Nitesh: What happens when Gervinho returns to Arsenal?
The young English pair of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been playing well over the last couple of weeks now, and they form a lethal pair on the wings. Arsenal now look a dangerous and potent team on the counter, and between them, they form part of the core of the Arsenal of tomorrow, and potentially, today.
But what happens when Gervinho returns from the African Cup of Nations? The Ivory Coast winger won’t really be happy playing second fiddle to these two young wingers given his experience and his stats tally. You could say that we don’t really need to worry about this, and that there will be ample rotation to give him enough playing time. But in the last couple of seasons, I haven’t really seen that happen often enough. Arsene has a set starting-lineup, which he looks to play week in week out, and rotation happens mostly in the cup games, never in the league. In this scenario, would Gervinho be happy playing sparingly like Arshavin, while having done so much for the team unlike the Russian?
You just cannot drop Oxlade-Chamberlain given the form that he is in. Unlike Walcott, you know that you’re going to get a good game from him no matter what, and he doesn’t go missing for long spells. He gives his own all the time, which was shown when he raced back to put in a sliding challenge after he was dispossessed against Blackburn. That’s the kind of grit we want in our team, and that’s what we are getting.
Here, I would drop Walcott to the bench. He has a tendency to go missing when we most need him, and although he has been playing well over the last couple of weeks, he should also realize that his spot is not fixed in the team. I don’t believe that a spell on the bench will hurt him; rather, it would only reinvigorate his determination to bounce back in style and how off to the critics and the footballing world alike. He needs to learn from his younger counterpart in The Ox, and if he does so, he’ll be a better winger for it. In time, he could be one of the best wingers in the Premier League, but this is only if he gets his football sorted out, and if he doesn’t still harbour dreams of being a centre-forward. He should play well where he’s told to, and then move on from there.
Furthermore, I’ve always thought of Gervinho as a right-winger rather than a left-winger. He is clever at making the little runs to draw off defenders, rather than having to dart inside every time or get to the by-line like he would have to do on the left flank. Most of his goals have come when he is played on the right-flank, like against Blackburn at the start of the season. So perhaps it would better to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left side, where he will look to make little runs inside the last defender and take a potshot at goal, and Gervinho on the right, where his directness will be there for all to see. Or would you keep the Ivory Coast man on the bench, and continue with the two young Englishmen as long as they’re playing well together? That’s a nice solution too, and a pleasant dilemma for Arsene….
Who should drop to the bench?
by Nitesh
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I reckon bench Gervinho for his game back. Let Theo and AOC prove they can do it week in against other sides. Wenger says he needs to not burn AOC out so Gervinho will get his chance.
I agree he looks better on the right wing and giving Walcott a rest is not a bad idea, just that I see Walcott has his confidence back so at least play him in the next game.
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Pointless post anything could happen over the next week or so before gervinho returns and seeing has he has played more football than most over the last few weeks he will certainly be eased back in. for me though there is a simple solution when they are all fit play the ox in rambo’s position or switch to 442.
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You play the team that are playing well. Gervinho went to African cup and we lost our way. We have now got an understanding between all forward players. So although Gervinho has been great he needs to wait his turn to get back in the side and make sure the two players in possession at the moment keep their place until they lose form then Gervinho gets his place back and then has to keep hold of it.
Changes being made during games to freshen up the attack would also be helpful to the progress of the side. The same should be said of center mid as I think we have put too much on ramsey and he needs a rest. Arteta had a enforced rest and has been excellent since his return. Players need to feel wanted but not garenteed place.
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My friend he gets dropped. Oxlade is more affective. Well at this moment. we should not take away his momentum.
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One good game since God knows when and now it became a difficult thing to bench theo it wont be long before he screws up again look how many wingers utd have this is a dissapointing post
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It’s good that those positions can finally receive some rotation – fact is, Chamberlin is too young to play more than 30 games a year so we need to be able to mix and match. Walcott has generally been poor this season but every now and then he has a real corker, however I think Chamberlin is the better player so in a big game I’d probably start with Gervinho and Chamberlin on the flanks.
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boss that is true ,we shud drop walcott,ok i do luv his pace but he quickly makes decisions wen wid the just like his pace thus leading to wasting many balls.i wud prefer gervo and ox because they can hold the ball en also dribble n give opponets pressure
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boss that is true ,we shud drop walcott,ok i do luv his pace but he quickly makes decisions wen wid the ball just like his pace thus leading to wasting many balls.i wud prefer gervo and ox because they can hold the ball en also dribble n give opponets pressure
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We need not worry about that at all as players are fielded based on their form on match day.
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ime to give Theo his trials on the centre forward. starting at 15 Mins, then 20, 25, 30. So i would begin to give RVP rests especially in a game that we are 3 goals up and playing well.
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I’d try Walcott up front at times, with Ox and Gervinho on the wings.
Our starting line up suits 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 more than the 4-3-3/4-5-1.
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Dude. im all for are players. But how many times one on one does Theo have. I think we should have just signed a well establised striker. Henry is getting fitter but his time is nearing the end. And he is starting to look very sharp.
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Hopefully gervinho will return with a bit more confidence in front of goal cause he is lethal on the wing just gets by players so easily , if he does he is straight back into the first team , ox can play in the middle, walcott would get beat up if he was played up front…
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