Apparently ozil is starting out wide with the expectation to come infield. Wenger says we play with 1 winger and 1 midfielder out wide
I was reading those quotes earlier and wenger didn't say he would play him on the wing. He says we usually use one typical winger and one midfield type player to give us variation going forward and that we have used Cazorla for this role previously. He hen goes on to say he isn't sure where Ozils best position is when playing within our team, he is able to play very well in the middle but wenger also thinks he is good out wide, but he adds ozil doesn't want to play out wide! Haven't seen anything saying he will be playing out wide tomorrow though?
I admit that I didn't look for a source quote, but just something I saw retweeted. You seem to have read more about it. The tweet I saw had quoted Wenger as saying he'd play out wide, but in hindsight it could have been waffle...
Not surprising if the story on Ozil is true. He is an elite premium player who's best position is CAM. The big question is he willing to be on the bench as Cazorla continues to play the way he does? Playing both would weaken us defensively and the Cazorla/Ozil and Ramsey combo is more effective and balanced. Ozil also isn't a winger and we have better options in Sancehz, Walcott and OXO. It wouldn't be fair to play Ozil just because he's Ozil. Let's play him in the FA Cup and see how well he's come back. The last thing we want is to disturb our return to form and good play.
Wenger mentioned the length of time ozil and Walcott have been out so I think he plans to ease them both back in rather than play them week in week out at the moment. You could tell wenger doesn't want to move Cazorla at the moment either. I'm fine with having one of Walcott/Sanchez on one wing with ozil/ Cazorla rotating out wide and centrally, or just one of them playing, or both centrally with Walcott and Sanchez wide for a strong offensive formation. Ozil and Cazorla are both of such a high quality it gives us all sorts of options. It's a great problem to have!
Not sure if Ozil or Cazorla was that dangerous out on the wings compared to someone like OXO. OXO for me has that pace and power to go past players that the other two don't have. I would even favour playing Sanchez and Walcott together than play Ozil out wide. Just because he's top quality, doesn't mean he can play in every attacking position. He isn't as versatile as the others. But as a CAM, he is easily one of the best in the world. I'm in the opinion of playing your best players in their best positions and Ozil is the best in the center pulling the strings.
I think Cazorla is keeping Ozil out of the team at the moment and Wenger and Ozil perhaps need to accept that.
I hope they do. We play the players that are playing the best and not down to reputation. Ozil shouldn't be Cazorla was always the man but never quite got a fair run as our main CAM. With both Wilshere and Ozil out, it made the decision of making him our main CAM all the more easy. He took that opportunity and is looking the fantastic.
Because it's an FA cup game, there is perhaps more room to change the team, but I totally agree with the principal that if a player takes the opportunity given to him and excels in that position, then he should stay there until either injury or form dictates that he should be removed.
Given the Chelsea and City results we have to play a strong-ish team i think we have to be favorites to retain the FA Cup
With Campell off to Spain this might mean Akpom may just find himself starting tomorrow. If not then I expect him to get some game time if we're comfortable.
Imagine when Welbeck is back in the team ...a totally different option on the wing. Quick, strong and hard working guy who will also compete with the guys who are not the typical wingers. I really like Welbeck in the team as he offers us something a CMF doesnt nor a Winger....love the competition within the team (assuming they are all fit at the same time!)
Yeah itll be nice having an option of sanchez, welbeck, walcott against some opposition or to play in the later stages of matches
I'd go Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil...Theo, Giroud, Oxo. Rest Cazorla & Sanchez & Coquelin & Rosicky as they'll all be needed against Spurs.
We have a week before our next game, surely that's a long enough recovery period (it was a week before this game too)? It's against a lower league opposition so I understand some rotation and using this as a chance to get some of our players some match fitness, but we have a great chance to win this competition and with so much time between games at the moment I don't want wholesale changes. I'd prefer to start a strong team, get a goal or two and then sub them at half time!
I agree, nothing should be taken for granted. That's what Chelsea and City did and... well you know the rest.
Heres the quote i read, i got it wrong and he wasnt saying hed def start wide at bradford but that he could well play wide in some games - “I see him behind the striker or on the flank, where he doesn’t like to play,” Wenger said. “I prefer him central. In our team it’s very flexible anyway. When you play on the flank, you can move inside. We usually have one player who is more a winger and another more midfield.”
Ospina, Gibbs, Mert, Kos, Chambers, Flamini, Ramsey, Rosicky, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud Subs: Martinez, Monreal, Bellerin, Sanchez, Cazorla, Akpom, Coqualan OXO has a groin inflammation issue, so it's best we just keep him out and don't take any risk.
