Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger; coach of the decade
By Phil Gregory
After part two of the tactical review series, I ended the article just as I started getting to Arsenal’s attacking game. Here I’ll have a look at that side of our game and consider whether a change of shape may be beneficial.
We regularly see the problem where we attempt to thread the ball through a packed defence, and end up just hurling a cross in from wide which gets nowhere. This problem is a tough one to remedy. Teams know we don’t offer much threat crossing from the flanks, so they play a narrower defence and pack the middle of the pitch, often leaving our fullbacks free out wide. The defending side are happy if we cross as the odds are their defence are better in the air than our attack, and the attempt comes to nothing.
This problem was best summed up by our defeat away to Bolton: 27 crosses attempted, zero successfully. There’s a similar problem when the goalkeeper is forced to play the ball long as a result of a lack of short options. With no forward who is a consistent threat in the air, we often gift possession away when sending it long.
How can we resolve this problem? Well the obvious solution is to introduce an aerial threat into the forward line, and indeed we tried to do that in the second half of games when Chamakh and Bendtner made regular appearances from the bench if Van Persie was starting. This helped, but often at the detriment of either our ability to break down the opponent via short passing (if say, one of the big men were introduced on the flank) or a midfielder who got subbed off for a forward.
This is the big point for fans who want us to switch from a broadly speaking 433 system to a 442. Clearly, Van Persie isn’t going to get dropped from the start for either of Bendtner or Chamakh, so they either play on the flanks or a midfielder drops out for an additional striker. The problem is that losing a midfielder means we are less dominant in terms of possession, and could easily be outnumbered in the middle of the park by either opponents playing a third central midfielder or using a wide midfielder tucking in. Then, the problem switches from being able to score goals to being able to hold the ball, and arguably we take a step backwards.
For me then, switching from 433 to 442 isn’t an option for that reason. The traditional view in football is that if you need a goal, you withdraw a midfielder for a striker, ergo if Arsenal regularly needs a goal, they should start with more strikers. The problem with that is it is simplistic: if you make that change, and then suffer reduced possession of the ball, you might actually reduce your chances of scoring despite the extra striker. Likewise, I’ve seen sides starting in 442 and, needing a goal, actually withdraw a striker and put on a midfielder. The extra midfielder allows the fullbacks to push on more, varies the runs from midfield and results in greater domination of the ball. It’s a brave manager who withdraws a striker when looking for the win, but in the right situation it can win them the game.
Given that therefore, I don’t think switching to 442 is an option for us, especially when you consider many of our players play better as part of a midfield three than a midfield two, or better as a wide attacker than a winger. What can be done then? For me, it is a mistake to take the edge of your strengths in order to strengthen your weaknesses (e.g. weakening your short passing game to get a big man on for Arsenal).We’re not always going to be able to break through every parked bus, but certainly improvements in our attacking game could be made.
The model we seem to be going for is a centre forward who can score and create, and is smart and technical enough to drop deep and create in order to draw the opposing defence forward, making space that the wider forwards can be played into. The wider forwards themselves need to be quick, excellent on the ball and offer a potent goal threat. Unless we can get someone who’s 6’5” and as skilful as Van Persie, I don’t see much changing in that regard this summer. Likewise out wide: Nasri needs to offer more assists, and score more evenly over the campaign, as does Theo, but the quality of there. Perhaps Gervinho will offer the competition to make everyone up their games, and get back the old Arshavin (though a lack of productivity isn’t a charge you could level against the little Russian).
The fullbacks I’m not sure about: unless you get a target man into the box, crosses are only ever going to be wasteful. Perhaps consistently hitting the by-line and putting a flat cross into the six yard box (that fabled “corridor of uncertainty”) could be the best option? I don’t have a problem with either of Sagna our Clichy defensively, and the aforementioned problems make it tough for them to be productive offensively.
As for the midfield itself, against the parked bus it needs to both create and score in order to maximise goal threat. For that Cesc Fabregas needs to stay put at the Arsenal (his goals and assists stats are ludicrous), while Wilshere’s goal threat will grow with age as he gets the confidence to shoot more when playing for the seniors.
We can’t afford to have two centre backs plus a holding midfielder staying further back when the opposition only really have one striker, who may or may not even be past the half way line. We saw how Wenger wanted this situation to work at the start of the 09-10 season, with regular forward runs from Gallas and Vermaelen. The latter is back fit for the upcoming season which is a positive development for both our defensive and offensive game. Moreover, if the opposition have limited ambition in attack we can afford to use players such as Song or a centreback further forward. Perhaps they can offer a modicum of aerial threat and get on the end of some of our crosses?
Much to look forward to for the next season then!
The story of the last time something odd went on.
And some recent stories..,..
Transfer Targets: no one is risk free
A closer look at Gael Clichy reveals something rather unexpected
A quick look at the fixture list
Why the pessimists are mistaken
The Cesc transfer saga, how they lied to us – part 1
The Cesc transfer saga, how the media finally shut up – part 2