"We need a DM". This is trending topic we are hearing today. But from my understanding, the DM is most integral to the 4-4-2 diamond formation, which Arsenal does not adopt. We play a 4-2-3-1 formation, with two holding midfielders and three attacking midfielders who interchange positions behind the main striker.
The two holding midfielders, or "double 6" as they are often called, interchange responsibilities in sitting back and starting attacks from deep. Their main task is to be able to read attacks and break them down. Positioning and awareness trumps speed. I guess that's why Wenger often pairs two men in front of the defence rather than rely heavily on a single "traditional DM" type of player.
Behind our main striker, Ozil, Sanchez and Walcott will interchange positions to make them unpredictable.
Our striker should typically be tall and strong, with the main task being to hold the ball up for players to run onto. They should also be the "traditional 9" who would put away even the slightest of chances. It's interesting that new systems now adopt a "false 9" as Fabregas often did for Barcelona.
Wenger often says that he prefers to distribute the task of goal scoring and chance creation among the entire forward line (attacking midfielders and striker, which is often why we struggle when the likes of Ozil, Cazorla or Walcott aren't firing on all cylinders as they are expected to not only score goals but also create them too.
Formation or Personnel?
posted on 18/9/14
Formation or Personnel?
----------------
Neither. The answer to your question is manager.
We don't have enough ability in the squad to win the PL or the CL and if we have to face Chelsea/City/United in the domestic trophies they will knock us out.
We will be lucky to get anything higher then 4th place in the league.
posted on 18/9/14
As arteta and flamini are complete liabilities, why dont we go with:
----------- Shez
back 4 of whoever's fit
---- ramsey-- wilshere
Sanchez--- Ozil------- Ox
----------- Welbeck
if it fails it wont make that much of a difference as we would lose anyway with flamteta in the team.
posted on 18/9/14
You're really underestimating Arteta and Flamini
posted on 18/9/14
to those who want Ramsey and WIlshere as our 2 deepest midfielders should take a look at how Madrid have had a bad start to their league campaign due to Kroos and Modric being used intead of a DM
posted on 18/9/14
For me I'll say its a change in style, if you want to play short passing, it has to be 1-touch. Especially as generally we aren't physical. So all we have is extremely slow build up with too much possession loss due to dwelling on the ball
posted on 18/9/14
OP, we haven't played 4-2-3-1 this season that I have seen. We have been playing 4-1-4-1 and if you don't believe me watch the lines they form every time we defend, 2 x 4 and the 1 in between. Its been leaving a lot of space where the 1 is trying to defend between the lines of 4. It was changed a bit against Dortmund as the 2 wide players were a bit deeper leaving less room but it was still 4-1-4-1 being played.
I think wenger is trying to keep the players he likes happy rather than the best team and formation as a whole. I personally prefer 4-2-3-1 with Ramsey sitting deeper than his is now, which seems to suit him better as well, and proper wide players rather than central players out of position. It gives better balance to the team and gets the best out of the players we have.
posted on 19/9/14
Spot on I am gooner, our 4141 is the problem, full backs push up, our two centrebacks drop deep'ish(because of mertesacker), our two in front of the one (arteta) push up and arteta becomes isolated against good opposition who press well(like Dortmund).
any good defensive midfielder would struggle, the gaps are too wide, because the 4141 like Munich & Germany play is all about pushing up and pressing, then you play your stuff, one of the hardest formations to play and you need top players all over the pitch especially in midfield(like Germany) , everyone has to press and you play a high line without mertesacker(like Germany world cup).
read "team building" Rinus Michels great insight into the high line press, he says it's all about the players you have and his 1988 winning Dutch team didn't play that way, he was way ahead of his time, I think the greatest manager of all time but hey that's my opinion.
posted on 19/9/14
We play 2-1-6-1 the moment we get the ball and hence constantly get punished by pact counterattack.
posted on 19/9/14
Will Wilshere start this weekend?