Arsenal's Arsene Wenger may wait to fire off all his new Gunners at once
After that humiliating 8-2 defeat to Manchester United, it’s only natural for Arsenal fans to demand wholesale changes for Saturday’s visit of Swansea. There are, after all, several new boys waiting in the wings.
But Arsène Wenger, in this regard, will have to be careful. Because while it must be tempting to pick all five of his latest signings, the prospect of giving debuts to Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun and Park Chu-Young in the same match would be something of a risk.
In an ideal world, you would want to incorporate them more gradually rather than throw them in altogether when understanding and organisation are bound to be compromised. That applies especially so in this instance. Due to the international break, the squad only got back together on Thursday. That is no time at all to be working on team shape.
Not only that, Wenger must also take into account the opposition here. Swansea might be a newly-promoted side that has not managed to score a goal yet, but there are not many attacks around with quite so much pace. With Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer on the flanks and with Wayne Routledge supporting from a withdrawn position in the middle, Brendan Rogers can boast three fliers who could cause problems on the counter attack.
As a result, Wenger might be reluctant to play Santos, short of match practice, in the same back four as Mertesacker, whose lack of pace has always needed protecting. By all accounts, Germany’s 6ft 6ins centre-half had a bit of a stinker in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Poland – not ideal preparation for his Arsenal debut.
So if Mertesacker plays on the right side of central defence, Bacary Sagna would be well-advised to tuck in when Swansea get the ball to prevent his new team-mate getting involved in an unseemly chase down the channel.
Further forward, Arteta should line up in the middle, his preferred position, where he will try to keep things moving with his neat range of passing. Make no mistake, this is no direct replacement for Cesc Fabregas. Arteta does not get forward nearly as much. That said, if he can stay clear of injury to get fully match fit, the Spaniard will prove a useful addition. His experience alone will be important.
So will that of Benayoun if the Israel captain plays, perhaps on the left of attack where Andrei Arshavin was so dreadfully poor at Old Trafford. You can just see Arteta and Benayoun swapping passes in that area, working their way upfield in the typical Wenger way.
The other alternative, visa permitting, is to use Chu-Young, whose extra bit of pace would maybe give the team more penetration up that side.
But whatever team Wenger picks, he desperately needs a victory. As he says himself, this must be a fresh start.
PERFECT PARKER
If Wenger needs a response, so does Harry Redknapp, whose Tottenham team were also savaged last time out by a rampant Manchester City. Unlike his north London rival, though, Redknapp does not have to think about blooding lots of signings.
For him, it is all about improving the side with a couple of additions. I don’t think there’s any doubt that Scott Parker will do just that. His experience and ability at the base of midfield, not to mention his influence in general around the club, will prove an immediate asset. Just the sort of character needed for today’s trip to Wolves.
As to whether Emmanuel Adebayor can serve a similar purpose, we shall have to wait and see. Wenger got rid of the striker two years back, partly because of his attitude. Not great for team spirit, we heard. Plus, his work ethic had waned.
In fairness, nothing that subsequently happened at Manchester City proved Wenger wrong. Adebayor had lost his way. Now, after a moderately successful loan spell at Real Madrid, the big centre-forward finds himself back in north London.
So can Harry do what he did with another Arsenal old boy, William Gallas? Get Adebayor back to something like his best? If he can, Spurs are back in business.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Staying on the centre-forward theme, what price for Nicklas Bendtner and Peter Crouch to score on their debuts? Bendtner was a gamble worth taking for Sunderland. For Stoke, Crouch is more of a sure-fire hit.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
21h00: Sunderland - Chelsea : BongdaTv 8
21h00: Arsenal - Swansea : BongdaTV 5
21h00: Stoke City - Liverpool : BongdaTv 7
21h00: Man City - Wigan : BongdaTv6
23h30: Bolton - Man Utd :BongdaTV 5
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