Ozil - Do we need him?

[mastermind84]

Stop lying. You weren't. I was saying in the below thread I've never understood why Sanchez was never given a run up front when replying to AFC Leveller when he said Sanchez should be played through the middle.

http://www.goonersweb.co.uk/forum/sh...923#post503923

Here was your response.



You weren't the one advocate and the thing you've said he shouldn't be doing and can't do (create) is what's helping the players around him now. Over the summer, you went further and said he can't play as striker.

You're not even the first to say Sanchez should play up front. It's a conversation that goes as far back as when IBK used to post on here. See below. It goes even further back because I recall some other posters mentioning it way back when discussing our striker options when Giroud was injured and we signed Welbeck.

http://www.goonersweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3417

I made the below comment.




You were involved in that thread and said nothing about Sanchez being able to play up front. It's not even an original point because when we first bought Sanchez, Wenger said he could play up front and had him playing there for a short stint. As said before, I've never understood why he wasn't given much game time up front when first arriving. He had a slow start but it's not million miles away from the slow start he's had playing up front this season.

In previous conversations about what sort of striker we need, you kept emphasizing having someone strong enough to hold the ball up. I've kept saying we don't need that. Theo's game against Utd was an example and how Sanchez is playing now is further evidence. Sanchez dropping deep presents a problem for Ozil but it hasn't stopped the creativity. Theo is scoring goals, Ozil is scoring and even Ox is having his best season goal wise. Space opens up when we have a striker that's not so static.

I'm now seeing discussions on what sort of striker works with Ozil and some articles suggesting to even go back to Giroud. Why would we do that? With Sanchez being goal scorer and taking over the chance creation and assist duties from Ozil, isn't this thread and discussion still relevant? Ozil will have to adapt to the circumstances. He's not the most influential player. From midfield, it's still Santi Cazorla. You've also been wrong about Xhaka but that's another topic. So if Ozil isn't the main guy in the final third anymore or the main guy helping us get the ball from the defence into the final third...is he that big an influence on how we play?

thats inaccurate.

There was no balance yesterday. We had a great attack, and its probably our best attack since 2007-8, but the balance is bad. Sanchez is great attacking on the right, but he left Bellerin out to dry. Same with Iwobi on the left.

We also need to start playing 3 CMs.

I cannot stress this enough, but if Sanchez learns how to play center forward it would solve a lot of our problems. But Sanchez is super daft and will keep chasing the ball and just messing up things.

He still chases the ball and it hurts our shape. I am critical of him because ALexis does eat space.

Alexis is a forward. Like the world midfield needs to be taken out of his position and mindset.

Alexis loves the ball too much

But it really should work. We have the guys to get him the ball. He just needs to be patient.

Speaking of things that have nothing to do with this thread, how is Vincent Janssen doing?


And I have been right about Xhaka. The problem is Wenger refuses to implement him correctly but even in this mess of a system, the guy has been great for us.

How is Elneny doing? Remember when you said he had a wide passing range?

I have to keep saying it but the problem with this squad is Wenger and Wenger alone. He doesnt emphasize the buildup.