Is 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 The problem? Should we change to 4-1-4-1 in all our big games? By Galen Sona
Rafa Benitez is one of the best teachers of the 4-2-3-1 formation. His Liverpool midfield with ‘Gerrard – Alonso – Macherano’ was one of the best teams in Europe playing the 4-2-3-1 formation. Years later at Real Madrid, he said the formation lacked balance because James Rodriguez didn’t offer much when the team was not in possession.
What Benitez did was to bring in Casemiro and set Madrid in a 4-1-4-1 formation of 4-3-3. But James found himself on the bench. Benitez was accused of winning ugly and playing negative, But when Zidane became manager he told the press he was sticking with Casemiro playing behind Kross and Modric.
Jose Mourinho once said: “A number 10 for me is an eight-and-a-half when the team loses the ball, and the number 10 is a nine-and-a-half when the team has the ball. That is why Deco and Wesley Sneijder were the best number 10’s I ever had.”
Can Ozil be an 8.5 when the team lacks the ball? Like James Rodriguez we need to make this decision especially in the bigger games.
Look at PSG. Javier Pastore is one of the best number 10’s in the world, but Emery realised that if he plays Veratti, Rabiot, and Matuidi they will be physically stronger and better as a result.
What about the rest of the Arsenal players? I am tired of Wenger taking all the criticism, but these players were a disgrace to the shirt and yet nobody is talking about them. At least show some fight, show some desire, show some passion, and show some pride. They are so comfortable, they are not even hungry. Loads of them need to go.
Mustafi, Xhaka, Coquelin, Gibbs, Iwobi, Ozil, Gabriel. That is 7 players who were completely off key. I can’t believe we spent £70 million on Xhaka and Mustafi. What a joke really? To think these guys get paid every week is just laughable. Coquelin and Mustafi must be laughing all the way to the bank.
I sang so much about Wanyama, but I was laughed at. He was aavailable for £10 million and he is the same age as Xhaka. We needed a strong and dominant midfielder and not some guy who is yet to master the act of tackling. .
Should we switch to a 4-1-4-1 formation in all our big games?
———————– Ospina————————
Bellerin———Mustafi——-Boss———-Gibbs
————————–Xhaka———————–
Theo————-Ox—————Coq———Welbeck
————————-Sanchez—————————
The next big team we face is Liverpool away. I have watched Ozil many times at Anfield and I still remember when they gave us 6. All I want is some pride. Am just tired of getting beat up.
Finally, i just want to remind everyone that Cazorla is the best midfielder we have at the club. I always get thumbs down for saying it. How I wish Cazorla was 28 years old again! Still, look at Xabi Alonso at 36 bossing the entire Arsenal FC. I just hope that Cazorla’s injury problems can get better.
Should we change to 4-1-4-1 in all our big games? What to do with Ozil?
Galen