For 2012 I would see Gervinho filling the Marc Overmars position and we have all seen enough in three games to know that he is more than capable of playing left of a four or left of an advanced three. The central pairing, conventionally, would be Wilshere and Song, and the right sided player who could more than comfortably tuck back in when Gervinho surges forward to join the two strikers, could be Ramsey or Rosicky. As you may have guessed already, I see this formation giving Theo Walcott the role he craves playing just beyond RVP. Walcott did well as a wide player, but he does not have a trick to beat the top full-backs and his crossing is often wayward. But his pace for the through ball or the ball in behind is difficult for nay defenders to deal with and he is undoubtedly an instinctive finisher.
Most of our success in the good run we had from December to February last season came as a result of the understanding RVP and Theo developed, and I see RVP being Bergkamp, to Theo’s Henry. Not an original thought, but a valid one nonetheless. I feel this more direct approach could lead to more success at home against teams who are ‘parking the bus.’ We now can also add Park Chu-Young to this equation and from what I read he is flexible and quick enough to play in either role, but would more likely be the first change for RVP in either formation, signally the end of Chamakh – none too soon.
Of course this formation, whilst being superbly effective and exciting against lesser teams and domestically, may not always be suited to the big top of the table clashes away from home or indeed in Europe. It was in Europe in 2005/06 in our run to the final of the Champions League, that Wenger first began to sacrifice the second striker and playing a five man midfield, with Ljungberg and Pires or Reyes wide and Hleb just behind Henry ahead of Gilberto and Fabregas. There is little doubt that this formation can suit Arsenal, and the style of player that Wenger has been buying since the break-up of the last great team in 2006, and I do see it still having a place for us this season. However, this system does rely very heavily on the creativity and vision of the player sat in the advanced midfield position just behind RVP/Young. Wenger has built this formation to suit one player, namely Fabregas, so for it to be effective in 2011/12, Wenger needs to decide who that player is. I would love for it to be Ramsey in the future, and we have seen Rosicky do it superbly for 45 minutes this term already, but are either able to fill those shoes full-time now? I would suggest not, and I think if we push Jack forward we would lose the player who continually keeps the ball in motion at the hub of everything.
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Top article, well done.
Great article. I share you opinion. 4-4-2 against weaker teams would be great. We could even play it against big teams. IF we can dominate the game and keep the ball in our side. Theo would be a weapon as a Henry-kind of player as he is wasted on the flanks.