He's having a scan today, but the signs didn't look good after the game. Wenger is quoted as saying If he's out for the rest of the season, then it's a big blow as he's been instrumental in our midfield. I think we'll need to play Rosicky, Benayoun/Ramsey and Song in the middle with Oxo and Walcott on the flanks. The bigger question though is that an injury like this means that we're still a bit light in attacking midfield and I think we need to bring in a top creative attacking midfielder in the summer. As much as I want Wilshere to hit the ground running, we can't pin all of our hopes on him next season.
In my opinion, we lost only because Arteta got injured. He would have tracked back for the 1st and no doubt stopped the goal. Look at our loss rate without Arteta compared to with him. Possibly our most influential player this year. Hope it's not serious.
Who will take his place ? Ramsey cannot do the job, he isn't in form, we need someone who will keep the ball moving quickly. Coquelin would be my choice, not sure what stage he is at with his recovery though Its vital we get the right person for the remainder of the season.
Well we can kiss goodbye to Wilshere coming back http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/138186-Jack-Wilshere-ruled-out-of-Euro-2012-by-ankle-injury. Having Arteta out will be a big blow, he was the oil that kept our midfield engine running smoothly. Ramsey will now be under a lot more pressure to perform, as Wenger will use him in the central role over Benny. Unless of course Diaby FINALLY makes an appearance this season.....
I think we should start with Rosicky and Benayoun in the middle. I like Ramsey, but he's not in top form, I still think he can do a job this season, but I'd like to see him brought on to sure up the midfield and keep possession - I think Benayoun offers more going forward at the moment.
Wenger will go safe and start with Ramsey over Benny or OXO. I personally would give a go to either Benny and OXO and instruct Rosicky to drop deeper.
He will start Ramsey. I'd rather Rosicky play the same role and Oxo take the middle. He has proved that he can track back when needed. The boy can play anywhere.
If he plays Ramsey then Rosicky will maintain his current role. If he decides on the other 2, then he'll probably drop Rosicky back to make us more defensively stable. I'll stick to Ramsey at the moment as i think Rosicky is playing really well in his current position and role.
He was terrific, as was Santos. Those guys were everywhere for Arsenal. It was almost a Rosicky and Santos show v Wigan..... Once Santos adapts to the Premiership fully, he has to be our first choice left-back. However, i would select a left winger who could cover his runs....
I like Oxo, but he didn't really play very well in the middle last night. That's not to say that he can't in the future. But at the moment, I'd take Rosicky and Benayoun in the middle and play Oxo on the left.
I disagree. I thought Oxo was OK last night. Looking for the ball all the time. Making space. Covering the defense. Theo was awful AGAIN though.
Oxo made an impact, demanding the ball, building up a good head of steam, running at the " Wigan wall of 10 " but, failed to release the ball in any meaningful way. An accusation often levelled at Diaby. Too easy to say we wouldn't have lost if Arteta would've remained fit. There is a complacency/ lack of focus that I've noticed we have. It's evident when we defend or attack from a set piece, it was also apparent at QPR once we'd achieved our goal of catching Spurs. It was clear in both goals we conceded Yesterday. It was clear Wigan knew this as they seized every opportunity to break up a passage of play in the game, feigning injury & the like. We switch off, or having the opportunity to go 8 points clear of Spurs, playing a relegation threatened side, we never switched on.
Arsenal have won a grand total of 0% without Arteta in the league whilst they have won 75% with him. Arteta makes a huge difference to the side and had he not been injured, I do not believe that Wigan would have got the 1st goal.
