World Cup Watch: Arsenal Trio Likely To Feature For Germany, But What Can We Expect?

Arsenal have a host of players at the World Cup this summer and some have already impressed in their opening game – Joel Campbell for Costa Rica springs to mind. This afternoon offers the chance for another three Gunners to show what they can do on the big stage, with Germany taking on Portugal in Group G.

The Arsenal trio likely to make an appearance are all Germans. Skipper Per Mertesacker will almost certainly be deployed in the heart of defence next to Borussia Dortmund centre-half Mats Hummers, while Lukas Podolski is likely to get the nod on the left wing. He is likely to play next to Mesut Ozil, Arsenal’s record signing, who will function in the number 10 role.

We know what Mertesacker is about. He will be breaking the play up in the air and making life difficult for the Portugal forwards by closing the gaps, before knocking the ball to a more creative player.

Ozil will be looking to collect the ball in the middle and either springing forward in possession, looking to feint opponents and creating opportunities with his movement, or slipping tidy passes to the forwards.

He will be looking to exploit the gaps between lines, with Podolski bombing on outside of him. The Arsenal forward has the pace, the power and the natural finishing ability needed to put a hole in the Portuguese boat this afternoon, and being an Arsenal fan I certainly hope to see that.

Steven Trickett