Arsenal retained the leadership of the Premier League table after a
hard fought goalless draw against Stoke City at the Britannia on
Sunday. It was a game were the goalkeepers at both ends of the stick
were called upon on several occasion, especially Petr Cech who did
enough in the second half to earn Arsenal the point, while Jack
Butland kept out efforts from Oliver Giroud, (twice) and Oxlade
Chamberlain.
The talking point before the match was the absence of Mesut Ozil, who
missed out through a foot injury, that Wenger described as short term.
The German's absence was clear for all to see on Sunday evening as
Arsenal's creativity suffered while the game lasted. Ozil has 16
assists this season, and he has created 87 chances for his team mates
this season. Arsenal also equalled their lowered shots on target for a
league game this season, with just four shots on target.
With the conditions in which the team went into the match, especially
with the absence of key attacking players, it did not come as a
surprise that the match is seen as a point gained rather than two lost
by many.
However, it was the performance of two of the team's players in the
attacking third that left much to be desired.
Theo Walcott started again from the left wing, and he was
disappointing once again. His uninspiring performances have led many
to assert that he should be the player to be dropped when Alexis
Sanchez returns to the side, because of the form of Joel Campbell.
Walcott just went through the motions at the Britannia, contributing
very little in attack, and next to nothing defensively in helping
Nacho Monreal cover the left side, in contrast to Joel Campbell who
was both effective in the final third and defensively. Walcott had six
successful dribbles out of the seven he attempted, but that does not
give a clear picture of his game. Besides the fact that he was
dispossesed twice, his overall numbers were disappointing.
Even though he is one of Arsenal's outlets to get a goal, that did not
stop Wenger from substituting him for Alex Iwobi, a substitution he
was not enamoured by judging by his reaction.
He has been poor lately, he gave the ball away for Liverpool's first
goal last week when he attempted a dribble out of defence. And Besides
the goal he scored against Manchester City in December which brought
his for goals for the season to five, he has not been consistent in
front of goal.
This month he marks ten years as a player of Arsenal, and he was one
of the players Arsene Wenger earmarked to be part of the English core
(Walcott, Ox, Gibbs, Wilshere [injured] Jenkinson [loan] Calum
Chambers was not at the club when Wenger made the statement of a
English core) at the club that could be heading for greater things. So
far, it seems the manager spoke too soon at the time, as non of these
players have lived up to the expectation so far.
It would not be for want of games, as he has been involved from the
start in all of Arsenal's games since he returned from a calf injury
to start against Olympiacos in Athens.
Another one of the English core that has not inspired much this season
is Oxlade-Chamberlain, he was deployed in Ozil's position at Stoke
behind Giroud in a 4-3-3. Apart from some fleeting display where he
forced a save from distance from Jack Butland, he was largely one
paced and ineffective. Although his attempted five dribbles were
successful, and he was only dispossessed twice all game, he could
still have done more given that the opportunity to feature regularly
would regress once the players that are out starts returning from
injury.
The Ox as he is popularly called has been one of the disappointments
of this season to date, especially when the way Joel Campbell has
risen from the ashes this season to become a key player is considered.
The Costa Rican has been so consistent in the last seven weeks that
Wenger recently dubbed him the Coquelin of this season.
When the Costa Rican all round display in such a short space of time
is appraised, and how he has improved, it calls into question what the
English players at Arsenal are doing wrong that they seem to make the
same mistakes, and there game always suffers when they are expected to
improve despite the fact that they have been playing amongst some of
the best and most technical players around in Ozil, Alexis, Rosicky
and Cazorla.
It says alot about the direction of the English core at Arsenal that
when the injured players returns from their spell out, they will not
be first choice.
Walcott has become ineffective playing from the left, and with Alexis
set to return to the side against Chelsea, he could be set for a place
on the bench in the coming weeks.
The Ox is already second choice to Joel Campbell. While Kieran Gibbs
lost his place to Monreal long ago.
Jack Wilshere is always injured.
What direction for the English core?
P.S. Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck are in their second season at the club.
hard fought goalless draw against Stoke City at the Britannia on
Sunday. It was a game were the goalkeepers at both ends of the stick
were called upon on several occasion, especially Petr Cech who did
enough in the second half to earn Arsenal the point, while Jack
Butland kept out efforts from Oliver Giroud, (twice) and Oxlade
Chamberlain.
The talking point before the match was the absence of Mesut Ozil, who
missed out through a foot injury, that Wenger described as short term.
The German's absence was clear for all to see on Sunday evening as
Arsenal's creativity suffered while the game lasted. Ozil has 16
assists this season, and he has created 87 chances for his team mates
this season. Arsenal also equalled their lowered shots on target for a
league game this season, with just four shots on target.
With the conditions in which the team went into the match, especially
with the absence of key attacking players, it did not come as a
surprise that the match is seen as a point gained rather than two lost
by many.
However, it was the performance of two of the team's players in the
attacking third that left much to be desired.
Theo Walcott started again from the left wing, and he was
disappointing once again. His uninspiring performances have led many
to assert that he should be the player to be dropped when Alexis
Sanchez returns to the side, because of the form of Joel Campbell.
Walcott just went through the motions at the Britannia, contributing
very little in attack, and next to nothing defensively in helping
Nacho Monreal cover the left side, in contrast to Joel Campbell who
was both effective in the final third and defensively. Walcott had six
successful dribbles out of the seven he attempted, but that does not
give a clear picture of his game. Besides the fact that he was
dispossesed twice, his overall numbers were disappointing.
Even though he is one of Arsenal's outlets to get a goal, that did not
stop Wenger from substituting him for Alex Iwobi, a substitution he
was not enamoured by judging by his reaction.
He has been poor lately, he gave the ball away for Liverpool's first
goal last week when he attempted a dribble out of defence. And Besides
the goal he scored against Manchester City in December which brought
his for goals for the season to five, he has not been consistent in
front of goal.
This month he marks ten years as a player of Arsenal, and he was one
of the players Arsene Wenger earmarked to be part of the English core
(Walcott, Ox, Gibbs, Wilshere [injured] Jenkinson [loan] Calum
Chambers was not at the club when Wenger made the statement of a
English core) at the club that could be heading for greater things. So
far, it seems the manager spoke too soon at the time, as non of these
players have lived up to the expectation so far.
It would not be for want of games, as he has been involved from the
start in all of Arsenal's games since he returned from a calf injury
to start against Olympiacos in Athens.
Another one of the English core that has not inspired much this season
is Oxlade-Chamberlain, he was deployed in Ozil's position at Stoke
behind Giroud in a 4-3-3. Apart from some fleeting display where he
forced a save from distance from Jack Butland, he was largely one
paced and ineffective. Although his attempted five dribbles were
successful, and he was only dispossessed twice all game, he could
still have done more given that the opportunity to feature regularly
would regress once the players that are out starts returning from
injury.
The Ox as he is popularly called has been one of the disappointments
of this season to date, especially when the way Joel Campbell has
risen from the ashes this season to become a key player is considered.
The Costa Rican has been so consistent in the last seven weeks that
Wenger recently dubbed him the Coquelin of this season.
When the Costa Rican all round display in such a short space of time
is appraised, and how he has improved, it calls into question what the
English players at Arsenal are doing wrong that they seem to make the
same mistakes, and there game always suffers when they are expected to
improve despite the fact that they have been playing amongst some of
the best and most technical players around in Ozil, Alexis, Rosicky
and Cazorla.
It says alot about the direction of the English core at Arsenal that
when the injured players returns from their spell out, they will not
be first choice.
Walcott has become ineffective playing from the left, and with Alexis
set to return to the side against Chelsea, he could be set for a place
on the bench in the coming weeks.
The Ox is already second choice to Joel Campbell. While Kieran Gibbs
lost his place to Monreal long ago.
Jack Wilshere is always injured.
What direction for the English core?
P.S. Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck are in their second season at the club.
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