18 May 2015 02:14:21
Today's game has to have made Wenger realise that Walcott NEEDS to start from now on. He changed the game the moment he set foot on the pitch.

You have to admire Wenger for picking what has been our strongest starting XI week in, week out, in the league, but the system itself is once again starting to fail because of a fundamental rookie mistake Wenger makes in his current team selection: The abundant lack of width.

Sure, we've not done too to badly with the current setup, one winger and and central midfielder out wide, it just isn't enough. Sanchez, as good as he's been, loves to cut inside, and with Ramsey or Ozil doing the same on the other side, we end up just playing with no width at all. All though Ozil has found himself receiving the ball in some excellent positions out wide.

The thing that has made Hazard so good, is in no small part due to his ability to just stay wide and make himself available to receive the ball in those areas to create chances. Something at which Theo also excels!

We've seen what impact he makes when Wenger actually gives him time on the pitch, so surely he's fit enough now to start. I'd have to have him in place of Cazorla, who is the weakest link in a strong midfield, don't get me wrong, he's exceeded all expectations in his new, deeper role, but he's passing has been below par and he's always a liability just because of his stature. So I can't be the only one who would rather have Ramsey there and Theo on the wing. Ramsey has the engine and ability to fulfil and exceed that role, and will have more freedom to make the runs beyond the striker that make him so dangerous going forward. It makes more sense, the team has better balance, we have better width, and pace, for which there is no substitute in football.

Anyone else agree?

1.) 18 May 2015
18 May 2015 09:39:56
i think ramsey is critical for ozils game, and he is also critical for theos game.

ramsey sitting with schneiderlin would be the ideal scenario for next season.

Sanchez, ozil and? are the ideal creative front line.

giroud has once again proven when under pressure or marked one v one, he struggles to muster anything of note and misses crucial chances.

even gomis is looking better in finishing one off chances.

Cech, Schneiderlin, and a winger are a must.

i do not see why we cannot play with sanchez up top. yes he does not have the height, but he makes up for it with all his attributes.

stick ox on one wing, and if we are smart or lucky, we should get sterling, dybala, reus, one of those who can give us that added pace and firepower.

lets see what the summer brings.

2.) 18 May 2015
18 May 2015 13:28:54
Ramsey out wide, just doesn't sit right, he is always looking to come inside to get the ball, then looks right and finds no one there. Ramsey alongside le coq and Walcott or ox wide for me. Much better balance.

{Ed001's Note - more to the point he provides no cover for Bellerin at all. At times yesterday Bellerin had Fellaini pulling out wide onto him, while Young and Rojo had absolutely no one covering them at all.}

3.) 18 May 2015
18 May 2015 16:00:10
For me it wasn't Walcott coming on that turned the game, it was moving Ramsey central, which is his best position IMO. His distribution was terrific, and his runs into the box are better made centrally. Also I think if we do encourage Walcott or the Ox to play more like a traditional winger and stay wide, which is a good plan b when needed, then we will need a more dynamic striker who will hit the front or back post more decisively than Giroud can. I am afraid he just isn't quick enough at that crucial moment where he needs to be muscling past the defender. Case in point in yesterday match. Watch Theo's goal, and see where Giroud was...behind the defender. If the cross hadn't of been deflected in, there was no way Giroud was getting to that ball first....we need someone through the middle who will cause more problems for CD's at that crucial moment...

4.) 18 May 2015
18 May 2015 16:51:52
It wasn't so much that Theo played all that well, but rather than his pace forced United to sit deeper and provide space for our creative players in between the lines. In the first half with no pace and no width they were able to press us really tightly, I was disappointed that we started with Ramsey on the wing instead of Theo personally.
But it's not like this is Arsenes preference, if we had the Ox fit he would have been on the wing and it would have been a very different game!