Many have wondered how we can accommodate all our first team players when they return from their respective injuries. Although given our team’s luck, we would not be concerned by this issue, nonetheless we have to consider playing Cesc, Nasri and Van Persie all in the same team.
Have read a lot of comments recently stating that Chamakh should continue as our main striker and Van Persie to start from the bench. Personally, I don’t think we should leave a fit Van Persie anywhere but on the field. Although he has not shown his usual form as yet, I put it down to lack of match fitness rather than anything else.
So with Cesc having the possibility of returning for the big game on Monday, how would you play the team? For me, the person to be sacrificed in our usual midfield would be young Jack Wilshere. No doubt, he has come a long way this season but he is still a work in progress and we would need our best players for this match. The only way we are going to win the match against the Red Devils is to be brave and attack them so I am advocating a return to the more traditional 4-4-2 system with Cesc and Song as the midfielders. With this system, Van Persie can continue in his “Bergkamp role” leaving Chamakh to lead the line upfront. Against Partizan on Wednesday, we already saw Van Persie in this role, sometime dropping as deep as the center circle to receive the ball.
With Cesc in midfield, we can also be assured of his defensive capabilities, although he doesn’t have the speed, his reading of the play is excellent, which makes his defensive qualities much needed in front of the back four. I think we have suffered a little because our captain has concentrated his effort upfront while leaving the defensive duties only to Song and Wilshere at times. As for Nasri, he can continue in his right side position. Although he does play better through the middle, he has shown his abilities down the right so there no worry there.
The good thing about Arsenal’s squad currently is the depth that we have allows Arsene to change this around if things don’t go our way. I believe a return to the 4-4-2 system will bring benefits to the squad of Monday but let’s see what the Professor thinks on Monday.
Submitted by The Arsenal Kid
