a whole host of attacking midfield options, it is time to use them.

Tomas Rosicky
Jack Wilshere
Mesut Ozil
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain
Aaron Ramsey
Santi Cazorla
Abou Diaby

Seven options for 2 central midfielder positions (note I say central midfield, more on this later). We should rotate against Aston Villa.

Mesut Ozil has not looked the same player since the Munich away leg, where he clearly injured himself in the 1st few minutes and hobbled through to half time. I wonder if he has ever had the opportunity to regain full fitness.

He was rushed back to the first team for the last 4 league games of the season, as well as the FA Cup and then played in all 7 games of the World Cup, over 625 minutes in total.

The World Cup Final was on the 13th July, Mesut Ozil’s 1st game back for Arsenal was 23rd August. Just a 40 day break. He then broke down again in training for Germany, missing their friendly against Argentina and Euro 2016 Qualifying match against Scotland.

Despite the injury, on the resumption of the Premier League, he was straight back into the Arsenal starting 11 for the game against Manchester City.

Mesut Ozil has always been a confidence player. Anyone who has followed his career would know when he is on the top of his game, he is one of the best in the world, but when his confidence is low, his head drops and he doubts himself.

He is clearly not ready to play physically, and mentally he looks shot. By taking him out of the firing line this weekend, it gives him time to recover, both physically and mentality.

ps: I do not accept the “He can’t play out wide” reasoning for his bad form. He won the World Cup playing on the wing, and has played left wing and right wing throughout his career.

As for Aaron Ramsey, he is another one who looks unfit. He was an injury concern against Manchester City, but ended up playing, and repeated the feat against Dortmund mid week. Had he sufficiently recovered? It did not look like it.

The problem we currently have is Arsene Wenger is trying to mould a formation round the players, rather than play the players in a set formation. This has led us to play 4141 to attempt to accommodate Oil, Alexis Sanchez, Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. It has not worked.

Aston Villa should also see is a change of formation. Drop the current 4141 and return to the 4231/433. What this would mean is that one of either Wilshere or Ramsey does not start. Wilshere is in the form of his career, Ramsey looks off the pace. So it is simple, you play your inform, fit players. That is Jack rather than Aaron.

It then works the same for Ozil. He is unfit and out of form. Lets give Santi Cazorla a run in the side. Take Ozil out of the firing lines. Against Aston Villa, I would line up:

Szczesny
Bellerin Koscielny Mertesacker Gibbs
Arteta Wilshere
Ox Cazorla Sanchez
Welbeck

Essentially, you get into a scenario where it’s either Wilshere OR Ramsey; Ozil OR Cazorla, with form and fitness taken into account.

Both Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil are top draw players, with the ability to change the game at any point. But they are both clearly out of form. We have other options in the squad, time to use them.

Keenos

 

10 Reasons why we will beat Dortmund+ my starting 11

6 Replies

1) After praising Szczesny in the ’10 reasons’ this season he goes and has a less than average game against Man City, hopefully that will be the little kick up the bum he will always need to remain focused.

2) Debuchy and Monreal out, Chambers 50/50 but who needs defenders when we have 6 players who can all play at no 10

3) Wenger is saying Bellerin is now ready, the young Barcalona born defender wont get a better chance to get a run of games at ours, like Ashley Cole (given his chance when the 2 LB’s infront of him were both out) he must hit the ground running.

4) Jack was back to normal against Man City, with Ramsey’s form being a bit hit and miss this season he needs to take control tonight.

5) Alexis, he will continue to get better and better the more he plays, his goal against Man City was pure class and nice to see some proper passion in a celebration.

6) Welbeck, I have seen worse debut’s. unlucky not to score early doors and works hard, tonight will suit him and he’s plenty of experience in the Champions League.

7) Flamini now becomes one of our most important players, being able to cover all the defensive positions on the pitch, so expect him to start on the bench to prevent him getting a yellow card early on.

8) We always seem to get out of the group stages, this season maybe Wenger has at last has worked out if you finish top you miss one of the big boys in the 1st knock out rounds.

9) Dortmund have several injury problems themselves with Mats Hummels, Nuri Şahin, İlkay Gündoğan, Jakub Błaszczykowski, Oliver Kirc, Ji Dong-won and, Marco Reus all likely to be missing

10) Wenger knows after 17 years and only 1 final and 1 semi final that this is the competition where he’s always been upstaged, maybe just maybe this year he will finally get it right … (?)

My Starting 11 – Chesney, Bellerin, Kos, BFG, Gibbs, Jack, Ramsey, Ozil (free role), Alexis,Ox Welbeck

CL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 reasons why we will beat Man City + my starting 11

3 Replies

1) For the first time since 1947 we’ve had an international break that we have more fit players after than before. Arteta and Gibbs set to be in the squad today.

2) Our number 1 keeper Chesney, quietly getting on with things this season, he could go onto be an all time great for us.

3) Debuchy, I’m really impressed with him, not just his engine or his pace, or his crossing it’s his positional sense in covering the CB’s. Definitely an improvement on the fella City will have on the bench.

4) Yes the Community Shield is an overblown friendly, but still we made them look average that day even when they pulled on the bigger players

5) Man City lost to Stoke.

6) Danny Welbeck should start today and with him and Sanchez we will finally have some direct pace running at teams

7) The last time Man City lost 2 games back to back was in Oct 2010, one of those games was against us *sky sports*

8) This 12.45pm kick off times just for TV is a joke, I used to understand it in the dark past when it was used for games with a high risk of trouble, but 12.45pm just for TV and still charge £65 upwards for the pleasure, well count me out. *Rant over*

9) Man City have a couple of key players out, we have a couple coming in, this is the season we finally start beating the top 3 clubs again.

10) Wenger knows, well he should know by now, the key to these big games is a decent start, keeping our shape and keeping the ball. We get past the first 10-15mins and settle down today then Man City are there for the taking.

My Starting 11 – Chesney, Deb, Kos, BFG, Gibbs, Flamini, Jack, Ozil, Sanchez, Ox, Welbeck