No one seems quite sure who should be taking penalties for Arsenal these days. That includes the players themselves, after Alexis Sanchez went against the established order by taking a spot kick in the win over Hull on Saturday -- only to see it saved.
Santi Cazorla, who has converted the team's last two, was the designated penalty taker and manager Arsene Wenger even said after the game that he didn't know why Sanchez had stepped up instead.
To make matters worse, the Chile forward became the second Arsenal player to miss from the spot this season, after Theo Walcott saw his effort saved in the season-opening 4-3 loss to Liverpool before being dropped from penalty duties when Cazorla returned to the starting lineup.
Given the fact that Arsenal have earned four penalties in their first five Premier League games -- compared to just two all of last season -- Wenger has to sort the issue out quickly and, since history is a decent guide to help determine the best choice, here's a look at how his players have fared from 12 yards in the past:
Santi Cazorla
Penalties taken: 9
Made: 8
Penalties taken: 9
Made: 8
The Spaniard took over penalty duties from the oft-injured Mikel Arteta in the 2014-15 season and converted all six of his attempts that campaign. After missing his only penalty last season, he's 2-for-2 so far this time around. In fact, his last seven league goals have all come from the spot, equalling a record.
Olivier Giroud
Penalties taken: 5
Made: 4
Penalties taken: 5
Made: 4
In a manner befitting a striker, Giroud has been reliable from the spot for the Gunners -- especially when it mattered. He has converted twice in the Premier League and twice in the Champions League, including in the crucial 3-0 win over Olympiakos last season. His only miss came in a 6-1 League Cup win over Coventry in 2012. To boost his credentials further, Giroud also converted all five of his attempts for Montpellier in Ligue 1 before joining the Gunners.
Alexis Sanchez
Penalties taken: 2
Made: 0
Penalties taken: 2
Made: 0
On paper, Sanchez would seem a logical choice for penalty duties. He is the team's best finisher and showed calm nerves when he won the Copa America for Chile with the decisive spot-kick in last year's final against Argentina. But he's missed both attempts for the club so far, having seen his effort against Queens Park Rangers in 2014 saved by Robert Green and the latest coming against Hull this weekend. Perhaps he should accept Wenger's decisions in the future?
Mesut Ozil
Penalties taken: 2
Made: 0
Penalties taken: 2
Made: 0
Ozil failed in both his attempts in the Champions League in 2013-14, including a very costly miss against Bayern Munich in the first leg of their round of 16 match. He hasn't stepped up since for the Gunners, and judging by his two missed spot-kicks at Euro 2016 for Germany, that may be a good thing. Unless Arsenal try to duplicate the Lionel Messi-Luis Suarez passed penalty at some point. He's always been better at assists.
Theo Walcott
Penalties taken: 1
Made: 0
Penalties taken: 1
Made: 0
It was a surprise to many to see Walcott step up to the spot against Liverpool, even without Cazorla, Giroud or Ozil on the pitch. Sanchez had seemed like a more logical choice in that game, and Walcott did little to justify the decision as his effort was saved by Simon Mignolet. Wenger said Walcott remained No. 2 in the pecking order after Cazorla returned, but it seems unlikely he'll get another chance any time soon.
Conclusion: So who should be taking penalties for Arsenal?
