The Situation
Too many times in the season, Arsenal have been caught out. Tactically astute managers have seen flaws in the 4-2-3-1 system that the Gunners have used, and have taken advantage of it as Arsenal slipped unceremoniously down the table.
Jose Mourinho, David Moyes, Brendan Rodgers and others have seen through the pretty patterns to find an obvious hole. Once this deficiency has been spotted, it makes 4-2-3-1 a difficult formation to play. What was needed against Everton was a change in plan. Roberto Martinez is one of the most tactically sound managers in English football, so what did Wenger have up his sleeve?
The Decision
Absolutely nothing. The 4-2-3-1 remained, and Martinez laughed all the way to the bank, as his side crushed a feeble Arsenal and put themselves in a great position to snatch Champions League football from the former table toppers.
The clear lack of a plan B is borne from stubbornness. In the summer it was clear that the first eleven was a world-class side, but the depth was really missing to challenge for more than 30 games. Now this has been proven.
It would be a shock for Arsenal to play 4-4-2, or even 3-5-2, but why? The team has no surprise. Without much struggle, most could pick the strongest side and, once injuries have kicked in, their replacements. Compare this to other sides, who can happily rotate and switch into different styles, and it shows why the club is not still in title contention.
The Verdict
Football is a reactive game as well as proactive. Wenger must learn that if something isn’t working, he needs to change it. The lack of faith in any formation other than 4-5-1 is worrying. The Frenchman is not exactly a tactical slouch, so it beggars belief that this poor versatility and tactical naivety is costing the team so heavily. It’s become Wenger’s tactical nightmare.
From the summer, Wenger should have recruited one or two players who perhaps don’t fit the ‘Arsenal way’, but instead offer a different dimension. People said a ball-winning midfielder wouldn’t fit the Arsenal way as much as a defensive playmaker would, but Mathieu Flamini has been a key part of the season, perhaps mostly because he isn’t the same player as Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta or Jack Wilshere.
Even the lack of pace exposes the club in certain games. When finding it difficult to break sides down with passing, the lack of quick options is astounding. Making a squad that can play two or three formations could easily avoid this as it would probably include traditional wingers, as well as wide forwards.
Wenger still has the FA Cup to aim for, but he cannot insist on such mediocre league performances over an entire season for much longer. If he hopes to silence the Wenger Out Brigade, there needs to be some big changes, particularly to the strictly unchanging playing system.
Your Verdict
We asked you: Is the current formation too predictable, should it be changed & can/will Wenger do that?
@refmillerafc: “far too predicable ! Should alter on opposition but wenger will never do that hence our position now !”
@SBeurling: “absolutely, always out on the right side. It should be changed but wenger will never do it. Played like this for 6+ years”
@sirkeyur: “what 4-3-2-1 ? with no one in the box when a cross comes and a sub on the 70th minute. Yeah. Never seen that before.”
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