Wenger to see where Walcott and Podolski fit back into team before spending big again

Suarez on the wing – What about Theo?

You can’t ignore his contribution

I have asked the question of those who want Suarez where they see him playing? Many seem to agree that he would not replace Giroud as a first choice but play alongside him in a 2, not happening, or that he would play wide instead of Cazorla/Podolski or Walcott. In fact, the majority suggested he would play on the right ahead of Theo or perhaps we might move to a genuine 433.

Now we can all use stats anyway we chose and before you say it I know I am worst than most. I do however try at least to be responsible when I use them and hope they are only to validate or prove a theory. For example Walcott is not better than Bale and no matter how many stats we use to prove it we all know that. However despite his off days and his frustrating inconsistencies his value to Arsenal is not really open for debate. His goals last season and his assist the season before propelled us into what was then a minimum requirement of Champions League.

So what stats do I have to back up a point today? Well it surrounds Theo and Suarez strangely enough because most who responded to my question though the Uruguayan would play on the right wing in a position we were all desperate to see Theo ‘sign da ting’ and occupy for years 10 months ago.

I know we should not judge wide attackers only on goals and assists and I accept that Suarez has more about him but a comparison from 2012/13 may surprise a few. If we actually look at minutes on the pitch in all competitions the crucial contributions of both are significant.

	Minutes	Goals	Mins per goal	Assists	Mins/assist
Suarez	3716	30	123	5	734
Walcott	2986	21	142	15	199

With a contribution as significant as that I would be inclined to allow Theo to return and prove that he is the player to fill the right attacking role for us. Did any of you think that Suarez’s goal contribution as a striker would only be marginally better per minute than Walcott’s from the flank? He has the pace and the runs that Ozil will relish and his defensive cover whilst not perfect has improved. I wonder if Lewandowski would have been on his own with Walcott covering Sagna?

I would also question how much of a team player Suarez actually is when a player with his ability is providing so few assists for his team mates. This was evident on Saturday towards the end when he shot from an acute angle his strike partner Sturridge screaming for the pass for a tap in.

For completeness we should also consider the contribution Suarez made when he was Theo’s age which would be 2011/12. In 32 EPL appearances for example he hit 11 goals and 3 assists. At the same age last season Theo hit 14 goals and assisted on 10 occasions.

Conclusion

I don’t like Suarez or the thought of signing him. Too much baggage but I have tried to consider it from a more rational stance and from a position of trying to consider Wenger’s perspective. I hope I have given pause for thought but if nothing else if Podolski and Walcott are indeed approaching fitness we can watch what the management does with the above thoughts at the back of our minds.

I accept that Giroud probably cannot play every game, although our ex-skipper did two years back and we must have alternatives and a Plan B. That being said, this particular Gunner would like the options explored from within the squad first. I believe in Lukas and Theo and I am convinced that the current squad believes in them too. For now the momentum we have is significant and my perception is that it is, in part driven by the collective spirit and togetherness found in Munich in February. Ozil and Flamini have enhanced it but we need to be careful in considering who else will in January.