Monday 12 January 2015 16:06, UK
Jamie Carragher worries just how Arsenal can stop Manchester City playmaker David Silva when the two teams meet in the Premier League on Sunday.
Arsenal travel to the Etihad Stadium for next weekend’s Super Sunday clash hoping to confound their critics by winning at the home of one of their top-four rivals.
However, despite breezing past Stoke City 3-0 at the Emirates on Sunday, Carragher says manager Arsene Wenger cannot afford to go with Tomas Rosicky in centre midfield if Arsenal are to compete physically with the champions.
“We have said for years that Arsenal have not got a holding midfielder,” said Carragher. “We spoke about Mathieu Flamini at Anfield. Mikel Arteta is out and I do not think that he is quite the answer.
“They have not got anyone there, so they will just have to go with Aaron Ramsey, who you would expect to come in and has great energy. I would think about putting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain there just for his physical presence and his power. But you cannot go with Tomas Rosicky.”
Moreover, Carragher believes combating the threat of Silva must be key to Wenger's strategy if Arsenal are to avoid defeat.
“I watched Silva at Goodison on Saturday and he was outstanding,” he added. “I think he is one of the best, if not the best, creative players in the league. You are going to that game as Wenger, and who is going to stop Silva?
“Never mind the physicality and who is going to deal with Fernandinho or Fernando, but who is going to stop Silva controlling that game for City?
“They do not have anyone of that type who is aggressive, will get after them, can deal with him and has got the energy. They are not aggressive enough.
“Arsene Wenger will have to go with a plan, as he is playing City, and what are the dangers? Well the obvious one is Silva in those pockets, but they do not have anyone in their squad who can deal with him. And that is where they will fall down.”
One player who could inspire the Gunners is Chile international Alexis Sanchez, who has impressed Carragher hugely with his eye-catching displays in his debut campaign.
“You still see the talent that Arsenal have got and of course in Alexis they have got one of the stars of the season,” he said of the 26-year-old who has scored 18 goals this season, including 14 at the Emirates.
“You think of all the great strikers that Arsenal have had in the past - Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka - and his record now is better than theirs at this stage of the season in terms of how many goals and assists he has got.”
