Arsenal's Formation Formula: 4-3-3 Or 4-2-3-1?

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger has been the greatest manager in Arsenal’s long and illustrious history.

Recently, in contrast four trophyless campaigns have led to ‘le prof’ being criticised in ways not previously imagined. Another criticism is that of Arsene’s lack of spending following the departures of two first team players in Adebayor and Touré.

However Arsene believes that it is a change of formation, rather than a change of personnel that will improve the prospects of his young and ever improving squad. During the squads pre-season Arsene has been looking at a 4-3-3 formation.

In this formation, with a fully fit squad Wenger could choose a line up of:

                         Arshavin, Eduardo, RvP

                           Rosicky, Fabregas, Song

                    Clichy, Vermaelen, Gallas, Sagna

                                   Almunia

With this formation the attack is enhanced greatly compared to last season, by having three forwards, who are supplemented in attack by two playmaking midfielders, who can unleash vicious long range strikes.

However in recent years it has been in defence where Arsenal have so often been unstuck, rather than attack. One criticism from last season is that Arsenal’s backline was all too often exposed by the lack of a dominating midfielder or centre back.

In this formation, the defence looks slightly over exposed. Song, while adequate, cannot offer the backline the same level of protection than that of the same players of Arsenal rivals. Can Song really match Essien, Mascherano or Yaya Touré in the midfield anchor role?

So what to do? While I, and many others would intimate that buying a new player would solve this problem, this path seems like one that Arsene is increasingly reluctant to go down. In contrast a change in formation to solve this problem would be a more likely route that Arsene Wenger would follow...enter the 4-2-3-1.

In this formation , with a fully fit squad Wenger could choose a line up of:

                            RvP

                Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky

                     Song, Fabregas

         Clichy, Vermaelen, Gallas, Sagna

                          Almunia

With this team the attack is still strong, but in addition to this the defence are better protected as Song and Fabregas are working together.

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