For weeks I have been championing Arsenal’s squad as one of the strongest, if not the strongest in the Premier League and I am not about to change my opinion despite weak squad performances against Wigan and Leeds United in the cup.
The squad depth is there for all to see but the problems we have had in recent weeks is not due to the squad but due to the number of changes we have been making.
As Arsenal fans we cannot grumble with how the season has gone so far. We are fighting for four trophies and have a great chance of ending our silverware drought with the Carling Cup. And despite what people might think our squad has played a huge part in the success so far. But what we must be careful of is overdoing the rotation policy what is in place at the Emirates.
The only times we have struggled this season is when we have made too many changes. Take for example the match against Wigan and Leeds. Arsene Wenger made eight changes in the first and nine in the second and in both games we lacked cohesion, only coming away with a draw in both matches.
And is it really surprising considering we are fielding a new team which hardly has a game between them. Niklas Bendtner, Keiran Gibbs and Denislon have only made 25 appearances this season put together so no wonder they looked rusty. Throw in alongside them a goalkeeper who has only made four appearances in his Arsenal career and a few players such as Marouanne Chamakh and Emmanuel Eboue who have not played for a few weeks.
This is not an article slating rotation because I believe it is a key part of modern football and it is here to stay but maybe Arsenal need to change their attitude towards it. Wenger needs to look at his policy and look into not making as many changes but maybe doing it a bit more regularly. This way our squad players can get sharpness and also play with some teammates who are in form rather than all the rusty squad players playing together.
Take a look at the impact Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott made against Leeds. They picked the pace of the game up and dragged their teammates with them and if they had started we would have come through the game and we would not be worrying about a reply.
As I have said before our squad is good and the proof is in the substitutes benches we have been fielding in the last few weeks.
But the squad players do not got as many games as the first-team players and can be sluggish. Therefore less changes and a few more first team players would help the squad players coming into the team as their would be more cohesion.
This should start tomorrow at Ipswich where if we play a strong team, with some a few more first team stars, we could grab a healthy lead to put the tie to bed. If the Gunners follow Chelsea’s lead there are goals to be taking against Ipswich and if we are clinical Wenger could rest even more players in the second leg.
My team to face Ipswich tomorrow: Szchesney, Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Denilson, Wilshere, Ramsey; Walcott, Chamakh, Nasri. Subs: Fabianski, Song, Fabregas, Gibbs, Van Persie, Nasri, Bendtner.
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