For a brief moment, the pressure on an Arsenal manager, for the first time in years, eased; the Mikel Arteta project found the needed trust; the Spaniard was to be the man to take the Gunners back to, at the very least, Champions League football. He was the Arsenal solution
Months later, however, the weight on his shoulders is mounting; the originally placed trust, questioned; his Arsenal side, beginning to revert to old habits. This time, though, the pressures do not stem from defensive woes. In fact, for the first time in what feels like forever, defensively, Arsenal look capable; ready to defend a lead.
The problem, instead, has been the taking of a lead in the first place to protect. Whilst Gabriel Magalhaes and Kieran Tierney have stepped up at the back, at the other end, the Gunners look as toothless as ever; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks less of a goalscoring threat than ever before in his often goal-filled career.
It has been a classic situation of, as one problem is finally put to an end, another, totally unexpected one, arises. Arsenal’s attacking play has never been a problem. Even under Unai Emery, they produced some of the most aesthetically pleasing football around at points to show some remains of ‘Wenger ball’.
And, whilst their defensive problems looked to have been solved, for now, the Gunners’ lack of creativity will be a growing concern for Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard deserves praise for playing the role of plumber to stop the leak of the always flowing goals but risks losing a place in Europe with his side unless he can find a source of magic to unlock the golden touch going forward within the Arsenal side once again.
Arsenal Risk Losing of European Place Unless They Find Creative Solution
Mesut Ozil the Clear Solution for Arsenal
How do Arsenal solve their lack of defence penetrating passes? Who could they possibly turn to? Well, a World Cup-winning assist king may be the place to start that search. That assist king, of course, goes by the name of Mesut Ozil: the man who has turned provider on 77 occasions throughout his Arsenal career; the man who has so often held the precious key to the unlocking of stubborn backlines.
And, yes, perhaps his prime is not much more than a memory these days, but, how can Arsenal be so sure of that case if they fail to even give him a chance? They need a man to turn instant provider, yet, they persist with leaving Ozil out in the cold, instead turning to the side to side passing range of Mohamed Elneny or the slow, often lethargical Willian.
Maybe, just maybe, with one swift re-placement of trust in Mesut Ozil, Arsenal can solve their offensive problems; rechannel Wenger ball, all whilst remaining defensively solid, and propel themselves back to Europe’s biggest stage.
They have nothing to lose by at least handing Ozil the chance, yet, everything to gain should he return with that key glint of gold in those previously magic boots. That tint of gold can provide the glimmer to an Arsenal side in desperate need of it; it would see the back of the net bulge via Aubameyang goals once more as he feasts on some form of service having been so far starved of it this campaign.
Aubameyang Must Become Focal Point Once Again
It cannot be denied that Arsenal have improved under Mikel Arteta who has looked a welcomed genius at times in the Emirates’ technical area. But, even with an FA Cup and Community Shield medal hanging on his mantelpiece, he is still making the biggest error yet of his Arsenal tenure by utilising his most prolific goalscorer on the wing.
Aubameyang has taken to the position in an opposite way in which a duck takes to water. It has looked unnatural because it is. The former Dortmund man is as natural a goalscorer as they come, not a creative winger, made to chase loose balls. He has built a reputation of a clinical nature in front of goal throughout his illustrious career; using his pace to make runs in behind, often picked out by those creative around him.
And perhaps there lies the problem once again. Before, Aubameyang has always been accompanied by a provider, whether it be Marco Reus or, in fact, Mesut Ozil. This season, however, service has been a rarity. But, deployed on the wing, it could even be argued that, if that service did arrive, Aubameyang wouldn’t even be best placed to take it despite clearly being the best man for the job.
Mikel Arteta’s want to utilise Alexandre Lacazette’s hold up play is understandable, but, when it’s not working, a plan B, arguably better suited to be the plan A in the first place, must be deployed as a solution for Arsenal with the re-forming of the partnership between Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyan alongside the returning of the striker to his most clinical and golden boot winning position.
Then, and only then, could we see the creative juices and a solution begin to flow for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta at the Emirates. Until then, however, they will continue to risk the loss of their European place altogether.
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