Arsene Wenger says the forward options he has this season are the best he’s had in quite some time, but that finding a way of balancing them is the challenge he faces.
To be fair, it’s a much better and more interesting challenge than ‘Who the hell am I going to play there?!’, and after a trio that never played together before bagged all 5 goals and 2 assists in the 5-0 win over Southampton on Saturday, the Arsenal manager was purring about the depth of his squad.
“You look at Pérez and Walcott and Danny Welbeck, and I have Sanchez on the bench as well, that exceptional quality,” he said.
“For a long time we have not had that offensive quality available. The problem will now be to find the right combination and use them well in games, without destroying the balance of the team.”
Wenger also has Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil to consider, regular goalscorers this season, as well as the likes of Alex Iwobi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain chipping with almost 10 goals between them too.
It’s an exciting line-up of attacking talent, so it’ll be interesting to see how he uses them in the weeks ahead.
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You can find all the latest player stats on our dedicated stats page, but here’s what they’ve produced so far.
Alexis Sanchez – 17 goals, 11 assists
Theo Walcott – 14 goals, 2 assists
Olivier Giroud – 10 goals, 3 assists
Mesut Ozil – 9 goals, 7 assists
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6 goals, 6 assists
Lucas Perez – 6 goals, 6 assists
Alex Iwobi – 4 goals, 3 assists, 2 OGs forced 😉
Danny Welbeck – 2 goals, 1 assist (1 start)
We just need a bit of consistency.
Our recent form is WWDWWWW. Can’t get much better than that.
If you want to look back further, in our last 47 matches in all competitions (and to be fair, that includes pre-season), going back to the end of last season, we are 32-11-4. That’s pretty consistent!
It’s exactly what we wanted for ages. Goals from a diversity of attacking players. Hopes the Ox stays fit and gets into double figures for both this year. It’d be a good way to put the last few years behind him.
We could conceivably have as many a seven players in double figures by the end of the year!
Seems to me that the Ox could turn out to be Santi’s successor instead of being considered as a forward. If so, does Jack have an Arsenal future. Sadly not, I think!
How much do you think JW would be worth? I find it hard to evaluate our own players’ worth. For instance Walcott is worth 5 pounds one game then the next I wouldn’t sell him for 100m. A little bit of an exaggeration but you get the point. So Jack? Curious to hear everbody’s thoughts.
I think Jack will be one of those players whose ‘promise’ will never be fully realised. His value will depend so much on whether thinks they can unlock the talent he is supposed to have AND keep him injury free. £25m or £1? He’s obviously a gig gamble for someone!
I feel like Jacks been sold already. Would be surprised to see him in an Arsenal shirt again.
Sadly, that may be true. I still hold out hope that he’s not gone.
This is part of the problem we have with Jack. We’ve not been able to see him consistently for a number of years now, which makes assessment of him limited. We can all remember those moments of brilliance – such as THAT goal against Norwich – but, and its with greatest respect to the lad, other players have had moments of brilliance for us and have been moved on. We’d all love it if Jackhas a great season at Bournemouth, comes back with a really good, solid preseason for us and then kicks on from there with us. In terms… Read more »
I dont think arsene wants to sell jack. I also dont think he will unless jack forces the issue. Hes put a lot of time into him and faith, it made sense for him to go really, he needed to basically play for a team that he didnt need to give 110% for everygame at the start of the season so he could gradually build himself up. He couldnt play at 80/90% for us and keep a regular spot in the team with the options we have. But when he is match fit he will be given games by wenger… Read more »
Agree re Jack and disagree re Rambo!
Before his injuries and the arrival of a certain Ozil, Jack was our go to guy in almost every game that season. Whenever he has an off day the whole team plays badly. His season was epitomized when he had to come off the bench against Swansea in an FA cup tie I believe to score a cracker, volleying off a Giroud layoff. Ozil came and Jack was shifted to left wing (which I feel is odd) but didn’t do too badly. Since his injuries and since Hodgson started playing him deeper in midfield he looks good (especially on international… Read more »
I liked your comment but no way we are getting Fabregas back. That’s classic one step forward three steps backwards.
Appreciate it, glad someone felt the same about Jack. However I tend to agree, although Fabregas looks good I won’t want him anywhere near our team, what with morale already at a high. If we can get Veratti or Dembele though, the latter mostly to make Sp*rs twice the shite they already are.
Any two of Coquelin, Wilshere, Xhaka, and yes, Oxlade-Chamberlain would be fantastic as a midfield pairing after Cazorla has retired. I hope Cazorla still has a good season or two left in him, though, because he’s amazing!
Jack is English, young and plays at a big club. He must be worth 35-40 mil in this market.
Perez needs to be used more!! I dream of a front 3 of him, Alexis and Welbeck/Walcott. We’d destroy teams on the break. Thank goodness we got him over Vardy. He’s more technically gifted than that one season wonder.
A formidable line up of attacking talent indeed, in fact there is a goals threat through out the squad all the way to the backline, given that our regular midfield (Ramsey, Xhaka, Cazorla, Elneny Wiltshere etc) can all score and our regular back line (Mustafi, Koscielny, Bellarin, Gibbs/Nancho, all of which can also score, you can understand why there is a lot of goals in this squad when they are playing well.
Even Per will get you s goal or two, at crucial moments throughout the season.
Good problem to have for the manager!
Wenger needs to work on Cech’s strikerate
Well Per does love himself a little goal celebrating against Sp*rs.
If Wenger find the right balance in attack, even our bench will be fine, whoever start, we welcome him to score goals, there is a chance to win games if they all remain fit and score goals.
We’ve been here before. I don’t want to sound too negative but once they prove they can put this performance in against a top level first XI then we have to start purring over our squad depth. Until then, I will remain cautiously optimistic.
PLAY ALL OF THEM DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT KOSCIELNY’S GOT THIS
That line up against Southampton was packed with pace! I just looked right at the beginning and smiled
Team against watford…
Cheq
Bell. Kos. Mustafi. Monreal
Coq. Ox
Wallcott. Ozil. Wellbeck
Sanchez
Subs…ospina.Gabriel.Gibbs.Ramsey.
Iwobi.Perez.giroud..what a squad
I’d be tempted to put Perez instead of Welbz. Perez deserves a start after what he’s given the team
Yes agree with you ,with wellbeck out so long it would be dangerous to start him twice in a couple of days,but definitely 20 or 30 minutes,great competition now between Walcott..perez..Sanchez..giroud..wellbeck ..iwobi.. pick any 3 from that 6 and you would be confident of beating any team …on a different note I think its time to play the ox instead of Ramsey ,apart from cazorla ,the ox is the only midfielder who can run with the ball from midfield..
How many starts has Lucas had? 6 goals and 6 assists sounds incredibly good, based on the number of starts/appearances I think he’s had… Or am I wrong? I’m anyhow very impressed by him.
We should have bought Vincent Janssen!! Wenger has no idea!! He’s bought some nobody from Spain, for 18 million?!? He’s got… Oh
I would prefer Danny than perez
Walking around Munich yesterday……….there was a serious pong of scared shitless in he air!!
MOIST
Wenger to employ the 4-3-3 format,using Ozil,xhaka and Ox in the midfield with Perez,Walcott and Sanchez in the front,,,, Giroud and Danny being super subs
It’s the midfield where we don’t quite seem to have the same choice of obvious winning combinations. Attack takes the piss now and defence is not half bad either.
Strange since it’s usually the other way around for us.
That said the midfield on Saturday was very encouraging.
Actually, according to my records:
Alexis has also won 2 penalties
Olivier Giroud has 4 assists and has also won 1 penalty
Mesut Özil also has an “assist” for an own goal (v Spuds)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has 7 assists
Lucas only has 5 official assists (he’s not credited with the assist for Kos’s goal v Southampton)
Alex Iwobi has 3 goals, 4 assists (plus the 2 “assists” for own goals)