I do not understand this, at all.
One of the best managers of the past two decades - a guy with an enormous amount of success, year-in and year-out - and one of the most lauded tacticians in the game - has "no reasoning for his choices"?
The explanation is really simple (to me): it is September, Wenger knows that the season runs for another 9 months, and squad rotation in early-season matches helps keep the best players fresh for games in March and April.
You really think Wenger is deliberately putting out shitty lineups because he's a fucking moron? In what universe is that a "reasonable" take? Gunner-town, I suppose.
Oof, my bad for posting quickly and not writing well enough.
So, to clarify, as I fancy myself a thoughtful fan (though my original post didn't do much of anything to indicate that):
- I am dead certain that Wenger has reasons for his line-ups, hence my desire to hear them. Wenger is, I believe, a brilliant man. So I want to know why he's doing what he's doing, considering the off-season moves and personnel options. FYI I don't think he's a "moron". Poor writing on my part to even imply that.
- It's obvious that he sees stuff every day that we don't, hence I give total deference to that knowledge. Who has knocks, which players gave petulant responses to coaching, all those insights are influential I presume. Deference given to those.
Those things said, and again in the interest of clarity, I would like to know the following:
- why the continual use of Coquelin in a role he's not suited (or talented enough) for, playing forward and in a more creative role, when there's been evidence that this isn't a good fit for him?
- what is going on with Xhaka's integration with the club, and can we expect him to play a more integral role soon? Or is he injured (even mildly), and is that why he hasn't been given a more prominent role? Squad rotation conservatism doesn't really explain his limited time so far.
- Ditto, in the obverse, for Oxlade-Chamberlain. His "promise" seems universally acknowledged, but he isn't fulfilling it. (and it can't be that he's playing to boost value; he's being played because Wenger thinks he will excel, contribute)
- Based on the performances, why does Wenger think that Sanchez is better suited as a center forward than playing on the flank, and why does he think Sanchez is better suited to playing in the center than Giroud?
These are not game-specific questions from last night (though last night shined a light on them), they are general questions I would genuinely like to know more about, and for which I suspect our manager, if he were so inclined, could provide excellent and thoughtful answers.
Hope that clarifies things, and I'll be more self-critical in the future before posting.