Wengerball: A Russian Maestro on the Substitute's Bench

Arsenal came back from a disappointing outing to Craven Cottage last week to romp home 4-0 against Wigan, before the Olympiakos proved too much for a second string side in what was effectively a Champions League dead rubber. All in all, it was a job well done, as both Manchester clubs failed to qualify for the knockout stages. With any talk of a December collapse having been put aside for now, what awaits the Gunners in the month ahead? And which players will be potentially revitalised once the Africa Cup of Nations comes around?

Wengerball attempts to chart yet another season in the Arsenal red and white, one that hopefully culminates in much anticipated glory in England's highest footballing echelon.

Skeleton Crew

Injury problems are part and parcel of any football club, but surely someone must be playing a practical joke on Arsenal. Things might have bothered on the preposterous when former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini was tasked with filling in at left back in 2005, but we seemed to have gone one step further this season after Andre Santos was ruled out for this weekend's clash. This means that we have no specialised full backs remaining in the first team squad, and might yet see four central defenders spread across the backline. Laurent Koscienly has slotted in admirably at right back since both Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson were struck down, but Thomas Vermaelen will probably now be moved to the left back slot in the absence of Santos and Kieran Gibbs. This means Johan Djourou will be recalled to partner Per Mertesacker in the middle, with Ignasi Miquel on the bench instead of the much-maligned Sebastian Squillaci.

Honestly though, which other club has ever been in a situation in recent memory where they've lost the services of all of their full backs? You can't exactly blame Arsène Wenger for not having enough cover either, given that we had two fit players in each full back slot at the beginning of the season. Granted Kieran Gibbs is injury prone, but who could have predicted that both Sagna and new boy Jenkinson would both be out at the same time too? From important players like Vermaelen, Tomas Rosicky, Abou Diaby and Robin van Persie missing chunks of the season, to having no central defenders (Alex Song having to fill in), goalkeepers (Jens Lehmann's return to the club following injuries to Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski, Wojciech Szczesny and Vito Mannone) and strikers (Andrey Arshavin being told to lead the line in the absence of any recognised forwards) at times in the last few seasons, it certainly is taking squad rotation to the extreme. Surely no other club can claim such misfortune.

But losing a squad player and losing important players are two different things. While any temporary cracks can be papered over in the short-term, there are a few players who you fear Arsenal couldn't do without. Jack Wilshere's enforced absence in the early part of this season arguably contributed to the team's horrific start, especially as new signing Mikel Arteta took time to gel into the team. But make no mistake, Wilshere's return next year will boost the team's firepower, and his absence at the moment has deprived Arsenal of one of it's finest weapons. Of the others, the standout is obviously captain extraordinaire Robin van Persie. The Dutchman has taken his scoring to new heights this season, and with Marouane Chamakh and Chu-Young Park failing to impress so far, Arsenal fans are surely praying to the footballing gods that he stays healthy. One wonders if it would have been wiser loaning Chamakh out this season, given Carlos Vela is busy converting spectacular bicycle kicks in La Liga.

In defence, we have to look no further than Thomas Vermaelen. They say one man does not make a defence, but it has been no coincidence that the deposed Belgian captain's return has coincided with some improved defensive displays for Arsenal. Alongside him, Mertesacker and company have looked less error prone and the defensive line more solid. His commanding presence in the backline has not been Vermaelen's only strength however, as he's once again proved what a goal threat he can be from set pieces. Other than his thunderbolt free kicks, Vermaelen is also a proven goalscorer from corner kicks into the box, much more than his taller German counterpart who has so far failed to find the net.

Last but not least, there is the no small matter of Wojciech Szczesny in goal. The young Polish goalkeeper has drawn plaudits for his performances since he first broke into the first team and has shown no signs of letting countryman Lukasz Fabianski back into the reckoning. Vocal and possessing lightning reflexes, Szczesny was the one shining beacon early on in the season despite all the goals Arsenal were shipping in. His importance to the team has been highlighted not only by his own excellence, but by the ineptitude of his challengers. Fabianski and Vito Mannone have looked shaky when called to fill in, and Manuel Almunia has surely used up all his lives after being loaned out to West Ham a month ago. Szceszny leads the charge of young goalkeepers at top English clubs, including the likes of Tim Krul at Newcastle, David de Gea at Manchester United and Joe Hart at Manchester City. He is here to stay, as long as he remains injury-free.

Warming the Bench

You have to feel for Andrey Arshavin. A £15m purchase in the winter of 2009, the Russian has been played out of position his whole Arsenal career and has now found himself relegated to a role on the bench. Gervinho's arrival at the club and the Russian's own continuing poor form has probably meant that Wenger has made the right decision, but it is a spectacular fall from grace for the Russian maestro since his four goal brace against Liverpool at Anfield. Arshavin's star was burning brightly when he first signed for Arsenal, coming off a stellar Euro 2008 campaign for Russia. A little pocket dynamo who thrived in the hole behind the strikers, Arshavin was tipped to set the Premier League alight. And so he did, at first. Wenger converted the Russian captain to a place on the wing in a 4-3-3 position, starting on the left and interchanging with whoever was on the right. Arshavin was even called to lead the line in December when the team found themselves without a single recognised striker. This he did, though somewhat reluctantly, and made a decent fist of it.

However, the truth remains that Arshavin has never really been played in his preferred position since his arrival at the club. On the one or two occasions he has been allowed that opportunity, he has excelled, like in the Carling cup game this season against Bolton, where he scored one and set up another for Park. So why has Wenger proved so obstinate on this point? Perhaps it has to do with the manager's preferred formation. There is just no space for Andrey Arshavin on Wenger's tactics board. Let me explain.

The earlier Wenger sides played 4-4-2, with two dynamic central midfielders in the mould of Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit. These two midfielders were adapt at switching between attack and defence, alternating in going forward and covering for each other when needed. But times changed and midfielders who could play the 'Makelele' defensive anchor role became much sought after. Arsenal's legendary back four had retired too and the new defence was showing a worrying fragility following Gilberto Silva and Mathieu Flamini's departures. The promotion of Alex Song to the first team plugged the gap in a way of speaking, but teams evolve with time and so did Arsenal. One deep midfielder became two as the gaffer decided to place another midfielder alongside Song. Rather than opting for another defensive linchpin, Wenger placed Jack Wilshere in a deep playmaker role, where he could dictate play from the Arsenal half. This famously led to England boss Fabio Capello mistaking Wilshere for a defensive midfielder (and subsequently playing him out of position in the first team to disastrous results). The two deep midfielders sit in front of the Arsenal defence and allow for yet another central midfielder directly in front of them, someone like Aaron Ramsey or About Diaby. This midfield triumvirate allows the wingers to roam up and down the flank in support of the lone striker. This season, Wilshere's enforced absence has led to Mikel Arteta slotting in to his position, but not much else has changed.

Simply put, Arshavin's preferred position doesn't exist in the Arsenal set-up. There is no longer any space for the man in the hole at Arsenal. The attacking midfielder has to adapt to a role on the wings, and when he struggles as a result and loses form, gets overtaken in the pecking order by a much more natural winger, someone like fresh recruit Gervinho. Such is Tomas Rosicky's fate too (besides the injury problems that have plagued him) and they have to satisfy themselves with playing a bit part role on the bench.

But fret not, for the Africa Cup of Nations is on the horizon. Gervinho and the luckless Marouane Chamakh will be due to join up with their national teams come January. The door is opened wide for the likes of Arshavin, Rosicky, Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain, Ryo Miyaichi and Chu-Young Park to impress. It is vital they do well, for there might not be another chance.

Your Opinion: Do you see a future for Andrey Arshavin at Arsenal? Does he deserve a first team spot, who would you take out and where would you play him?

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