Arsenal 4-2-3-1 ? (1)

Just before this season, there were a lot of assumptions and predictions about Arsenal’s midfield’s combinations. The reason for that is, during the transfer window, there were several remarkable departures as well as arrives. For example, departures for Pires and Reyes and arrives for Rocisky and Baptista means that there must be inevitable alterations in Gunner’s midfield area. Moreover, a significant growth of Cesc Fabregas and Hleb also makes Arsenal’s midfield more competitive. Therefore, many experts and fans gave their own opinions and insights. As an Arsenal fanatic I was also thinking over and over to find out the best combination. As far as I considered Arsenal’s style of football, players and just my favors, I came up with this system

T. Henry


F.Lungberg (CESC) A.Hleb

(T.Rocisky)


G.Silva (Holding) J.Baptista (Central)



G.Clichy W.Gallas K.Toure E.Eboue


J.Lehmann

4-2-3-1

In the last world cup, I was quite surprised with French national team’s performances. French team was really well balanced, tactically smart and physically strong. Why I am mentioning French national team is that French team had been seriously struggling to find out the best combination for their midfield just before the World cup. (It can be until the game against Swiss) However, after French manger had found out the best combination in the midfield, which had been a question of how to use Zidane and Ribery together,
French team showed high quality of football in terms of individual player’s level as well as performance as a team. Many teams used 4-2-3-1 system in the last world cup but to me French team’s 4-2-3-1 was the best in terms of balance, strength and tactical movement as a team.

As I mentioned, when I considered, Arsenal’s style and players, 4-2-3-1 can be one of the best system for Arsenal. The reason for that is after Vieira’s departure Arsenal struggled in Premier League, due to lack of physical strength. England Premier league is considered as one of the toughest league in terms of physical strength because teams in the Premier league do not only focus on keeping the ball but also focus on taking the ball again in midfield when they are taken the ball. However, in Champions league, the story was different. Thanks to players like Cesc and Hleb, Arsenal could achieve the new fact that, they did not have with Silva and Vieira combination – It is the same problem as last season’s Juventus had with Emerson and Vieira combination, creativity. Both players, Cesc and Hleb, are able to change tempo of game, to stir opponent’s midfield with their skills and to create the so-called kill-passes.

So I thought that if Arsenal uses 4-2-3-1, it could satisfy those two things at once the physical strength in midfield and creativity. For example, Vieira and Makelele combination can be Gilberto and Baptista. Those two midfielders focus on defense first and when they intercept the ball Baptista can participate in counter-attacking because he is kind of fast, can keep and deliver the ball and even can score a goal. Moreover, that is why Arsene Wenger really wanted to buy Baptista in the last season. (Malouda – Lungberg, Hleb – Ribery and Zidane – Rocisky or Cesc)

However, despite so many convincing opinions, Wenger’s choice was 4-1-4-1.


To be continued...