4-5-1/4-3-3 the answer to our problems?

[tomkingsbury]

Ok, so i was reading a few threads on here about how we're not good enough, with mr saunders putting it quite bluntly about how arsenal wouldnt compete for the title, we didnt have enough top quality players, and generally he made some very convincing points. Also whilst watching MoTD 2 i started thining about our formation, and how best we could play, and i thought a 4-5-1/4-3-3 could work for us. When i say 4-5-1/4-3-3, as many of you know, i mean 'wingers/forwards' who switch between the two depending on whether we're attacking or not.
Also, im not sure how many of you are aware of the fact that quite honestly, we had 6 central midfielders on the pitch (hear me out honestly): flamini (rb), gilberto (cb), denilson & fabregas (cm), hleb & rosicky (rm,lm). Now i remember mr saunders saying hleb played well for us against fulham and sparta, but was back to his old ways against man city (even tho he assited a goal and won a penalty). Is it any wonder he didnt play as well considering he was on the wing?? Hleb is a natural central attacking midfielder, playing through the middle, just like rosicky (rosicky is more versatile but he predominatly prefers to play behind the front two or lone striker). Hleb is always coming inside, and never helps his right back, and i feel he really needs to play in a more central attacking role so we can get the best out of him. We clearly dont ahve any wide players, they are all predominantly central - i bet when diaby returns to fitness he will play the severla games the left.
So i propose a 4-5-1/4-3-3, similar to how chelsea play, and i think it could work. An injury free side would consist of: In goal, which is up for debate, would have to be almunia for me, lets give him a decent run and see if he can do it, if not revert to lehmann or give fabianski a try. Defence would be Sagna (or eboue) on the right, clichy (traore) on the left, with toure and gallas in the middle - people say they dont play well together, but to be honest they've hardly played enough to form a partnership and the african nations cup in jan wont help.
Then, gilberto could be our anchor man, like makele, mopping up and providing passes for our two central midfielders. These would be fabregas and diaby as both like to get forward, but we could quite easily play hleb in here or even rosicky. Now for the wingers/forwards: i'd personally go for van persie and rosicky, who could switch sides - van the man played exceptionally well with robben and kuyt in this formation during the world cup, altho theo could come in, even hleb if need be, (martins if the rumours are true). Finally up front, a target man; bendtner or adebayor, and im sure eduardo could play well here as a poacher, although i here he can play out wide if need be. So there you have, no eboue on the wing, no hleb meandering into nowhere on the left or right and a formation that can break down attacks and move forward quickly using the wings or the central players. Anyone else think it has potential?

[Ben-gooner14]

I think the 451 will be used in the champions league again, but personally i would not like it seen in league games especially at home.

[OT02]

I think a 'Barca-style' 4-3-3 would be perfect for us :

Lehmann

Sagna/Eboue/Hoyte - Toure/Senderos - Gallas/Johan - Clichy/Traore

Rosicky/Hleb - Gilberto/Diaby - Fabregas/Denilson

van Persie/Edurado - Adebayor/Bendtner - Walcott

- Rosicky AND Hleb could play in a more natural central attacking position.
- van Persie plays on the right and Walcott on the left, not as wingers but supporting srikers, letting them cut inside onto their stronger foot like we know they love to do.

TOO MUCH FOOTBALL MANAGER

[Magic Hat]

We would need to practise it pre season so no to the idea this season and I have some worries, would it fit into our narrow style of play? Is Adeboyor good as a lone striker? If we could cross the ball, it would be an intresting one to try

[WengerKnows]

i think maybe we need to change certain basic aspects of our game . post Dixon and Winterburn all our fullbacks have been extremely attacking i:e they spend much more time in oppsition half then in defence . For the most part this worked well for us due to 2 reasons . firstly our central midfield pairing has always been more formidible defensively ( compared to now ) and secondly we were so potent in attack that leaking a few goals did not usually cost us the game .

i would like Wenger to buy a defensive minded left back ( preferably with good aerial ability to help with set piece defending ) . this would allow clichy to make the left wing spot his . in terms of raw speed and beating players he is one of the best we have , also he is naturally left footed . once he is playing left wing permanently he will improve his shooting and crossing even more since his training routine will be less defence minded .

Sagna as a right back seems solid defensively so no change required there . With less adventourous fullbacks the players playing on both wings dont need to track back as much and can move into central positions when required . also Fabregas can focus more on attacking and creating chances rather then be forced to defend beause our fullbacks our in the oppositions third .

Once Diaby replaces Gilberto, as we all expect to happen it will be even more crucial for us to have fullbacks who are less attack minded since Diaby and Fabregas as a pairing are primarily attack minded .