It is perhaps fitting that it is a Premier League clash between Arsenal and Chelsea which brings about me asking the question of whether Arsene Wenger should go with a formation of four at the back or three at the back for the Sunday clash with Chelsea.
After all, it was our pasting of the reigning Premier League title holders at the Emirates last season that caused their manager Antonio Conte to abandon their previous 4-5-1 system and that was identified as the turning point in their season.
Later in the season when the Gunners were really in the doldrums and under pressure the Arsenal fans were crying out for something and our manager responded by doing a Chelsea and going to three at the back, with similarly successful results.
However, while Conte’s Chelsea have continued to prosper with the new formation Wenger was forced to go back to the previous system in the Europa League win over Cologne last night and it worked, which begs the question, should we do it again at Stamford Bridge.
In a way the uncertainty about how we will play could be a help, but the boss still needs to get it right, so which system would give Arsenal the better chance of getting the right result?
Well for one thing I think we have to accept that an away point would not be a bad result for us. Arsenal could certainly do with a win but first and foremost we must not lose and three at the back is accepted as being a bit more solid.
However, Monreal has played a lot and is not the quickest so having him as the left of three centre backs strikes me as a bit risky. Maybe we could use Kolasinac there, with Koscielny in the middle and Mustafi on the right. We have no Coquelin in front of the defence, don’t forget, so having two attack minded full backs may not be the safest option.
What do you think, Gooners, three or four?
Bob.