I want us to try it too, but I think simply shouting "4-4-2"!! whenever we lose is far too simplistic.
What with Podolski and Theo both wanting to play up top and Giroud looking more dangerous and creative with a strike partnership, it looks perfect from an attacking perspective.
I have concerns (and I think Wenger does as well) about our midfield though. In the United and Schalke games we badly lost the midfield battles. We just could not really string passes together, and we often looked exposed at the back. We also seemed to lack the physical strength to win the ball and drive at teams. It would also drive Santi out wide and I personally have no interest in seeing that.
What's more, if we remember back to our last really successful team, (2003-05) we did play 4-4-2, but it was with 2 brutes in the middle of the park (Paddy and Gilberto) and 2 of the best wingers in the business (Freddie and Pires). Having the extra front man was a luxury we could afford because those players were so good.
I know there's a case for saying attack is the best form of defence, but I'm sure 4-4-2 is on Wenger's mind (He's a coach - if he hasn't even considered it he's literally not doing his job right). I think, however, that if you look at how isolated Giroud sometimes looks up front, why could it not be the same story but with 2 men up top, leaving us effectively playing with 9? If they can't get the service, they are out of the game, and I fail to see how a 2 man midifeld will service them better than a 3 man one.
As much as I hate to admit it, I think the current formation is the one which suits us best, but I'd like to see Podolski and Walcott given a bit more licence to roam. I also think it will look much more balanced when the squad have bedded in, learned how to make those split-second communications and runs and when Giroud starts making scoring a regular event, as I'm sure he will.
4-4-2
posted on 8/11/12
Imo Poldi and Giroud aren't suited to our system. Poldi as a wide forward doesn't offer any creativity and hasn't got the pace or skill to go past defenders. Giroud is far too static and doesn't have the technical ability to be our main man upfront.
posted on 8/11/12
How would it be 2-man midfield, it would be 4 surely?
you're right about losing the midfield battle though, I couldn't believe how much space there was for them to move around in midfield, I think 4-3-3 makes that worse if your mock-forwards (i.e. Poldi and Theo) don't track back enough and link up Giroud with the midfield.
posted on 8/11/12
I meant the men in the middle, yeah it's a 4 man midfield. But the point is the same - with a man fewer we'd be worse in midfield, surely?
posted on 8/11/12
I've said it before, 07-08 was the last time we looked really, really dangerous (bar parts of the 10-11 season)
I don't remember us being over run in midfield regularly with that 4 man midfield. It adds to defensive solidity, the traditional 2 banks of 4, plus gives us extra options. The issue we have is the personel, especially for the 2 man engine room.
Cazorla and the Ox would be my first choice wide men, and wilshere would really suit the CM role. But then we have a glut of partners for him. Arteta, Ramsey, diaby, frimpong, coquelin. Personally I think we realy need a defensive mid, a physical beast. Moussa Sissoko, or victor wayanama of Celtic would be perfect.
We really did look at our best in that season. As many people have said, the 3 man midfield was for cesc. Without him, it doesn't quite work as planned
posted on 8/11/12
Rosicky - Flamini - Fabregas - Hleb
---------- Eduardo ----------
---------Adebayor---------
The couldn't even get into that team
posted on 8/11/12
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/02/12/teams-of-the-decade-9-arsenal-2001-04/
"Although Wenger described it as a 4-4-2, it was perhaps a lopsided 4-2-3-1 in possession, and extremely difficult to defend against because of the movement from attacking players and full-backs in advanced positions."
posted on 8/11/12
4-4-2 when done properly gives you more defensive stability and we have the players to do it. What is causing us a problem is the pace at which we play which is way too slow. I agree we already have a perfect set of widemen in Santi and Ox and Rosicky, Gervinho and from time to time Theo can fill in also. Jack along with Ramsey, Arteta, Diaby are all capable of playing decent football but also getting stuck in. In time time I think Coquellin could also do a job but I don't think he is quite ready yet.
posted on 8/11/12
4 - 4 - 2
Sagna Mertesacker Kos Gibbs
Cazorla Arteta Wilshere Ox
Walcott - Giroud/Podolski
posted on 8/11/12
4-4-2 when done properly gives you more defensive stability and we have the players to do it.
---
At the start of the season we were successfully dropping into a 4-4-2 without the ball. Recently, Santos's crapness and Podolski's lack of defendingness has ballsed that up down our left side.