How Arsenal Can Still Win The Premier League, Despite A Poor Start
Having failed to mount a proper title challenge for years, Arsenal football club seems to be on the same track this season as well: they have lost 2 of their opening 3 matches; against Stoke City and Liverpool. The club has also lost players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while those like Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have less than a year left on their contract and are not eager to sign an extension.
Under such circumstances, Arsene Wenger finds himself in a precarious position, criticised heavily by fans and experts alike, while being unable to lure top players to the club due to his inability to win anything of note. Their 4-0 humiliation at Anfield last week summed up their current state, and while it is certainly deplorable, there is still hope. Here’s how the French manager can still win the league:
Play 2 strikers up front
Despite having someone as talented as Lucas Perez on the bench, Wenger persisted to pick either Lacazette or Giroud up front. Now that the Spaniard has joined Deportivo on a season-long loan, Arsene should try playing the 2 strikers he has confidence in, regularly. Lacazette drops deep and shifts to the wings. So having Giroud in the box, where he can meet crosses from the wide areas, right from the opening minutes of the game is likely to yield better results.
Find A Leader In The Squad And Convince Sanchez To Stay
For years, the Arsenal team has lacked a proper leader in its squad and that has taken a toll on the team morale, season after season. This year, if they want to recover, Arsene must dig deep and find a character from the squad, in the ilk of Patrick Viera, who can lift the team up in times of trouble. It is not that the team has poor players. It is mostly the case of them churning out uninspired, insipid performances when the going gets tough.
Away to Liverpool, the midfield of Xhaka and Ramsey was run over by Henderson and Emre Can and that cannot happen again if they are to make a proper challenge for the title. It is also mandatory that Wenger manages to convince Alexis Sanchez, his best player by a mile, to sign a contract extension by addressing his concerns and also get the best out of his remaining players.
Get Good Replacements In The Winter Window
Wenger needs to rope in at least one good central defender and a wide midfielder if he wants to keep the title dreams alive. Sead Kolasinic will take time to settle in and Mertesacker is past his prime. Gabriel and Gibbs have left and Wenger needs to get in good, quality replacements as soon as possible.