At the beginning of the 2007/2008 season, Wenger stepped up his attempt to end Arsenals trophy-less run by forging a new formation designed around the young Cesc Fabregas who, in accordance to Wenger's master plan , would lead the club to successes for years to come as the central hub of this exciting new team.
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| Trying to move forward |
However fast forward to 2011 and with our captain on the verge of leaving and the number of years since Arsenal won a trophy up to 6, the question of weather a change is needed burns stronger than ever.
What is wrong with our current system?
Arsenal play a very similar style to Barcelona although there's a reason were called "Barca lite" and not vice versa. Along with the obvious disadvantage of not having Messi, Xavi, Iniesta & co. in our ranks there is a certain element of our game which are not anywhere near the standard of Barca's- team pressing when the opposition have possession of the ball. Cast your mind back to that night in the Camp Nou where a mesmerising performance from Barca overwhelmed us to the point that we didn't manage to muster one shot on target. Was it a solid defensive performance coupled with deadly counter attacks from Barca that caused free-scoring Arsenal to look so impotent? No. It was a club perfecting the "attack is the best form of defence" approach. When Arsenal would finally regain possession, it was always short lived as a sea of Barca shirts chased the ball like determined terriers until the ball was once again at the feet of one of their magicians. Barca's centre backs where able to play as makeshift midfielders to Arsenal offensive threat was so minimal.
Arsenal simply don't do this well enough to play this type of football. While we shipped 43 goals last season (although admittedly in a generally stronger league), Valdes had the task of picking the ball out of the net on just 21 occasions. When we lose the ball we, put simply, don't look interested. One hoof of the ball and we are exposed on the counter. A Sunday league team were even in with a chance of scoring against us. Its that easy.
Arsenal have been know for all to long as a team that play beautiful football but have a huge soft spot when you "get in their faces". If you look at the team its no Surprise. This Arsenal team play a very continental style that relies more on technical ability than physical prowess. Unless we are at our devastating best in the final third, this plays straight into most Premier League teams hands.
On a cold winters night in the Britannia stadium, Arsenals Achilles heel shows up like a sore thumb. No matter how much he tries, Jack Wilshere (even with a piggy back from Eboue) would struggle to out jump Jones or Huth as a Delap throw whizzes into the box. The same applies with a Pennant cross or set-piece.Put simply, with this current squad being bullied into submission will continue to be an all to common sight.
There are ways to minimise damage done however. More time being invested into organisation from set plays and a move away from this ridiculous making system that vaguely resembles zonal would be a start. The addition of (here comes the most overused phrase Arsenal fans have put into action this summer) players with more "steel" and physical presence would also do wonders (think back to the Invincibles team and count the amount of players who were taller than 6 foot).
Criticism aside, I do feel this system works exceptionally well in Europe. Since Wenger has started using this formation, Arsenal have achieved the Semi-finals once and Quarter-finals on two occasions in comparison the Arsenal teams of 1998-2004 who were well known for their domestic competitiveness yet usually fell short in the Champions League. All of the above leads me to believe that the current system should remain in tact for European games and certain premier league encounters (teams who play a similar continental style).
Stoke have found Arsenal happy pickings at the Britannia
One less step for the Centre Backs, one giant leap for Arsenals trophy odds
When Martin Keown was working as a pundit, he gave an interesting insight into the differences in how Wenger and George Graham (who won the league with his team conceding only 18 goals in the 90/91 season) deploy their centre backs when in possession of the ball. He spoke of the strict "Don't cross the half way line" with Grahame and then the added freedom Wenger granted his centre backs. Although it would hardly solve our defensive troubles, reverting back to the strict Grahame approach would be a step in the right direction. Arsenal's first XI can at times include 8 players who carry an attacking threat so isn't it a little OTT for Vermaelen and
Koscielny to act as makeshift defensive mids? It could also go a long way in helping our appalling defensive line which, at times last season, took on a distinctive "S" shape. With the two centre backs both rigidly in line with each other, organising the line would be a much easier job than it would be with Vermaelen in CAM and Koscielny assisting walcott on the RW as the opposing team regain the ball and look to break
Back to basics?
Part of me wants us to go back to the old Arsenal way - 4-4-2, quick decisive build up play, explosive counter attacks, more defensive solidity. Alongside that, it would open up the chance for Walcott to flourish alongside RvP in his favoured position. I'm pretty sure that you would find Walcott twice the player where his electric pace and Henry-esque finishing can be fully utilised. Plenty of problems would arise from it though, the main one being that our squad is not currently suited to play such a formation. Up top, you substitute in the unfortunately likely prospect of an RvP injury coupled with another Walcott niggle during a crucial period during a crucial such as late January (when the ACON starts) you all of a sudden have a pool of Chamkh, Vela and possibly Joel Campbell to fill 2 spots. Vela and Chamakh on their day can both be very good footballers - how often does that day come around? Joel Campbell is anyone's guess. For all the likelihood of him arriving and setting the Prem alight Javier Hernandez style, he still be years off being Prem quality.
On the flip side, there would be way too much congestion in the middle with Ramsey, Wilshere, Song, Frimpong, Diaby, Lansbury and possibly Nasri competing for two spots. Adding the fact one defensive minded Centre Mid is a near necessity, you would find yourselves with up to 5 players fighting to partner one of Song or Frimpong. Even Song has been less Mikel more Messi at present and will have to be far more disciplined in his primary role of protecting the back 4 for it to work.
Just a poor mans Invincibles?
Although less of a drawback yet more of an observation, the current team would also be a bit of a "poor mans Invincibles" in a 4-4-2. Although hugely talented players in their own right and all a lot younger than their invincibles equivalent, put simply RvP is no Bergkamp, Walcott no Henry, Gibbs no Cole and the wingers no Pires and Ljungberg. With the signing of Gary Cahill I feel the Verm/Cahill would shade the Toure/Campbell partnership and Sagna is slightly better than Lauren was but apart from that our whole team is either on par or inferior.
It would be a start though. You have to bear in mind the Invincibles where a brilliant bunch of players that included all-time Prem greats. They were also more or less all within their peak in a brilliant cycle for the club. Teams like that don't come around to often years.
The Invinvibles where a team in their prime
Conclution
All in all, I feel it is far too short notice for a complete switch of formation back to an Invincibles style 4-4-2 with the season days away. Such a drastic change needs a whole pre-season so that players can become accustomed to the system and their role within it. The uneven distribution of players within positions of the formation is also a big stumbling block. But not all hope is lost. I am pretty sure it would form a pretty solid "plan B" (something Arsenal have seemed to lack in recent years) when teams stick 10 men behind the ball and we look lacklustre and void of ideas in the final third. Moving Walcott up front with RvP with (hopefully) Mata and if not Nasri and Gervinho on the flanks could give us that whole new dimension and help us add vital points to our tally.
With regards to the work rate of our attacking minded players, they need to learn their contribution when the other team are in possession is just as important as it is when the ball is at their feet. This will hopefully help us cut down on "out of nowhere" goals and, just like above could help change the fine margin we miss out on trophies into the fine margin we won them by.
Players wise, a new, commanding centre back is a must. I'm not knocking Koscielny I rate him highly but strength in depth is the key to league success. Think of Man.utd who have Vidic and Ferdinand as the first choice pairing and then Smalling and Jones to call upon. A partnership of Vermaelen and Cahill and Koscielny on the bench would be truly formidable. Hopefully these changes will also result in a change in our trophy fortunes. Come on you gunners!
