Arsenal have been suffering lately due to being caught with too few competent tacklers at the back when it matters, and often lacking that extra man in the opposition box when it has been desperately needed. The solution? That 3-2-3-2 formation (pictured) that Liverpool tried in recent years (with mixed success).
Liverpool’s undoing in that formation came because the midfield did not work hard enough to track back, so if Wenger and Bould can get Arsenal doing it right, they might have the correct players to make it a success.
In goal, Szczesny, and our other ‘keepers, have been left exposed by our full-backs being too attack-minded. They are effectively two additional midfielders, so why not push them further up the pitch and add an extra defender, now that the loss of defensive units has been made clearer?
With Szczesny in goal, Mertesacker, Vermaelen and Koscielny look a very solid partnership together, with Vermaelen pushing out left when necessary and Koscielny being the right-sided centre-back. Mertesacker, being the strongest of the three could excel against battering ram centre forwards, whilst relying on help from the other two to deal with quick strikers.
Santos or Gibbs can be frightening when running down the wing or linking up with a winger, as can Sagna, whilst it can do no harm to see them tracking the opposition and helping the three centrebacks. As wing-backs, their defensive workload is adjusted to suit their questionable defensive qualities, yet it could see them reach their potential as wide players.
The three in the middle could consist of Gervinho, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski or Oxlade-Chamberlain. This part of the formation could differ slightly to Liverpool’s, with the 3 being top-heavy and two attacking midfielders with a more rounded one, or it could stay the same and use two rounded midfielders and just one attacking midfielder. In any case, the trio would have to be prepared to track back and forward, whilst also attending to wing duties in support of the full-backs, although one striker may also help out with this.
The two strikers is a part of the formation that can please everyone. Wenger gets his choice of Giroud, who has been improving stadily since he joined, whilst the fans can finally get their choice alongside him- Theo Walcott. Walcott can become a happier man in his favoured position, and it is no secret that he isn’t quite the target-man or all-rounder needed for a lone-striker, so Giroud could provide a perfect strike partner.
Of course, if Wenger were to opt for a midfield three that used just one attacking midfielder, Walcott may be urged to play just behind Giroud, or vice-versa. This formation is very malleable, which is to Wenger’s liking, much like 4-5-1. It would take a lot of work, but the risk could be worth the reward if the players can get it spot on.
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