Arsenal's Magical Midfield Lets Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere Torture Norwich

Arsenal are mounting a convincing case for having the best midfield in the Premier League.

Arsenal’s midfield strength is partially down to the sheer number of options at the manager’s disposal. Even without the injured quartet of Abou Diaby, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski, Arsenal have a huge amount of strength in depth in the middle third of the park. At kick-off, Arsene Wenger could afford to be audacious enough to leave the in-form Aaron Ramsey on the substitutes bench. 

In his stead, Wenger turned to the defensive midfield platform of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini. It’s a perfectly balanced pairing. Arteta’s game is based on intelligent positioning and economical use of the ball, whereas Flamini’s style is more characterised by relentless harrying. 

Crucial to Wenger’s decision to start with both Arteta and Flamini was that neither player was involved in the international break. Despite their advancing years, they were among some of the freshest players in the Arsenal squad.

Ahead of those two deep-lying midfielders, Wenger continued a recent trend by opting to start without a conventional winger. The only fit out-and-out wingers in the squad are the youthful pair of Ryo Miyaichi and Serge Gnabry. Instead of relying on unproven youngsters, Wenger chose to field three attacking midfielders who are all primarily No. 10s.

With Santi Cazorla fit for the first time in six weeks, the Spaniard was restored to his position as auxiliary playmaker on the left flank. The Arsenal fans were delighted to see the diminutive midfielder return to the starting XI. 

On the right-hand side, Wenger opted to field Jack Wilshere. It was a surprising move from Wenger, but one that paid dividends.

Although Wilshere has never previously started on the right in the Premier League, he did play from that side in his first appearances for Arsenal as a 16-year-old in the Carling Cup. On those occasions, Wilshere caught the eye with his dazzling dribbles infield. Before he was being hailed as England’s Xavi, he looked as if he might become England’s Lionel Messi.

In the Gunners’ last match against West Brom, a short second-half spell on the right transformed Wilshere’s display from a catastrophe to a class act. On today’s evidence, the young Englishman seems far more suited to that role than playing as a traditional winger on the left. 

Sandwiched between Wilshere and Cazorla was the sumptuous filling of Mesut Ozil. Wenger was bold enough to field three playmakers, each of which with technical ability and creativity to unlock any defence. It was comparable to Chelsea’s “Three Musketeers” of Oscar, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata. 

Ozil, Cazorla and Wilshere rotated throughout the 90 minutes to great effect. Wenger will be delighted that the trio managed to compliment each other, with no one player overshadowing the others.

When Flamini departed with a concussion, Aaron Ramsey was introduced, adding yet more flair and artistry to the Arsenal midfield.

At the moment there isn’t a midfield in the Premier League that looks as strong as the one delighting the Emirates crowd.