4-4-2 switch?

after reading this article, it seems Wenger is switching back to a 4-4-2 formation. of course, this isnt official or anything, but does anyone know if he will or not? and is our squad more suited to a 4-4-2?

http://www.footytube.com/news/guardian/cesc-fabregas-is-free-to-leave-arsenal-but-only-if-samir-nasri-stays-L9202?ref=hp_trendian

Not happening in the short time till Fabregas remains our Captain.. But I personally prefer the 4-4-2 glory days to this current system.. AW did play something like a 4-4-2 in the last match of the season though..

It would be sexy but we don't have the players for it. If Fabregas were bulkier, then sure. Paired with Song. Also, our wingers are not even close to having the work rate necessary to pull off 4-4-2. While they have improved this season, they are pretty lazy still.

Song in form is all over the place, man. He's the last player we'd need to replace!


Pure sex.

Song this season was off form, but last one he was a complete beast.

Where do you think his faults lie? You mean you want someone with huge workrate or a box-to-box type player able to do everything? If Arsenal had balls, they'd go after Vidal. He'd fit into our system perfectly.

Song's form drops when he gets tired.

In the last couple of seasons he's excellent between the start of the season and February, but afterwards his form drops due to fatigue.

This is, of course, a direct reflection on the lack of depth in this area.

Ultimately, the key component in any formation change is Fabregas. With only one striker of real quality, we need Fabregas - probably the second biggest goal threat in the whole squad - to be further up the pitch supporting that one striker. In order to compensate, we play with a double pivot that has defensive ability and high work rate.

Arsenal could buy another quality striker and play with two up front, but this then presents the problem of who plays in midfield. Fabregas and Song would be the likely partnership, but then Wilshere gets dropped, which then hurts us defensively. Walcott has work rate and the stamina to track back, but Nasri and Arshavin do not.

If Fabregas is sold, however, then we'd be left with a Wilshere/Song partnership which has a little bit of everything bar height and shooting ability. Essientially we'd play something closer to a 4-2-4, or 4-2-3-1 with one striker playing a more withdrawn role.

Hard to perform with a 4-4-2 system as long as Fab is a gunner.

He performed well paired with Flamini. Why would you think he couldn't perform again?

I don't think Fab has the physicality to play in a 4-4-2 along Song.

naaaah, we can play 4-4-2 diamond.... with song and fab


but in 442 classic, we can have wilshere and fab in center
nasri on a LM..... and somebody on RM

We have way too many midfielders to convert to a 4-4-2.

Fabregas and Song obviously get the nod in a 2 man midfield, and the likes of Wilshere, Ramsey, Diaby, Alvarez(?), ride the bench.

I wouldn't stick Wilshere out on the left wing of the 4-4-2 either. His creativity will be wasted on the flanks.

I agree 4-4-2 is not our best formation, but it does help to vary tactics every now and then. The extra attacker can help unlock some annoying defenses. I put Wilshere on the wing because of his great work rate. He would stay back most of the time, anyways, with Clichy bombing up to create width. On the other flank Walcott will be the one bombing up and down, creating a pseudo 4-3-3 when attacking and flat lines when defending.

Hell, Walcott could be used up front and Nasri on the wing if you want creativity. While bland, 4-4-2 is very versatile.

It's just an idea, I'm not saying I want us to play like that, because I don't.

fabregas doesn't have the defensive work rate to play in CM anymore, he's gotta have the advanced role now.

Think it will be more a 4-4-1-1 with RVP playing behind a target man.
If Cesc leave midfield will be something like Walcott Song Wilshere Nasri.
Song and Wilshere will play deep.

4-4-1-1 is pretty much a 4-2-3-1 but with more defensive wingers. Not happening unless our wingers learn to track back.

Emaharg wrote:Think it will be more a 4-4-1-1 with RVP playing behind a target man.
If Cesc leave midfield will be something like Walcott Song Wilshere Nasri.
Song and Wilshere will play deep.

I think you're right about that, but of course it only works with Cesc gone. otherwise theres no one expendable in the midfield 5 to cut it down to 4.

RVP will be playing off the target man, but will still very much be a forward. kind of like how we played with bergkamp and henry. RvP and Walcott wouldn't be bad would it?