Arsenal FC: Lineups and Formations for the New Season

This is probably the most important transfer window in the entirety of Arsene Wenger's reign. After the horrors of last season, fans are clamouring for change.

There were even rumours that Wenger would be sacked. Arsenal started brightly in the 2010-11 season and stayed in all competitions while reaching the final of the League Cup.

There were signs of the collapse even then, losing 3-2 to Wigan, losing 3-2 to West Brom at home, losing 1-0 to Newcastle at home as well as conceding a four-goal lead at St. James's Park.

Furthermore, they were defeated in the Carling Cup final by a much inferior Birmingham City side and finished in fourth place, slipping down two spots after being hot on the heels of eventual champions Manchester United almost all season.

However, the future looks bright with right-back Carl Jenkinson and winger Gervinho being added to the squad. Both of them have looked energetic and skillful in preseason friendlies and seem like great additions to the squad.

Tactically, Wenger plays a 4-3-3 similar to Rijkaard's game at Barca. His 4-3-3 seems like a 4-2-3-1 at times, with Jack Wilshere and Alex Song in a double pivot (a system which allows the two defensive midfielders to share their jobs and become more of a fluid defensive unit).

Cesc Fabregas, the lynchpin of the Arsenal side, plays in the hole behind the striker and is the focal point of the side, while skilled dribblers Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott play the inside forward role, cutting inside to provide greater support to lone striker Robin Van Persie.

However, let us look at the options Wenger has and how he will likely deploy his squad.

1: Wenger Sticks with What He Has (4-3-3)

Wenger's current system is tried and tested on the highest stage and has been proven to work and work very well (see Arsenal 2 Barcelona 1), especially when Cesc Fabregas is playing. When he does not play, it becomes clear that the entirety of Arsenal's system is built around him and his supreme technical ability.

Arsenal have tried many replacements for Cesc in the hole, not least of which are Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey, as well as most recently, Samir Nasri. Of these, Ramsey has proven the most suited to play in this position but has failed to provide Cesc's creativity and nous in the hole.

Anyways, if Fabregas leaves Arsenal for the Nou Camp Wenger might stick with his old system and use Ramsey in the hole.

W Fabregas: Sczesny Jenkinson Vermaelen Koscielny Sagna Song Wilshere Fabregas Gervinho RVP Nasri

W/o Fabregas: Sczesny Jenkinson Vermaelen Koscielny Sagna Song Wilshere Ramsey Gervinho RVP Nasri

2: Wenger Goes Deep 4-4-2( Invincibles Style)

This formation allows space Robin Van Persie to drop into the hole behind the main striker (a choice of Vela , Walcott and Gervinho) and dictate the play, effectively replacing Fabregas and playing the Bergkamp role (playing as a two on paper but dropping into the hole anyways).

You can then make wholesale parallels to the Invincible's system by comparing Wilshere and Song to Vieira and Gilberto, as they both play as deep lying midfielders. Wilshere has a mixture of both skill and tenacity as witnessed last season (comparable to Vieira), and his more defensive partner Song plays a similar type of holding role to Gilberto Silva, although Song attacks more.

This is at its most effective against a high line, as that is where RVP can direct his passes and make his runs. Also, Walcott's pace to get in behind the defensive line would be crucial on the counter-attack.

Lineup:

Sczesny, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Sagna, Song, Wilshere, Nasri/Arshavin/Walcott,  Gervinho/Walcott/Arshavin,  RVP Walcott/Gervinho/Vela

3: Wenger Builds Around Another Trequartista(4-2-3-1)

In this system, Wenger uses a great dribbler and passer in  the hole behind Robin Van Persie, who plays as the main striker, which he demonstrated he was capable of last season (he scored 18 goals in the second half of the season). Samir Nasri would be suitable for this role in front of Wilshere and song as the defensive midfielder duo. He would play more of a creative winger style role in the hole and the focus will stay away from keeping possession and then playing the killer pass and will shift to going on incisive runs though the midfield area and then passing for the wingers of Robin Van Persie to Score.

Alternatively Robin Van Persie can play this role and assume more of a Fabregas esque-creative mantle as RVP can pick out a pass as well(With Walcott Gervinho. A third, and more likely option would be using Ramsey in  the hole as he has been Proficient in there before.

Lineup:

Jenkinson Koscielny Vermaelen Sagna Song Wilshere Gervinho   Nasri/ Ramsey/RVP  Walcott RVP/ Walcott/Vela  

4: Wenger Uses a Shape from Two Seasons Ago (4-5-1)

Wenger could play a packed and cohesive central midfield unit of Song, Wilshere and Diaby, similar to the Song/Denilson/Fabregas Partnership of 2009-10.

In this midfield, there will be no predominantly attacking or predominantly defensive midfielders, but three box-to box players who work as a unit. Diaby and Wilshere are more suited to this type of a role due to their high-stamina and work rates.

Ramsey could play sort of a Ray Parlour role on the wing, tucking inside to help the midfield, while Nasri on the other flank provides a more creative outlet for Robin Van Persie/Walcott/Gervinho.

Lineups:

Sczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Sagna, Ramsey, Wilshere, Diaby, Song, Nasri 

5: Unlikely 5-3-2 Wingback System

This system focuses on getting the best out of wing backs Jenkinson and Gibbs and unleashing their undoubted attacking talent with a three-man defense composed of Djourou, Koscielny and Vermaelen.

The midfield would be more attacking minded than usual, balancing out the extra man in the defence. I would opt for a midfield of Diaby, Wilshere and Nasri behind an attack of RVP and Gervinho/Vela/ Walcott.

Lineups:

Sczesny, Gibbs, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Djourou, Jenkinson, Nasri, Wilshere, Diaby,   RVP Gervinho/Vela/Walcott