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Arsenal's Attack Simply Doesn't Make Sense

In theory, Gervinho should be Arsenal's best option to play centre-forward in an attack that has looked disjointed this season. If that's the theory, there's clearly a problem...

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Comments 1 - 10 of (16)

outrun (Arsenal) says...

Also, in previous years, Arsenal have been a lot better at keeping the ball, I've never seen an Arsenal side give the ball away quite as often as this years side do - although i'd imagine Ramsey and Gervinho account for a large percentage of that.

Posted 10:36am 6th March 2013

Goonawan (Arsenal) says...

"the first-choice wide pairing of Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott are not providers at all. They are players in the 'wide forward' mould: shuttlers who tend to run out-to-in, who when on the ball look to shoot and score rather than cross and create." Which is why both of them have 9 assists in the league this season, good enough for equal third in the league? The problem is largely that Arsenal have not developed a good team chemistry this season, and partly that Giroud does not have very good poacher's instincts. The recent tactic of having Cazorla replace Podolski on the left has made things worse, as it takes away a player that Giroud has a good understanding with, but also replaces Cazorla at the tip of the midfield with Wilshere, who doesn't score.

Posted 11:10pm 5th March 2013

elpero (Arsenal) says...

its very obvious to see that arsenal really struggle with what they used to so well and thats "passing the ball/" into the box, and they seem to think that first time crossing is the solution, with no one in the box, wenger needs to change his tactics and stop being stubborn... hes an old dog that wont want to learn new tricks, until than im sticking to fm13(arsenal) and winning more trophies than he has.... ever

Posted 7:13pm 5th March 2013

harry hotspur (Tottenham Hotspur) says...

Even though I am a Spurs fan, I have always appreciated Arsenal's aesthetic football, easy on the eye and ruthlessly efficient. At least, that's how I remember them from my childhood. In spite of the rivalry, I would like to see Arsenal back to their classy best. The Premier League is a better place for it. With that in mind, it seems to me that Wenger needs to do one simple thing: change formation. A few times this season, and plenty of times in the past, Sir Alex Ferguson has put Man Utd into a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond. It seems to me that this would suit Arsenal perfectly: 1) Arsenal have no dedicated holding midfielder, so having three men there to spread the load could only help. 2) It would let Monreal and Sagna get forward more, where both of them appear to be more comfortable, without worrying that Mertesacker (big fan, by the way, I think he's really underrated by most folks) and Koscielny will just get overrun. 3) Put Cazorla/Wilshere/Ramsey (against weaker opposition, most likely) in behind the two strikers. This essentially gives the attacking midfielder a free role to drift and attack the weakest links in the opposition defence. 4) Walcott and Podolski up front together would be terrifying. One with blistering pace and one who, let's not forget, has scored 44 goals for Germany by the tender age of 27, largely thanks to the hammer of the gods that he calls a left foot. Both have a preferred side which complements the other, both stretch defences in different ways, and both like to cut inside from out wide. Seems to me like a match made in heaven. And if for whatever reason they're not cutting the mustard, there's Giroud and his strength and aerial presence to add to the mix. Sadly for Arsenal fans, this formation does nothing to address the serious issue of goalkeepers and the fact that I'm not sure Arsenal actually have one.

Posted 6:28pm 5th March 2013

diabolicaldiaby (Arsenal) says...

When Gervinho is the answer to any question other than "who is the worst player to play for your team?" then you know you're in deep trouble.

Posted 6:18pm 5th March 2013

uncle_bulgaria (Arsenal) says...

@notupforthegame: True, but they still did play out wide with Wright/Bergkamp or Henry/Bergkamp up front. In fact in my humble opinion it's because they kept cutting inside to brilliant effect that persuaded AW to play 433 or its variants. The problem now though is they play so narrow that if the opposition is back in numbers and well organised we have no way of pulling them apart. Anyway, just because something is dated doesn't mean it doesn't have merits.

Posted 6:02pm 5th March 2013

javis (Arsenal) says...

It is certainly a lack of options that is killing us up front, Giroud has performed quite well this season, adjustment time generally needed to which he has done OK, goals scored and assists are quite decent, however he needs support and a club of Arsenal¿s stature requires 2-3 quality options in CF position. I have been shouting for Podolski to get time down the middle also, he¿s technical very good, excellent left foot and clinical finisher. He links up well with others, Cazorla in particular and I could see him dropping deeper also.

Posted 5:55pm 5th March 2013

wheresmyhair77 (Arsenal) says...

@fleekly. Do you mean Giroud?

Posted 5:38pm 5th March 2013

notupforthegame (Arsenal) says...

@unc bulgaria pires and lungberg were not wingers Overmars yea and in case you did not notice 442 is dated

Posted 5:00pm 5th March 2013

jrocain (Arsenal) says...

Very true, i said this after seeing Giroud play the first few games he is not the answer. Wenger had the chance to rectify this by signing someone 'good enough' to improve the squad but couldnt?? (Ba was to similar to Giroud apparently) Anyway that mistake could cost us 4th place. Maybe we need to be taught a lesson for our stupidity.

Posted 4:55pm 5th March 2013

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