Arsene Wenger's Positioning Follies

While Arsene Wenger’s decisions in the transfer market have been question and derided, it is his choice of positioning that has frustrated yours truly this term.

While Wenger has had the chance to return to the club’s traditional 4-4-2 formation since the arrival of Andrei Arshavin, ‘Le Professor’ has opted to stick with the 4-2-3-1 structure he has placed so much faith in.

However, the Frenchman’s choice of who-plays-where has not utilised the squad’s full attacking potential. Nicklas Bendtner—one of the two men capable of playing as a lone striker in the squad—has been played down the flanks, to varied results.

Samir Nasri, since the return of captain Cesc Fabregas, has played a deeper than usual role which doesn’t suit, and the captain has played an advanced role that even Wenger admits isn’t his best position.

Robin van Persie has been asked to play the lone striker’s role, when he is a second striker. And yet a return to the 4-4-2 formation has not materialised, and I wonder why.

We start with Bendtner. The big Dane has frustrated Arsenal fans in the two years since his return from a Birmingham loan spell, despite showing flashes of brilliance. He was a logical and direct replacement for the injured Adebayor, as his power and aerial ability mirrors that of the Togolese hit man.

It seemed illogical when the manger played him down the left, although he did start a few games up front (mainly when Van Persie was injured). On the flanks, Bendtner does draw defenders, and his link-up passing is decent, if not a little inaccurate.

When Wenger threw the 21-year-old on at Old Trafford last week, the Dane’s ability in the air was what Arsenal needed. However, he was again played as a wide midfielder. The result? 0-0 and another Premier League crown for Manchester United.

Go figure.

Arguably Wenger's most important summer signing, Samir Nasri, has enjoyed an impressive start to his Premier League career. Four minutes into his Premier League debut, the Frenchman had netted the winner against West Brom.

A crucial double against Manchester United and the leveller against Everton followed, with Nasri comfortably filling the gap opened by Alex Hleb’s departure.

Due to his versatility, Nasri has played all around midfield, on the left and right flanks, tucked in behind the striker, but his most position has been the defensive role he has occupied since the return of Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.

Wenger has admitted that Fabregas is better as a deeper-lying position, while Nasri is most comfortable in the position currently taken by Fabregas. A swap then seems the obvious solution.

Apparently, it was not obvious to Wenger.

Andrei Arshavin’s ₤16m arrival could have solved the positioning conundrum. A return to the 4-4-2 with a midfield of Arshavin, Denilson, Nasri, and Eboué, until Fabregas and Walcott returned.

Eduardo or Bendtner would partner Van Persie until Adebayor returned. Even before the key returns, that is a slick Arsenal attack, bristling with creativity and speed. But Wenger kept his 4-2-3-1, and it worked in the Premier League, with Arshavin a driving force.

But still the problems persisted in the Champions League, with Arshavin ineligible. And apart from the Emirates leg of the Villarreal tie, Arsenal needed penalties to score their sole goals against Roma and Manchester United.

Once Fabregas, Walcott, and Adebayor returned, the captained inexplicably took the attacking midfield role, pushing Nasri deeper, Walcott returned to terrorise left backs, and Adebayor recaptured his front man role.

Another season without a trophy for the Gunners, and another summer of soul searching. Hopefully, not another summer of high-profile departures.

Next year, with the little Russian eligible for the Champions League, and the ‘Little Mozart’ returning, Arsenal should regain the slickness of previous years. However, one feels this can be achieved with the familiar 4-4-2 system.

A side boasting Fabregas, Walcott, Arshavin, Eduardo, van Persie, Nasri, Bendtner, Adebayor and Eboué deserves to have its full attacking potential realised.

Surely, a 4-4-2 formation and a trophy beckon next season.