Arsenal have some massive games coming up between now and the end of the season, with the first of those major challenges and potentially pivotal clashes coming against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a couple of weeks. We also have Premier League away games at Tottenham and Liverpool, not to mention the Champions League double header with Bayern Munich and hopefully a few more FA cup matches to get through.
First up the Blues though, and I wonder if Arsene Wenger, who is a keen student of the game, has been thinking about trying Arsenal with the three at the back formation that has been adopted by our title rivals Chelsea and Tottenham. Arsenal fans may feel confident about our trip across London in a fortnight after we beat Chelsea with aplomb in September, but it was that defeat which caused Antonio Conte to change to a back three and they have not looked back since.
The only setback that Chelsea have had since then was against the spuds who have also adopted that system, so should Arsenal think about doing the same? I certainly hope that the Frenchman has thought about it and had the players working on it in training as it would seem negligent to dismiss it when it has been working so well for others.
Even if we go back to four after the Chelsea match, do you think Arsenal should try to combat Conte’s new tactics by matching up the team formations? We4 certainly have the players, whether it would be with Mertesacker coming in or Gabriel, and with Bellerin and Gibbs free to get forward mo#re as wing backs we could be very dangerous.
Maybe it would even allow Wenger to play a front two of Alexis and Giroud as both have been on fire in front of goal and with Coquelin protecting the defenders I think it could be a good option to go with a starting line-up like this.
Cech
Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny
Bellerin, Ramsey, Coquelin, Ozil, Gibbs
Giroud, Alexis
What do you think Gooners?
Bob.
these teams don’t play with a back 3.
for Chelsea
luiz Cahill azpilicueta and Alonso are a
ll defenders
Tottenham rose walker vertonghen and alderwierld are also all defenders.
And you there want us to play with five defenders.
Rather replace gibbs with iwobi
Wenger is exactly known for his ability to adapt to the modern game or his opponents, is he?
I honestly can not see Wenger try 3 at the back.
Back 3 or back 4, 2 central defenders of 1 central defender – to me it doesn’t matter, what
matters is how these guys organise themselves defensively. In our recent games against we played with the usual back 4 and 2 defensive central defenders and still conceded.
Our midfielders need to organise themselves better in defensive situations. We often leave back 4 stranded and tend to blame these guys every time we concede.
Vs Bournemouth we started with Le Coq and Xhaka and still conceded 3..I still believe we should play with a back 4 and 1 solid central defender (Le Coq, Xhaka, Elneny) and the player alongside should be more attacking minded (Carzola, Ramsey)..and all midfielders need to drop back to assist when defensive duties are required.
Perhaps two at the back even with Bellerin and the Ox as wing backs and Xhaka sitting right in front of the two CBs almost like a third defender and launching accurate long passes from deep like a Quater back in American Football.
Cech
Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny
Bellerin, Xhaka, Coquelin, Gibbs
Alexis
Welbeck Perez
This is not a bad formation to use
Cech
Gabriel-Mustafi-Koscielny
Bellerin-Xhaka-Coquelin-Gibbs
Welbeck-Alexis-Perez
We have pace going forward and defensive discipline from the wings and we also have pace, technique, skill, goals and assists from the players upfront. There would a serious battle in midfield and Alexis would sometimes help in the fight there. This formation could see Bellerin and Gibbs getting in goal scoring positions and scoring or creating assists.
cech
gab mus kos
bel/ox xhaka ramsy iwobi
ozil alexis
giround