Arteta is very crucial to our team, one of our most important players.

Agreed

The problem is that whoever plays in that formation has to cover the pitch side to side. This is because we send both the full backs up the pitch instead of keeping one back. With the best will in the world Arteta just doesn't have the legs to do that. The reason why it worked well in pre-season was because its a slower form of football. Everyone is now up to speed so I hope we don't go with that and instead go with 4-2-3-1.

is Gilberto still playing?

We need iturraspe

I think thats why Wenger prefers to start both Rambo and Jack.. Knowing that they have the legs to run up to join in the attack but also drop back effectively becoming box to box players. The system is susceptible to counter attacks though.

We won't fulfil our true potential until a proper DM is brought in.

Arteta has even more responsibility with 2 attacking full-backs now and just can't get across quick enough...

As long as Flamini is nowhere near the team

Good article

However, I do agree with jenius in that we should be a little wary of reading too much into pre-season/CS games.

I think it's also worth noting that we played with a high defensive line against City, pressed high up the pitch, and ultimately compressed the space, giving Arteta less ground to cover.
With Mertesacker likely to be a regular at the heart of our defence this season, I can't see us adopting that system too often, in which case Arteta's mobility (or lack thereof) may still be exposed.

Castor

I'd seriously consider Coquelin ahead of Flamini if he still has an ounce of the potential he had before his loan.

He's actually more or less like Flamini when he was younger, especially when you factor in the versatility

Coqueshit shouldn't play 1 game for us this season, rubbish player with no hope/future

Tbf I'm unsure of how good he is now at the highest level but 11/12 I sensed a big future for him, wonder if a year in Germany ruined him that bad?

Anyway neither him nor Flamini should be anywhere near the team

There is no system.
There is just mix and match.
Waiting and waiting.

For the player that Wenger decided to smash his wages record for.
For the player whose injury means that Sanchez and Ozil are played out of position.

No sleep till Walcott!

Yes. However, it isn't really his position which shows just how bad Flamini is.

Good point DaStuDogg, but i definately feel this system suits him more.. Maybe it reimbursed Wengers faith in Arteta being the sole anchor again this season. Only time will tell but if Mikael is fit tomorrow, id rather him than Flamini.