I actually think Alexis Sanchez is partly to blame - through no fault of his own - for Wenger fielding this ridiculously slow, narrow formation since the tail end of last season.
It's quite apparent that he likes to balance out having a quick, direct winger on one side with a more possession-minded creator on the other side. The problem is that Sanchez isn't a quick, direct winger when fielded on the left! Constant dribbling infield and lack of running in behind means he's essentially just a flashier version of the guy being fielded on the opposite wing.
A lot of Sanchez' best games and goalscoring form last season came from the no.10 and right winger roles, where he could actually function as a wide-forward. And I felt he produced his best form on the left when he had Welbeck running the line in front of him and allowing Sanchez to cut inside into space rather than congestion.
IMO there are 3 much more balanced line-ups we could field that would immediately yield better performances and results:
1. Walcott (or Welbeck when he's back) as CF with Sanchez and Ramsey on the wings
2. Walcott and Cazorla on the wings with Giroud as CF. This used to work well before Walcott's cruciate ligament injury
3. Keep the same starting XI but switch Sanchez to the right, drop Ramsey back into the middle and move Cazorla to the left.
Basically any formation which results in natural width on at least one side and/or a CF stretching the backline will result in significantly better performances than this slow, narrow mess which Wenger has been frustratingly experimenting with.
Sanchez unbalancing the side
posted on 28/8/15
I'm sounding a bit too MOTD there!
But I mean he just doesn't take those gambles to peel off a defender or give everything to get between defender and keeper on a cross. To me Giroud reacts to a pass rather taking a gamble on the space.
posted on 28/8/15
My adivce: play less Football Manager
posted on 28/8/15
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 58 minutes ago
My adivce: play less Football Manager
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Never played Football manager
Play actual football instead...
posted on 28/8/15
comment by Science (U19684)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 58 minutes ago
My adivce: play less Football Manager
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never played Football manager
Play actual football instead...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
strange
posted on 28/8/15
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 4 hours, 17 minutes ago
comment by Science (U19684)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 58 minutes ago
My adivce: play less Football Manager
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never played Football manager
Play actual football instead...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
strange
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It's more strange to play a video game rather than the real thing and flick your man bean over Giroud to be honest.
posted on 28/8/15
A lot of teams play against us camped in their own half with 10 men behind the ball, our defence is basically at the half way line and we have no space in behind at all so in those situations pace/width isn't gonna help us.. one/both full backs position themselves as wingers and stay wide and provide the width.
Bellerin is basically a winger when we have the ball and Ramsey doesn't need to stay wide. Gibbs used to be the full back who held that high position with Sagna more defensive but with Bellerin in the team now I wonder if thats why Gibbs doesn't get a look in at all. Since we got ripped on counter attacks a few years back we don't commit both full backs as much.
posted on 28/8/15
I am gooner now
In general I agree with you. Ramsey central and a more mobile CF are both things I've advocated. I wasn't suggesting that we model the team around Giroud, but rather that if Wenger is going to persist with him then he should at the very least ensure that he fields a balanced supporting cast which will provide the 2 things that Giroud can't (running in behind and stretching of the fullbacks).
For the record I don't think Giroud is a title-winning quality CF, BUT I do think we could still win the title in spite of him with the right usage of players like Walcott, Ramsey and Sanchez who can all provide that running in behind and make up for Giroud's lack of pace and goals. I don't back Wenger to do it though sadly.
posted on 28/8/15
Over £150,000,000 in the bank and we are hoping to win the title 'in spite' of our main striker, one of the most important positions on the pitch.
Wenger
posted on 28/8/15
To be fair I think he's at least tried to upgrade on him, most clearly with Suarez. I don't know why he's abandoned the Walcott at CF experiment though since it was producing such good results. He must not like winning.
posted on 28/8/15
Giroud is not a bad player. I have never thought he was! However he does NOT suit our style. Never has. So in my opinion it should NOT be what Wenger has got people to believe. That there are only a few strikers better than him and they are not available. Thats a strawman argument to protect Giroud. We need a striker who is more suited to how we play. Why doesn't Wenger go and buy someone more suitable to how we play? He doesn't have to cost £50m. But he does need to be ready for our style and first choice. Just because Barca sold Ibrahimovic so quickly didn't mean that Ibra was a bad player. He was not suited to Barca style so they got rid quickly. They didn't wait for Suarez to become available before they sold Ibrahimovic!