What is your starting XI after the transfer window?

[BouncySean]

------------Cech---------------
Bellerin--Kos--Mustafi--Kol
--------Xhaka---El Neny (Wilshere when fit)
---Theo-------Ozil--------Sanchez
-----------Lacazette-----------

[MesutOzil11]

I want us to ditch 3-4-3 because Ozil isn't controlling games like he use to and it's really hurting us in attack.

4-2-3-1 or 3-4-1-2.

Cech

Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Kolasinic

Xhaka Wilshere/Elneny

Ramsey Ozil Sanchez

Lacazette

Cech

Mustafi Koscielny Monreal

Bellerin Xhaka Elneny Kolasinic

Ozil

Lacazette Sanchez/Giroud

[longBalls]

Give holding a chance.

[Angelito]

I think we're more exposed playing a back 3 than we are playing a back 4. Mainly because of how Arsene tells the wingbacks & ramsey to operate

This is true. However, it's also because Wenger undesestimates out defensive shape/personnel moreso than ever as he allegedly thinks three at the back means he could get away with CMs not doing their jobs, or wing-backs acting like wingers and not wing-backs. It's Wenger's naivity more than the formation itself.



Against Liverpool, we were playing some uneven 2-4-3-1. To excel in any formation, you need to be positionally aware unless we're playing a 4-2-3-1 - for which we don't have the players.

Cech
Bellerin Koscielny Mertesacker Kol
Xhaka
Ramsey Wilshere
Ozil Lacazette Sanchez

Have to win every game 6-5 only got four players capable of defending on the pitch ....

Well unless you want to play Coquelin and or El Neny...I'd rather not.

Elneny is good. He's not spectacular, but he's the most aware and stable CM we have. Elneny - Xhaka - Ramsey in a 4-3-3 would be ideal given our situation.

I want us to ditch 3-4-3 because Ozil isn't controlling games like he use to and it's really hurting us in attack.

4-2-3-1 or 3-4-1-2.

We shouldn't revert back to 4-2-3-1. We don't have the players for that formation. It's 4-3-3 or 3-4-3.

Re: Ozil

It's because Wenger loves tinkering with him. Last season, he wanted Ozil to play as a SS in our 4-4-1-1 and now, in this 3-4-3, he's forced to play as a DLP because Ramsey is all over the place. Ozil rarely is in and around the final third these days during our build-up play. He's mostly ahead of Xhaka or alongside him, with Ramsey playing as an inside forward.

[Dejan]

I think we're more exposed playing a back 3 than we are playing a back 4. Mainly because of how Arsene tells the wingbacks & ramsey to operate

Agreed. We need to switch back to a back 4 ASAP

[MesutOzil11]

4-2-3-1 would be fine if Wenger was to use it right instead of pushing our fullbacks on all the time and leaving our two CB's exposed. Countless times Bellerin and Monreal got exposed down the wings because they caught out in attack.

Elneny next to Xhaka would be fine. The only issue would be RW now because Ozil, Sanchez and Lacazette wouldn't be a problem at all.

[Angelito]

4-2-3-1 would be fine if Wenger was to use it right instead of pushing our fullbacks on all the time and leaving our two CB's exposed. Countless times Bellerin and Monreal got exposed down the wings because they caught out in attack.

Elneny next to Xhaka would be fine. The only issue would be RW now because Ozil, Sanchez and Lacazette wouldn't be a problem at all.

Elneny - Xhaka in a two-man midfield is a makeshift, nothing more.

Cazorla - Coquelin/Elneny is the only way 4-2-3-1 could work again. Without Cazorla there, we don't have a strong CM. Xhaka needs bodies next to him. Ramsey isn't a CM anymore (he's not a CAM either). Plays more like a forward. Wilshere has the attributes but he's not intelligent enough, nor does his body hold up. Unreliable. Essentially, we're looking at Elneny as our only "complete" CM and he's far from top quality.

With Xhaka - Elneny in a 4-2-3-1, we'd have major defensive issues as usual and people will castrate Elneny as usual because he'd have to cover for two positions on his own. Xhaka and Ramsey won't work in a two-man setup because Ramsey doesn't play as a CM anymore and Xhaka doesn't have the mobility and quick passing of a Santi to excel.

Xhaka - Coquelin would be an uncreative bore because Xhaka is a DLP and you need an action-man-esque player alongside a DLP over a DM.

Our best midfield combo, not including Santi, would be:

Elneny
Xhaka - Ramsey

or,

Wilshere - Elneny - Ramsey

[BS221B]

Wilshere is the first name on sheet.

------------Cech
Bellerin Kos Mus Kola
---------Xhaka
----Wilsh-Ramsey
----------Ozil
--------Laca-Sanchez/Giroud

no wingers.

[Angelito]

^ Wilshere will only get EL games. I doubt Wenger will field a 4-3-3, so it's a 3-4-3/4-2-3-1. Unless one of Ramsey or Xhaka are injured, I can't see him starting for us (in the Prem).

[Arsene Nose]

433

Sanchez---Laca---Welbeck
---------------Ozil
-------Elneny---Xhaka
Kola--Kos--Mus--Bellerin
------------Cech

[Sims]

Zidane's 4312 is what we should ideally achieve, player for player

Navas
Cech

Carvajal - Varane - Ramos - Marcelo
Bellerin - Mustafi - Koscielny - Kolasinac

Casemiro
???

Modric - Kroos
??? - Xhaka

Isco
Özil

Ronaldo - Benzema
Alexis - Lacazette

If we got the players in we should've theres no reason why we couldnt have operated a similar system

[longBalls]

----Sanchez-- Welbeck -- Lacazette

-----------Ramsey Özil

--------- Xhaka---Elneny

-----Bellerin --Kosc-Holding

-------------- Cech

[Rastayouth]

Cech

Bellerin---Mustafi---Kos---Kola

Coqneny
Ramshere-----Xhaka

Alexis------Ozil
Laca

Should do the job

[Palin]

What we lack is balance and CM is where you sustain it.

Facts:

Xhaka and Ramsey are our best CMs, Wilshere is 3rd.

Ramsey likes to roam alot so he leaves Xhaka alone

Xhaka needs a protection with him and he needs a dynamic partner.

Xhaka-Wilshere-Ramsey trio is a must. Problem is both Wilshere and Ramsey are injury prones and we dont have anybody to back them up.

[Arsenal Tone]

Anyone think Merts should start?