Picking an Elite Arsenal 5-a-Side Team from Current Squad

With the Premier League such a popular product, it’s a little bit surprising no one has sought to market a five-a-side spin-off. The fast-paced game would surely be a televised hit.

If that ever came to pass, Arsenal would likely be one of the most successful teams, possessing a host of players with the high levels of athleticism and technical skill required to thrive in such a game.

When it comes to picking the Arsenal team, the first thing to consider is the formation. Fortunately, we can turn to Arsene Wenger himself for his advice. Quizzed about his five-a-side strategies, Wenger told FourFourTwo:

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Like the 11-a-side game, you do have options when it comes to picking the right formation. You can play two at the back, one in midfield and one up front, or you can have one attacker and three defenders but I would suggest a formation that nicely marries defence with attack. 

On the face of it, my recommended formation is 1-2-1. One defender, one attacker, with two what I would call offensive full-backs. These two players should fall back and defend when you don’t have the ball but be ready to get forward and attack when necessary.

This is a formation that I feel will allow you to play the best and most effective five-a-side. You’ll be strong in defence, and dangerous in attack.

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Arsenal’s goalkeeper, of course, picks itself. Petr Cech has been an outstanding addition to the Arsenal squad, and his huge (6'5") frame would almost entirely fill a five-a-side goal. Getting past him would be a nightmare for any opposition striker.

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Then we come to the one centre-half. Per Mertesacker is perhaps too cumbersome for the five-a-side game, so the obvious choice is Laurent Koscielny. Not only does he have the sprinting speed to cover the entire width of the pitch, but he’s also technically gifted and can play the ball out from the back with ease.

If Koscielny were unavailable, an intriguing alternative would be Nacho Monreal—the Spaniard is comfortable on the ball and has shown he is a reliable and rugged centre-half when required.

Arsenal have "offensive full-backs" in Kieran Gibbs and Hector Bellerin. However, in this system the attacking onus on these two players would be significant. Therefore, it would make sense to pick players who have a principally forward-thinking mindset but who are also willing to track back and defend when required.

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Alexis Sanchez would be a superb five-a-side player. His relentless running and excellent close control would be well-suited to the frenetic pace of the game. On the opposite flank, Danny Welbeck’s speed and diligence would make him a strong pick. You can bet Alexis and Welbeck would get up and down the flanks with frightening regularity.

So who should be the centre-forward? Olivier Giroud would certainly give the team a focal point, whereas Theo Walcott would offer pace and quick turns. However, a left-field choice might be Mesut Ozil.

Although not a conventional striker, Ozil has the ability to find space and willingness to receive the ball in cramped conditions—both essential in five-a-side. What’s more, playing as a pivotal forward, he would be able to lay the ball into the path of both Alexis and Welbeck better than anybody else.

Ozil has played as a false nine in 11-a-side football before, and he would be an outstanding forward in this five-a-side team.

Do you agree? Let us know your Arsenal five-a-side team below.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.