The 4-2-3-1 and Arsenal
by Ted Harwood on Aug 4, 2010 12:10 PM EDT
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In a typically magisterial and insightful piece, Arsenal Column has laid out the strengths of the 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 formation as used at this year's World Cup by numerous teams as well as by Barcelona. The stability offered by using two deep, holding midfielders to occupy the space in front of defense has certainly become a popular formation. As the Column points out, Arsenal have enjoyed some of their best runs when employing two deep midfielders (Vieira and Petit, Vieira and Edu, Cesc and Gilberto). Last year's use of Alex Song was a little different, and potentially problematic:
The previous season, Alex Song was often left isolated in what essentially was a 4-1-4-1 formation and Wenger found that, if a team bypassed the first wave if pressure, the Gunners could be exposed in the centre. The revitalisation of the two in front of the defence should give Arsenal greater structure in defence and organisation into four easily identifiable bands.
Arsenal look at their best when using another holding midfielder alongside Song (or whomever is given the task of shielding the defense). This preseason, Jack Wilshere has featured in a deep role alongside Emmanuel Frimpong, and the pairing has worked well.
Spain, at the World Cup, used Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets alongside each other defensively, Busquets winning the ball back for Xabi to distribute. The holder/passer/creator midfield triangle for Spain (and Barcelona) functions very well for quickly converting defense to attack. As has been discussed here before, Arsène Wenger can set up Arsenal's midfield talent in any number of possible combinations within this system.
It is important, though, as Arsenal Column points out, that he does not isolate Song in front of defense, as Arsenal's two attacking midfielders often leave gaping spaces behind their runs which good teams (Manchester United, Chelsea) exploit on the counter. If Abou Diaby or Cesc Fàbregas plays alongside Song, taking the passer role, and then respectively Cesc or perhaps Samir Nasri plays in the more attacking, creative role, it should limit the space for the opposition and allow Arsenal to quickly shore up their defense when the other team is in possession.
Such is the attacking talent for Arsenal that using two attacking midfielders is probably overkill; scoring goals (as long as Arshavin isn't forced to play center forward) will not be a problem. Limiting space behind the attack should be Arsenal's priority this season, and Wenger looks to be moving in that direction based on the evidence from the preseason fixtures in Austria and at the Emirates.
Anfield will be the true test...
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Sure it can.
Too soon = before we sign another central defender.
But what the hell, bring on Liverpool!
"Seriously, baby, I can prescribe anything I want!" - Matt Daddy
by HoodRiverDuck on Aug 4, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
a formation of:
GK
Sagna Vermy CB Clichy/Gibbs
Song Denilson/other holding midfielder
Fab
Wide Wide
RVP
makes too much sense not to use
i know denilson gets a lot of flack, but the dude is a really good short passer, which is most important for that role…he also doesn’t mind getting stuck in…hopefully he can keep his composure and make good decisions against good team
"Albert hits good pitches hard and bad pitches even harder. And when he gets in the batter's box, if you pray, then you start praying. And if you don't pray, you think about starting."--Brian Bannister
That guy we gave a lot of money in the offseason to protect albert is dead to me...DEAD TO ME
That was a really good article from the Column
There was an interesting comment in the article thread from someone, who observed that in our 4-3-3 the 2 wing forwards tend to drift in and jam the middle, forcing us to get our wing attack play from our wing backs. Unfortunately our backs Sagna and say, Clichy are not particularly good at that….mayhaps we need a change in tactics?
it's a fair point
although crossing is not necessarily our strong point; RvP does better with the ball on the ground, and Chamakh has shown his abilities that way too. We do get congested in there, though, it’s true.
Song is the only true DM in the first-team (although Frimpong looks promising), so he’s in there without question. If the other deeper mid is the holder/passer, it has to be Fabregas… no one comes close to his vision or distribution skills. Nasri seems to play his best in a central attacking role and typically has much less of an impact on the flank.
I have two interrelated concerns with this “triangle”… 1) Song is again at risk to be isolated as the lone man in front of the back four if Cesc is aggressive in the final third, and 2) If Cesc is required to hold to alleviate #1, it will limit his ability to score, which he showed he is quite capable of last season.
But, the pros might outweigh the cons, as Nasri looks a different player when in a CAM role. He appears just as capable of scoring/creating as Cesc when he’s playing centrally. like what Diaby brings when he’s on, but you never know with him. Denilson is more than capable of intelligent/efficient short distribution, but he doesn’t show the vision & creativity we’d get with Cesc sitting a little deeper.
I have a feeling that might be the midfield we see, actually
Song/Cesc/Nasri, with Arshavin and Walcott on the flanks. Denilson, Jack, Rosicky as subs?
That's what I'm thinking...
but we won’t know if Wenger agrees for a few weeks when everyone is available… wait, that is highly unlikely. Jokes aside, I think I like that trio and it seems to match the template laid out by Arsenal Column quite well. I wonder how Cesc/Diaby would function if asked to play like Khedira/Schweinsteiger? Diaby as the box-to-box (he’s a good fit for that role, but not a distributor) and Cesc as the deep playmaker,,, maybe an option if Song is unavailable?
Only we haven’t seen him at all this preseason… I think Denilson is a serviceable player, but he’s not first-choice when everyone is available (again, not that often). Like I said before, he’s a good safe short passer and can crack one from distance now & then, but he doesn’t seem to have the vision to create opportunities in the final third.
but thats exactly what the article discusses
Denilson’s job isn’t to playmake in the final third, his job is to be a link player who helps keep ball possession. Bonus that he can crack shots from deep. Playmaking is Cesc’s job.
by silverace99 on Aug 10, 2010 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I actually think Nasri would be better alongside Song
he seems to be a better tackler than Fabregas, and Wenger has considered him more than Fabregas for a holding/passing role
"We're investigating the investigative procedure of the investigation of Tony Bernazard"---Omar Minaya (he really didn't say it but he would"
by firejerrynow on Aug 10, 2010 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
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