3 – Wenger Needs To Get Ruthless
I’m actually getting quite sick of the excuses now, and whether you put it down to experience or lack of signings, this team IS capable of beating anyone in the Premier League.
Go back to pre-season, Oxlade-Chamberlain was arguably one of the top three Gunners across the whole summer, but Walcott keeps his starting place because of confidence issues.
It’s plain to see, Wenger didn’t want to knock him down a peg because he thought he’d struggle to recover from losing his place yet again, and so early into the new season.
I’m sorry but if you’re not prepared to play your best, in-form players on matchday then what does that say about your tactics, what does that say about competition in the squad?
It’s not the first time we’ve seen this, Joel Campbell was in fine form for the club last season and yet because Wenger fancies Walcott as his number one, Campbell will always fall short.
Walcott is fantastic going forward at times don’t get me wrong, but his overall game isn’t what we needed against Liverpool, due to the capabilities of other positions.
With Elneny and Coquelin both having to keep an eye on our young centre backs, there was always such an emptiness in our midfield and someone like The Ox could’ve helped that.
He’s used to helping out in the middle and isn’t afraid to get stuck into a challenge every now and then, so why wasn’t he starting? He changed the game along with Santi when he was brought on.
What this needs to be from Wenger is a message, that no matter who you are in this team, no matter what your wage or your experience, he will always play the most in-form starting XI.
That’s why I liked the confidence he put in Iwobi, but if players aren’t playing for their place in this team then who is really giving it 110%. Things have become too comfortable and it’s time for Wenger to change that in a season that could be win or bust.
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