For the second time in just over a month, Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners against Sunderland at the Emirates, with Joel Campbell, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud once again getting on the scoresheet.
The squad appeared reasonably strong, especially when compared to the relative strength of other Premier League sides last weekend. Kieran Gibbs came in for Nacho Monreal, Gabriel for Per Mertesacker, Calum Chambers and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey, and finally the surprise inclusion of Alex Iwobi in the no.10 role instead of Mesut Ozil.
All seemed to impress and it was one of the club’s stalwarts, Laurent Koscielny, who allowed Lens to smash in the opener. However, good spirit was shown and the team scored three stereotypical ‘Arsenal’ goals to take them through to the 4th round.
Iwobi took his chance to impress
Iwobi, famously the nephew of Jay-Jay Okocha, replaced Ozil in the much chased no.10 role at Arsenal – indeed, there was a lot of pressure on the 19-year-old to deliver the same sort of service as the German.
While playing a different style – rather than Ozil’s penetrative passes, Iwobi liked to run at the defence to create chances, which he did successfully.
It was an encouraging performance, putting him in good stead for the future, although it will be interesting to see if he will be developed into a winger or a central attacking midfielder.
Chambers-Chamberlain axis has potential
While Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla are out injured, it appears that Arsene Wenger prefers Flamini and Ramsey in the middle – a pair full of dynamism and energy, if lacking discipline.
Against Sunderland, the choice to deploy Chambers, seen by Arsene Wenger as a long-term defensive midfielder, and Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose best performances in the shirt have come from this position, was a risk that paid off. Together possessing heaps of technical ability and a fantastic passing range, if they work on the defensive side of the game, a potential central midfield partnership could be forged.
However, the Ramsey-Arteta partnership proved more effective
Thinking to the back end of the 2013/14 season, a succession of narrow wins with clean sheets were largely due to the solidity of the Ramteta partnership.
Brought on to replace the Chamber(s/lain) duo, the second half of the match was like a throwback to that season, as Arsenal tightened up and the front four were allowed to roam freely. Ramsey’s superior finishing and work rate also enabled him to score the beautifully crafted second goal.
Bellerin came back into his own
While appearing OK defensively over the last few weeks, Bellerin seemed to have lost his attacking confidence.
However, it seemed to have returned last weekend as he provided two incisive passes to show the Arsenal faithful that he is back.
Campbell threatens to make the right flank his own
A fantastic work rate, positional awareness, a good relationship with Bellerin, goals and assists….Campbell’s recent performances are a world away from the nervous player we (mostly) gauged him as.
He is no longer ‘raw talent’, but coming into his own and is threatening to knock Theo Walcott out of the side once Alexis Sanchez returns from injury.
Strength in depth
Even with countless injuries to key players, Arsenal were able to rest a number of first team players in this match and still craft out a convincing result.
Much was made of the decision not to sign any outfield players in the summer, but Arsenal’s strength in depth is holding, for the moment as least, and with Mohamed Elneny coming in (as well as ‘new signings’ Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky), one hopes the size and strength of Arsenal’s squad is enough to challenge on multiple fronts.