Talking Tactics: Arsenal’s Visit To Leicester City

Arsenal will be looking to continue their unbeaten run after a shaky start to this season’s campaign, an impressive fightback at Goodision Park saw the Gunners grind out a hard earned point. Wenger will be hoping for a more straight forward match as his Arsenal side visit newly promoted Leicester City this is how I would like to see Wenger set up.

Goalkeeper

Szczesny :Szczesny picks himself these days and will be looking to build on his impressive displays from last season. New signing Daniel Ospina is still unavailable with a thigh injury that he picked up at the World Cup for Columbia.

Defence

Debuchy: The former Newcastle man has looked solid since his move to the Emirates and is making that Right Back position his own. He was not able to quite show what he can do in the opposing half of the field last week at Everton but I would expect him to show his attacking attributes this afternoon.

Mertesacker: The big German started last week for the first time since returning from the World Cup and I would fully expect the Vice Captain to start again, Mertesacker is a key member of the back four and is a great organiser which Arsenal seriously lack when he is absent.

Koscielny: The French Centre Back was Mertesacker’s partner in crime last season apart from 4 games against the big sides last campaign they completley bossed games. If Mertesacker is the brains, Koscielny is the brawn of the partnership.

Monreal: The spaniard is a certainty to start and continue deputising for the injured Kieran Gibbs, Monreal has shown signs of improvement in the last couple of games. It is fair to say he is seen as a weaklink in the back four by Premier League opposition.

Midfield

Ramsey: The Welsh playmaker should be fresher than most going into this Afternoon’s match after serving his Champions League suspension in midweek, Ramsey has looked a bit out of sorts so far this season but never gives up and he opitimises the work ethic that was shown at Goodision Park last weekend.

Flamini: Flamini has to play it is that simple, he adds much needed bite in the Arsenal Midfield far too many times there have been games where the Midfield has looked far too passive and been bullied out of possession.

Alexis: Sanchez goes into this game already scoring his first goal for the club in midweek and securing Champions League football for another season. However with the system Wenger likes to play he is not suited to playing as a Centre Forward so I would like to see him wide preferably on the right hand side of the attack. At Everton and in bits against Besiktas on Wednesday night he was ineffective due to having his back to goal, it is not a strength of the Chilean, he is far more effective when he is running at defenders and commiting them.

Ozil: I have been confused since Ozil’s return as to why he has been deployed wide left, he did play there for Germany in the World Cup where in some games he flattered to deceive. I would much prefer to see him playing in the pocket just behind the Centre Forward that is where he is at his best providing the ammunition.

Oxlade- Chamberlain: Ox has not had as much game time as he deserves and he can be a real livewire especially in wide areas, if there is something that Arsenal still don’t have is an out-and-out left winger but Chamberlain on the left cutting in has the potential to be a reliable and effective outlet.

Forward

Campbell: Campbell is yet to start for Arsenal in the Premier League but has all the capability to fill that Centre Forward role in the absence of Olivier Giroud. It has been a troubled position for a while now and it doesn’t appear like Wenger is close to signing a replacement for Giroud anytime soon, Campbell deserves his chance. Last weekend Alexis struggled in the Centre Forward position and looked to light to be a long term success there, Campbell has good strength, is good in the air and good eye for goal, away at Leicester City could be the ideal situation to give him a go.

Although performances so far this season have been a little underwhelming if Arsenal can take 3 points this evening it will see them nicely positioned in the top four going into the International break, add that to completing qualification for the Champions League for the 17th consecutive season this would have been a successful start to the new campaign.