The Gunners play host to Ludogorets on Wednesday in what will be their 3rd group game of the new Champions League season.
Having won one and drawn the other, a win against the Bulgarian side will almost secure Arsenal’s qualifications for the next round – continuing their age-long trend of advancing from the group stage every other season.
Here are 5 things Arsenal must put in place to pocket all 3 points at the Emirates come Wednesday night.
Retain the attacking line
If it isn’t broken it doesn’t need fixing goes an overused cliche, and that should be Arsenal’s attacking strategy all through this season if possible.
The quartet of Iwobi, Walcott, Ozil, and Sanchez have combined to far more devastating effect this season, wrecking havoc to defences at will and firing on all cylinders.
There have been 12 goals and 7 assists between the 4 this season in the league, while Alexis and Walcott have gotten all of Arsenal’s 3 Champions League goals thus far.
Wenger will do well to retain this attacking quartet against Ludogorets as it has proven to know how to get the job done in the final third.
Play Elneny alongside Cazorla
The Egyptian seems a better fit to pair Cazorla in deep midfield than Xhaka. Having been sent off 4 times since the beginning of last season, the Swiss is yet to tame his ability to lose control on the pitch.
While Coquelin is also an option, he isn’t your fair-play award contender either, and he is also known to cross the line at will like Granit. Notwithstanding, there is a better chemistry between him and Cazorla on the pitch.
However, against the Bulgarian side that would possibly sit back as much as they can to get a point or pull a shocking victory, having a player like Elneny who is able to add more to the team’s attacking course will be the best option.
Put the game to bed as early as possible
To prevent late comebacks or 2nd half sudden awakening from the visitors, Arsenal must bag a win very early, putting the chances of a draw or win from Ludogorets beyond any reasonable doubt.
They have shown how capable they are of doing exactly that often times this season, and this newly-found winning formula could be the key to unlocking the silverware.
Avoid unnecessary bookings
Finishing above the lot is definitely Arsenal’s mission for group A, and there are still 3 more games to decide that. In the remaining games, Wenger will need all hands on board to scoop all maximum points, and as such, every player must prevent getting booked as much as they can against Ludogorets.
The visitors don’t pose much of a threat, so landing into troubles with yellow cards or reds won’t make any sense. Only Coquelin is on a yellow card at the moment, another one for him and he would get a one-game suspension. The lesser the bookings, the better.
Withdraw some of the forwards once victory is gotten
Sanchez and the likes have played many minutes this term, and they definitely need deserved rest for the gruelling season ahead.
If victory is wrapped up as early as the 1st half or within an hour, Wenger should withdraw some of his men upfront in order to get their batteries recharged ahead of the next set of challenges.
Arsenal are known for their injury worries every other season, and it must be prevented by all means and at all cost this term. Resting the players as at when due to prevent fatigue from accumulating is a way to go.