Arsenal may not be in the best position as a club in England at the moment. They are struggling to get into the top-4 and have now lost one of their most important players in Alexis Sanchez who completed the move to Manchester United yesterday.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for the Gunners as they can avail the services of another fine attacker, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was a part of the swap deal involving Sanchez. The former Borussia Dortmund man had a record-breaking season in Bundesliga before moving to England. He has not been able to replicate that form at Old Trafford but is still a quality player, who will only improve the squad at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s lineup without Sanchez will not be an easy one to swallow for the Gunners’ fans but they do have the exciting Mkhitaryan to look out for from their next game. But how will Wenger’s strongest XI look with Mkhitaryan as a part of it, when everyone is fit?
After a brief experiment with a 3-4-3 system, Wenger, for one reason or the other, has now shifted to a more orthodox 4-2-3-1, in the last couple of months. Petr Cech will remain their first choice shot-stopper while Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac are Wenger’s best choices at right-back and left-back respectively.
Skipper Laurent Koscielny, who has not been at his consistent best, still remains Arsenal’s best CB and till Wenger spends on another name, German international Shkodran Mustafi is his best bet to partner Koscielny at the back.
While Granit Xhaka will remain the club’s first choice midfielder, Aaron Ramsey, who has been in decent shape this season has tough competition from Jack Wilshere, for his role in the midfield. The Welsh midfielder might just edge Wilshere to a role in this lineup.
This is where the exciting part for the fans start.
Lineup – 1:
Mesut Ozil, who is now the most important player at the club, can play on the right flank and also in a no.10 role. He has been effective recently, playing through the middle but that is a position Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been used in, for most of his time at Old Trafford.
However, the former Borussia Dortmund man was effective playing in a wider position in Germany and could be used from the right flank, with Ozil starting through the middle. Young Alex Iwobi might be Wenger’s best bet on the left flank but the likes of Danny Welbeck can also play a role in this position.
Alexandre Lacazette should remain the first choice striker for Arsenal.
Lineup – 2:
The Gunners have also used Jack Wilshere in a no.10 role, which might see Mesut Ozil pushed onto the right flank and Mkhitaryan play in a new role, on the left flank. The 29-year old did play a few games here in his time at the Iduna Park and him playing in that position lends slightly more balance to the Arsenal side.
In both systems, Arsenal’s attacking line can interchange positions during the game, adding an extra flair to this attack. But which lineup do you think suits Arsenal better?
