Granit Xhaka isn't a DM for Arsene

So you think Arsenal are really a top 6/7 club then because that is the way you are heading.
Personally I would "expect" you to remain a top 4 club if managed right but maybe my expectations are too high for you/your club.

 

Well I try not to "expect" anything. I hope for a lot though.

 

Pretty similar to the expectations set by our board to Wenger.

 

Anything you need to say to placate yourself

 

Xhaka had a decent game today - He's very inconsistent.

Has exceptional ability but he's a funny player because he doesn't quite fit the DM position or the standard CM/playmaker role. I think Xavi Alonso is the player he most resembles in style and technical skills. If we take that example he needs to be played alongside an athletic Box to Box player.

Alonso hads thrived next to Gerrard and Vidal - someone who can do all the running. Unfortunately for us Ramsey doesn't quite fit that mould.

 

People don't rate Our Coq highly but with the players we have (Ozil and Sanchez in particular), I would have us play with 2 DMs (Coq and Xhaka) with Ramsey with more of a license to roam.

Sanchez loses the ball a lot, Ozil is not effective defensively. With Coq sitting and Xhaka in and around him look for the passes and Ramsey making late runs, it could work. In my head it does anyway.

-----------------------Cech---------------------
-Bellerin--Mustafi--Koscielny--Kolasinac-
----------Coquelin------Xhaka--------------
---------------------Ramsey------------------
----Ozil---------Lacazette-------Sanchez---

 

I would go...352

-----------------------Cech------------------------
--------Holding--Koscielny---Mustafi--------
Bellerin------Coq-----Xhaka------Kolasinac
----------------------Ozil----------------------------
--------Lacazette-------Sanchez---------------

Or even...

-----------------------Cech------------------------
--------Holding--Koscielny---Mustafi--------
Bellerin------Coq-----Xhaka------Kolasinac
----------------------Sanchez--------------------
-------------Giroud----------Lacazette---------

 

I just fear having Ozil or Sanchez making us defensively vulnerable through the middle. Ramsey at least is decent defensively. Ozil and Sanchez along Lacazette can cause problems with their movement. It is a more dynamic frontline.

 

I think Ozil makes us defensively vulnerable. He chases the ball but doesnt tackle.
Ramsey makes us defensively vulnerable because he's never in position.

Then on top of that Mustafi and Kos - will be very vulnerable in the air. I actually saw Mustafi in Kings Cross St Pancras a few days back - he's tiny.

 

It is really tough to decide what is best. Xhaka helps us defensively in the air, as does Giroud. So every time you change one person in the team you have to re-evaluate everyone else. Not only that, but a player may have the odd bad game, may get a bad match up or may even be marked out of the game, or targeted by the other team.

On top of that we all have our biases about what we like to watch, and how we like the game to be played. My own view is that the key issue in a game is making your opponent react to your plan, rather than making adjustments to his. I used to tell my wingers when I coached, that I didn't want to see a full-back attacking ever. It was the wingers job to put fear into them, so they were always so worried about defending that they never ventured much over the half-way line.

So, Ramsey getting back isn't important to me, as long as his opposite number is just outside his own penalty area due to paranoia. Ramsey is at his best when the other guy is chasing him over the park so much that he can't get enough oxygen to his brain to think about attacking.