1.) 03 Jun 2019
03 Jun 2019 14:50:19
Incoming long reply! My view is perhaps not a commonly held one, but the formation should suit the players rather than the other way around. I don't really have a problem with 4-2-3-1 per se, but considering our best players are Aubameyang and Lacazette, we absolutely have to play them together. They have the best relationship of any teammates in the side and support each other well. Either a front 2, or a front 3 with Aubameyang playing LF/ LW and a slightly more subdued RW to keep the balance.

Beyond that it's fairly clear that our midfield needs a hard rethink. Torreira is clearly nailed on and if we signed a top player great, but if not I agree that AM-N and Guendouzi would be starting material in the next 6-18 months. I really rate Banega, he reminds me of Santi and should thrive next to Torreira. I have defended Xhaka but between his mistakes and Mustafis, we simply cannot afford to keep either of them. Along with Mkhitaryan and Elneny they are our top priorities to move on this summer.

Agreed with the rest by and large, but have to make a case for Kolasinac if he does stay. If we play Auba as a LW then Kola offers the only width on the left. Many of our best games this season were Kolasinac's best games too. He may not suit a formation that requires the back 4 to be highly defensive, but he can certainly thrive in a diamond 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 where the midfield is designed to cover the fullbacks when they attack. I often hear you need a back 5 to get the best out of a WB but given Liverpool's success this season it should be clear that, provided you have 2-3 switched on and positionally astute central midfielders, you can play 2 WBs in a back 4.

2.) 03 Jun 2019
03 Jun 2019 18:18:06
Hello Wire and thanks for the reply! I do agree that formation should be the one that is best suited for the players. However, as summer is the time clubs can make changes, we should focus now on thinking how we want to play in the future and sign and sell players accordingly. During Wenger's era possession-based attacking football became synonymous with Arsenal and I suspect that's the kind of football the club still wants to play. Therefore having 3 center backs starting is not ideal in my opinion. I might be wrong here though, and come next season we will be a lot wiser on that front.

On Kolasinac in my opinion he needs three center backs behind him to play well. Again I might be wrong but I don't remember him ever playing well as a fullback and I don't particularly like the idea that a midfielder has to cover him continuously. If we want to persist with three at the back then he is a keeper definitely.

I admit it does seem a waste when not playing Auba and Laca together but is the partnership really that good it warrants the formation change? Not in my opinion. In fact sometimes I felt they were in each others way when played together up front and that both would actually be at their best as lone strikers. I'm not a fan of Auba as a winger either, I'd much rather just have a true winger instead of playing players out of position. Obviously it makes this summer more difficult as we need to pull off more transfers without spending too much but if we can do that I suspect we will see a much improved Arsenal next season!

P. S. Thanks for the eds for making my post into an article! I was expecting it to appear on teams page but now it will get a lot more reads. Had I known I would have perhaps spent a bit more time proofreading the text though.

{Ed001's Note - welcome mate.}

3.) 03 Jun 2019
03 Jun 2019 19:01:36
Wow, great read and agree with the majority.

I prefer a 433 especially if we are keeping Ozil, playing him as a false 9, and having the width coming from auba and laca (inside forward) i thought worked well against Napoli before losing Ramsey, i think if he can get abit more pressing off of Ozil through the middle, that could work. We would then need to control the game a little better and pairing Torriera with either AMN or Goundouzi as the box to box energy, with a play controlling midfielder benega may be able to do it but i see him as more of a advanced play maker. Granit Xhaka does this quite well some games but has too many mistakes and should be moved on, i think Torreira would be a better fit if a true DM is found. Then as you say a LB is vital, i think Kieran Thierney should be top priority, looks a real talent. Then move onto a CB as i think Koscielny is past his best, i wouldn’t mind a Dunk/ Zouma/ Keane a player who is going to get there body in the way of everything, and already knows the league, i thought Holding was really blossoming with Socratis when they got a good run together at the start of the season and hopefully the injury hasn’t caused him too much of a setback. As for your cup team i think it makes sense to really get the youngsters in, but i think you missed out Willock who i think could be ready made Ramsey replacement, will get up and down, eye for a pass, and will score given the opportunity, one thing we miss is goals from midfield. Think iv put down everything i wanted to 😂 again great read mate!

4.) 04 Jun 2019
04 Jun 2019 18:29:05
Great shout on Willock JGunner93! I completely forgot about him. The good thing about him, Maitland-Niles and Guendouzi is they all are a bit different so hopefully they will develop and offer us different options and tactical variation. Out of the three Willock definitely is the closest to Ramsey in my opinion as well and could play as a bit more advanced player than the other two.