Arsenal: Wenger criticises scheduling; Iwobi targets number ten role; Pjanic linked

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Arsene Wenger is planning to make several changes tonight to deal with what he has called ‘the most uneven’ scheduling of his career in England to date. The Gunners will be playing their second match in three days, while their opposition have had an extra day to recover and prepare for the match at the Vitality Stadium. There have been a lot of complaints about the scheduling across the clubs, but Wenger is the latest to weigh in.

“In 20 years it is the most uneven Christmas period I’ve seen. I don’t really know if the Premier League masters the fixtures. We have sold the rights to TV for a lot of money so we have to accept TV chooses the games. But some teams have more luck than others. We go into a game with a big handicap on the fixture and I have to find fresh legs.”

He is correct in his comments as the scheduling has been ridiculous this season and has provided some teams with an unfair advantage, namely Chelsea, who have had more rest days than any other side in the league. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin, Shkodran Mustafi and Mesut Ozil could all come back into the team tonight after missing out on Sunday. Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott could also be involved in some capacity.

Alex Iwobi was one of the stars of Arsenal’s victory over Crystal Palace and he was used in the number ten role. The Nigerian is ready to give Wenger a selection headache and push for more minutes in that role, competing directly with Mesut Ozil. The Standard report that Ozil is a doubt for tonight’s game and that Iwobi may be given another opportunity to show what he can do in the role.

“It (No. 10) is where I have grown up playing and where I enjoy playing the most but wherever I am put on the pitch, I will do my best and whenever I get told to play any position I give 100 per cent.”

It is a huge statement from the 20-year-old that he wants to compete for the number ten position, but it is a positive for Arsene Wenger. It shows that he is willing to compete with the very best players in the squad and shows ambition. He has taken huge strides in 2016 and finished the year as one of the most improved players in the squad. It will be exciting to watch him develop and considering Mesut Ozil hasn’t been at his best this season, Wenger will be happy that he has another option in the number ten role.

One transfer link to emerge this morning comes from The Sun, as they suggest that Arsenal may move for Miralem Pjanic as a long term replacement for Santi Cazorla. According to the report, Pjanic is keen on a move and Arsenal could be ready to launch a £28 million bid for the midfielder. Juventus will be less keen to sell after only signing the Bosnian in the summer. They have also failed in their bid to land Axel Witsel, which makes a Pjanic departure in January increasingly unlikely.

This is the sort of player that Arsenal are missing in the squad as they are over-reliant on Cazorla. However, it is difficult to see this move coming off in the immediate future. Pjanic has only recently moved to Turin and he has four-and-a-half years left on his contract. They would need to receive a bid that is considerably more than the £25 million that they paid and Arsenal are not likely to do that.

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