For a number of years now, particularly in the Arsene Wenger era, the
month of November has always been a tricky one for Arsenal on the
pitch. For inexplicable reasons the club often suffer from a sudden
loss of form or a number of injuries to players.
Last season, the club's season technically came to an end in November
when both Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin succumbed to ligament
injuries against West Brom. Although, the club only lost one match in
December, a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Southampton, they secured
wins in the other matches played that month. But the soft underbelly
due to a dyfunctional midfield was obvious.
Though, this season has not been different in terms of the form in
November, the only difference is that the team has remain unbeaten
going into the last match for the month which is against Southampton
in the League Cup at the Emirates today.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 19 matches since the opening day defeat to
Liverpool in the premier league. Though they have managed some tricky
fixtures in November, the unbeaten run has continued. Wins against
Ludogoret and Bournemouth in the Champions League and Premier League
has been unsetted by draws against Tottenham, Manchester United and
PSG in the League and Europe respectively.
The usual fluency that was the hallmark of Arsenal's attack in
September and October has been missing throughout November, with the
team having to abandon its free flowing style for more steel.
The failure of the team to adopt a free flowing style in recent weeks
is linked to the injury to Santi Cazorla. The 31 year old ambidextrous
midfielder who has been sidelined since October with an Achilles
problem has been a revelation since he was deployed as a deep lying
playmaker by Arsene Wenger. His two footed-ness allows him to keep and
recycle possession at close quarters and he is responsible for setting
the tempo of Arsenal's build up play after collecting the ball from
the centre halves. Incidentally, his presence always bring out the
best from Mesut Ozil as the German strives in the final third without
having to go searching for the ball in deeper positions whenever the
Spaniard is absent.
Besides the absence of Cazorla, the recent knock suffered by Alexis
Sanchez during the last international break meant he struggled against
Manchester United. But he was back to his best against Bournemouth
when he got a brace taking his tally for the season to ten goals.
The struggles reminiscent of November when it comes to Arsenal has
been reflected by inconsistent form, but not in results. With
different midfield combinations being deployed this month, with
Elneny-Xhaka, Coquelin-Elneny, Xhaka-Ramsey, Elneny-Xhaka as a
partnership either being deployed at the start of a match or during a
tweak as it was against Manchester United when Xhaka-Ramsey finished
that match in the middle.
One thing though, is that the closest midfielder Arsenal have to
Cazorla is Xhaka. The Swiss international brings a similar tempo
setting ability that the Spaniard has, and his ability to pick a pass
from deep prevents the likes of Ozil to fall deep to search for the
ball when there is an absence of a central midfielder who can pick a
pass inbetween the lines.
The 24 year old had one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt against
Tottenham, and his presence seem to bring out the best from Elneny
against Bournemouth last Sunday.
Though, its just 13 games into the Premier League season, the table is
already shaping up to be a four horse race, with a little gap emerging
in the table. But the hectic fixture list in December would determine
the direction the season takes.
With the League Cup, the least of Arsenal's prorities, a number of
players would want to go all the way in the competitons as the likes
of Martinez, Jeff, Rob Holding and a host of youngsters know it is an
opportunity to get more playing time for the club in a tight squad.
So its dateline Southampton as the Emirates on Wednesday with what
should be a completely different team from what obtains in the league.
Likely lineup should be:
Martinez, Jenkinson, Gabriel, Holding Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain,
Ramsey, Xhaka, Jeff, Iwobi, Lucas.