Arsenal sit atop the Premier League in late January and have both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to return from injury. Pretty reading for Gunners fans all around the world.
However, this season has proved to be one of the most unpredictable yet as both Manchester City and Leicester City are breathing down their necks. Though the Gunners have led the way for a while now, the nature of this season makes it hard to pin down an out and out favourite.
Still, the January transfer window could afford the chance to land some reinforcements at the Emirates. Not only that, key players are due to return from lengthy absences just as the season begins to hot up.
Olivier Giroud is in hot form, while the addition of Petr Cech has stabilised the side in more ways than one. Will this year finally spell the end in Arsene Wenger’s long quest to secure a fourth Premier League title?
That remains to be seen, though here’s the ideal XI for him to do so.,,
PETR CECH
The Czech ‘keeper has finally given the North London giants a shot-stopper to be relied upon. Not since Jens Lehman left has Wenger been able to boast such an important presence between the posts.
When he arrived, his importance has talked up. Despite a dodgy start in the season opener with West Ham, the former Chelsea ‘keeper has shown exactly why the Blues were so keen on keeping him at the club.
A hugely important signing in Arsenal’s recent history, up there with Ozil and Sanchez.
HECTOR BELLERIN
Spanish speedster Hector Bellerin has emerged as a key first-player ever since he was drafted in to replace Mathieu Debuchy last season following his injury.
The 20-year old has not looked back since, using his electric pace to become a key part of the Gunners attack. He’s arguably been the best right-back in the Premier League this season.
While, as you might expect from a young defender, his positional understanding can be improved upon, the former Barcelona youngster has the raw materials to become a world beater.
LAURENT KOSCIELNY
While he’s not the most obvious of leaders, compared to the likes of Tony Adams in the past, Laurent Koscielny has established himself as the most important defender at the club.
The Frenchman is an entirely dependable central defender, combing a surprising level of pace with an astute reading of the game in order to marshal the backline. When the going gets tough, the French international can be tasked to stoutly protect his goalkeeper.
Goodness knows where the Gunners would be had he left for Real Madrid over the summer.
MARQUINHOS
Per Mertesacker performs very well on the whole, though the World Cup winner is still susceptible to odd the lapse in concentration and simply cannot deal with pace. Even in the air, where you would expect the German to naturally excel, can he sometimes look shaky.
John Stones may be the marquee centre-back most talked about, but perhaps Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos represents an easier deal to pull off.
The Brazilian is reportedly eager to leave the French capital due to the fact countrymen David Luiz and Thiago Silva are preferred in starting berths by manager Laurent Blanc. The 21-year old is a gloriously gifted defender but seemingly can’t get a look in at the Ligue 1 champions.
Able to play at either right-back or more centrally, the former Roma ace could develop into a fine player while in North London.
NACHO MONREAL
Nacho Monreal has become one of the most reliable members of this Arsenal side, edging out Kieran Gibbs in the battle to become Wenger’s first choice left-back. Despite a slow start to life at the Emirates, the former Malaga man has become one of the best in the Premier League.
Having improved his defending, the Spaniard provides balance and stability behind Arsenal’s array of attacking stars.
VICTOR WANYAMA
Mohamed Elneny has been drafted in this month in an effort to strengthen the defensive midfield rans, the Egyptian is barely the destroyer the Gunners are crying out so desperately for.
While Francis Coquelin is clearly one of the key cogs in Wenger’s plans, both Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini are not long term options, leaving the area pretty light after the summer.
Southampton’s Victor Wanyama was at his best against Arsenal in the recent clash between the two, nullifying the in-form Mesut Ozil with relative ease.
If the Kenyan bruiser was able to replicate such exploits in some of the bigger games in the Champions League, the club may have a better chance against elite clubs.
AARON RAMSEY
With Santi Cazorla injured, Aaron Ramsey can be deployed in his more natural central role rather than shunted out to the right of an attacking trio. The Welshman excelled as a box-to-box midfielder two years ago, dragging his team forward and adding plenty of goals to his game.
When paired with a disciplined holding option, the 25-year old can burst forward with his gut-busting approach. He consistently makes clever runs into the box, able to plunder goals when arriving late on to join some of the more intricate passers in the team.
JOEL CAMPBELL
Rather a surprising choice perhaps, but the Costa Rican star has shone during his run of games due to the injury crisis dogging Wenger over the last few months. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks almost entirely bereft of confidence at the moment, while Theo Walcott has been used as more of a centre-forward.
Campbell was excellent against Liverpool and has proved to be a worthy member of the squad, adding two goals and an assist in his eight Premier League starts. No one has really staked a better claim than the 23-year old so far this season.
MESUT OZIL
We don’t really need to justify Mesut Ozil’s inclusion in the starting XI, though we can wax poetic about his talent. 16 assists for the World Cup winning playmaker have made him a strong contender for the Player of the Year award, after a slow start to life in England.
The 27-year old has become a stronger player now he’s into his third season, sculpting himself into somewhat of a talisman recently. His pinpoint accuracy works well with Olivier Giroud, and his eye of the needle vision makes Theo Walcott an ideal striker to play in front of him.
Pure class.
ALEXIS SANCHEZ
Missing since November, the Chilean superstar will be well rested despite his injury issues. While he’s not be at his truly supreme best this season, the former Barcelona man remains one of the club’s most dangerous attackers.
Having him back in contention now the season enters its most crucial stages will give everybody at the club a huge lift. The stalemate with Stoke City was crying out for the dynamism of the 27-year old, making his return even more welcome.
OLIVIER GIROUD
The French striker often has his critics, though he has been in fine fettle so far this season, notching 12 goals in the Premier League as he spearheads the attack. Perhaps Arsene Wenger’s decision not to splash huge money on a big name striker has been justified at last.
While Giroud is only ever a couple of misses away from being entirely lambasted, he has saved the Gunners on numerous occasions this year. Theo Walcott has done well at times when played through the middle, though the Frenchman has stepped up in his absence.
