By Danong and 1970s Gooner
Mikel Arteta has a big decision to make about squad selection or we might keep slipping in the title race.
**Once again, Arsenal couldn't snatch a win against Fulham, ending up in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage despite almost completely dominating the game.
Despite this, it's important to acknowledge that Mikel Arteta disrupted a well-planned setup when it wasn't necessary, solely to fill the left back position.
An injury had sidelined left back Riccardo Calafiori. Oleksander Zinchenko, who filled in for him last week, also missed the match because of injury.
Mikel Arteta had two left-back choices in Kieran Tierney and Myles Lewis Skelly for that game, but he decided to go with Jurrien Timber instead.
Timber has shown he can fill in at left back, but this time it was a bit annoying to take him away from right back, where he’s been really shining.
** Game after game, we've talked about how the Dutchman has really brought new life to Arsenal's right side; he, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard have just been unstoppable combining very well and confusing defenders with their movement.
**In addition to Timber leaving his position, Thomas Partey had to transition from his #6 role to a right-back position.
Arsenal played decently, but they could have been much more ruthless if their best players played in their best positions.
These changes made it tough for Arsenal as most offensive actions were primarily directed from the right which was the area that Fulham concentrated on in trying to shut down Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard.
Timber's skills could have countered Fulham's strategy, but he stayed on the left, where he wasn't that impactful. In that game, the LHS made no significant contributions.
We desperately need Mikel Arteta to rethink his team selection when Arsenal takes on Monaco and certainly before the crucial match against Everton on Saturday.
Partey is needed in midfield to control the game's pace and Timber on the right hand side in order to increase the efficiency of Odegaard and Saka required to score goals.
If Calafiori (and even Zinny) isn't ready to jump back into the starting 11, it might be time for Arteta to give either Kieran Tierney or Myles Lewis Skelly a shot at LB.
If you're not going to play Myles Lewis Skelly or Tierney when Ben White, Calafiori, and Tomiyasu are injured, when are you going to play them?
** Tierney can definitely lean on his experience and bring something to the LB position, which might catch the eye of some teams as the winter transfer window approaches.
**He might even be a better left sided centre back than Kiwior. Tierney has played there many times in a three at the back Scotland national team.
A win against Monaco with the right selections will go a long way to replenish the players moral.**