Sunday 17 November 2013

Arsenal Suffer An Ox Blow And Szczesny Signs On

The recent defeat to United showed up Arsenal's lack of width in attack with Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski all out injured. Serge Gnabry was available that day but like a few of the other players he was unwell and only came off the bench towards the end of the game. In the short time he was on he showed he had something to offer the team and given a little longer he might just have helped to get the team back into the game.

Walcott and Podolski should both be back very soon and Gnabry is available now of course, but the latest news on Chamberlain is far from encouraging. He was scheduled to return to the team in late November when he picked up his injury on the opening day of the season, but it looks like he's going to be out for a lot longer. The latest news would seem to suggest he won't be back until some time in the new year and it's a blow Arsenal could do without.

The team has some fantastic options in midfield with players such as Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky. All of those players are better in central positions though and the lack of wide attacking options proved crucial against United. If Arsenal are going to continue their fantastic start to the season they need as many options as possible.

Chamberlain will have to work hard when he comes back if he's going to get back into the reckoning in the Arsenal team and go to the World Cup with England. He's still very young and has a very promising career ahead of him, but to miss out on the World Cup would be a big blow for him. Hopefully for both Arsenal and Chamberlain he can come back fit and strong in the new year with something to offer the team at a crucial time in the season.

Meanwhile Arsenal will have to cope without his talents and hope that the return of Walcott and Podolski will offer them the width they need along with Gnabry. There's a possibility of Arsene Wenger dipping into the transfer market in the January window to add to his wide options, but the need for a striker is even more pressing. A few names keep popping up time and again and I'll probably have a look at some of them tomorrow.

On the good news front Wojciech Szczesny has signed a new long term contract and will be at the club for years to come. Since his debut four years ago he has played over 100 times for the club and has made the goalkeeper's shirt his own. He's still only 23 years old which is very young for a goalkeeper and his best years are still ahead of him.

He's had his ups and downs in the team, but he finally seems to have found the consistency he needed to go with his undoubted talent. Any team that wants to seriously challenge for trophies needs a top class keeper and Arsenal undoubtedly have one of the best in my opinion. If he continues to progress his future is very bright and so too could Arsenal's be.

That's it for today.

See you tomorrow.

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