Keita in Point

I claim no originality here. I am not yet claiming I am the Messiah, as tempting as that always is. What I say though, is that we, Arsenal Football Club, lack a defensive midfielder.

Yikes. I'm about as revolutionary as Proudhon or Mazzini (take your pick of continental sounding political theorists).

I watched a Roma side last night that excited me. This was pre-empted excitement though- the most attractive match I have watched this season contained both English opposition last night and Fiorentina, a game in which Roma won 2-0. The Viola were exciting going forward as it was, yet it was Roma who took the spoils and the plaudits. As dominant as they were when they had the ball, it was their ability to exploit any space on the pitch on the counter which was so stunning.

Roma field a team roughly broken into the blocks of a 4-3-3, but in the loosest sense of the word. They play with the defensive line of four, and with three ball players in the middle, and then a further creative three at the top. The best thing is though is that the system becomes so fluid, that their midfield and 'forward line' become rather indivisible after a time. This is of course because players like Florenzi, Totti, Ljajic and even Iturbe, enjoy playing with their ball in the middle of the pitch as they do elsewhere. Yet both Florenzi and crucially Gervinho (both starters last night) offered more direct threats, and often looked like a front two. Therefore, whether Roma played a 4-3-3, a diamond in midfield, or even a 4-6-0, is completely up to one's own preference. (I'd actually like to say at this point it should not be named a 4-6-0; rather a 4-6. It seems edgier and more to the point that).

In the midfield areas, Nangoiann and Pjanic manipulated the ball against the team which won the Premier League last year, against two midfielders perceived to dominate against even three man midfields. Yet they were backed up, and freed up, by another skilled ball player in Seydou Keita.

Keita was bought from Sevilla by Barcelona around six or seven years ago, mainly for the purpose of being a physical presence in their midfield against more powerful opposition in the Champions League. Barcelona won the competition memorably in Guardiola's first season in 2008/09, and Keita was a constant presence. Yet, he was not a holding midfielder as such, considering the presence of Busquets in that season, and was used more as a typically powerful central midfielder.

For Roma, his role is somewhat different. He still has licence to be progressive and flamboyant in possession, yet his positional role is more grounded. He is a classic defensive midfielder in a progressive passing team- he covers the full backs, he prevents attackers running straight at his centre halves, and generally stops moves at source and initiates the counter. This could work either way for Roma, either in a higher press or countering from their own 18 yard line. The first goal started with Keita having possession well in his own half; four touches and two passes later, the ball was in the back of the City net. Yet Roma stood off, inevitably, as the match developed, content with holding City to a draw.

One moment in the match that stood out was when City had the ball on their left with James Milner, who was becoming more of an influence. He looked to run straight at the Roma right-centre half, yet who was placed right in front of Manolas. Keita. All he had to do was jockey for a position, or tackle if the ball was there to be won.

At Arsenal I am not sure we have this man. People say Flamini is not good enough to play for Arsenal. I actually disagree- he has his uses. But not in a system where is isolated as a 1. His best performance in an Arsenal shirt came in the draw with City at the Emirates, where he played a combative central midfield role next to a nominal defensive midfielder, Arteta. Also, to be fair to Flamini, the 4-1-4-1 Arsenal play is flawed because it allows the two midfielders ahead to think they have full licence to bomb on, and leave as much space as they like behind. It needs to be more of a three to ensure solidity. Mikel Arteta is neither a holder, and players like Diaby, Chambers, Coquelin and Hayden are unproven (as of yet!) in such a disciplined role. Yet due to our circumstances of not buying such a player, we are forced to play one of these players in the team.

So, Roma showed Arsenal up in two key ways. Firstly, Seydou Keita acted as a defensive shield for his team. And secondly, on a more conceptual note, Roma were a fluid team in that they moved forward and backward as as a unit. The fact their formation is not clear was a blessing. Arsene and Arsenal need to learn to either be rigid in style and formation, like a Pulis, or more fluid in style and formation. Which means abandoning a notion of a 4-1-4-1, and back to a loose 4-3-3.