Arsenal: Arsene Wenger deserves praise after comeback draw with PSG
Arsene Wenger came up trumps with some bold decision-making as Arsenal scored a valuable draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Arsenal came from behind in the Champions League to earn a valuable 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. The home team could have been out of sight by half time. But in the end, some key decisions by Arsene Wenger paid dividends.
Before the game even began, the decision to play David Ospina ahead of Petr Cech was a headline story. The general consensus was that Wenger was taking an unnecessary risk in such a high profile game by selecting the Colombian.
However, without Ospina Arsenal could have been dead and buried after 45 minutes. Perhaps Cech puts in a similar performance if he plays? But perhaps he doesn’t? Ospina did. The decision proved to be the right call by Wenger and it kept Arsenal in a difficult away game.
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It was a bold move which was mirrored throughout the Arsenal team. In midfield, Wenger played Santi Cazorla alongside Francis Coquelin. Away from home to PSG, that’s extremely bold. Cazorla has played the position a lot in recent seasons, but he can still be exploited defensively. Wenger went with the bold option.
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Another big call by Wenger was to play Alexis Sanchez as the team’s lone striker. Lucas Perez or Olivier Giroud would be better fits than Sanchez for the role. But Wenger trusted his instincts and Sanchez came up with the equalizing goal.
Giroud entered the game after 63 minutes, which then saw Sanchez return to a more natural wide role on the left wing. The Chilean undoubtedly looks more comfortable in that position, but he did a solid job as the team’s striker beforehand.
Sanchez needs time if Wenger really wants him to develop into a striker full time. Given his limited experience, though, Sanchez did okay. He’s constantly on the move, provoking opposition defenders to make decisions, and he’s very difficult to track. A real nuisance.
Ideally, you would want to see Sanchez playing directly on the back of the defense, but that would come more with experience. Sanchez did okay and, ultimately, popped up to make it 1-1. Arsenal could even have left with all three points towards the end.
It will be interesting to see how the Arsenal attack takes shape moving forward. Perez is still settling into his new surroundings, but is comfortable playing on the left wing. Whilst Giroud is still waiting for his first start of the season.
Sanchez might potentially get more game time as a striker than expected. It’s not a natural fit, and Sanchez as a lone striker probably isn’t going to bring any major trophies to the Emirates Stadium this season, but it worked for Wenger against PSG.
It was a night where Arsenal got a point to be happy with and Wenger deserves credit for making the bold decisions that got the team there.
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