I have been watching and supporting Arsenal since the 98-99 season. Since then, I have seen Wenger religiously stick to the 4-4-2 formation. A strong back four aided by two strong central midfielders. Two quick thinking and quick moving strikers aided by two pacy wingers was the mantra. In later years, it was helped by two pacy full backs as well. I have rarely, if ever, seen Wenger deviate from that system for seven seasons (until 2005). Even during the drought years of 99-01, he stuck with it.
There is no doubt that this system has bought Arsenal tremendous success. Three leagues titles and four FA Cups are testament to that. But there is no denying that the same system failed (sometimes miserably) in Europe. Despite dominating on the domestic front, the best we could manage was the quarter finals. We did reach the UEFA Cup final but only after being knocked out of the CL.
In the last two seasons, I have seen a gradual change in the Arsenal playing style. It all started in the FA Cup final of 2005. With Henry injured, Wenger opted to play Bergkamp alone up front. I have never seen an Arsenal team battered like in that game but yet we went on to win on penalties. No regrets there. Since then, I believe there have been three inflexion points (to borrow an expression used by Andy Grove, the pioneer at Intel).
1. In the summer of 2005, Edu left Arsenal. Wenger also decided to dispatch Vieira to Juventus (what seemed at that time to be a terrible mistake). It wasn’t so much Vieira leaving that was the inflexion point. It was the failure to land Baptista, Wenger’s first choice replacement. He would have been a Vieira type player, only younger. But Baptista refused to leave Spain. Wenger, known for not making panic buys, ended up empty handed. This meant that Fabregas got to play a starting role.
Initially, this turned out to be a nightmare. In the league, Gilberto + Cesc were run over by pretty much all the teams. The long list of injuries at the back made it worse. The indifferent form of the seniors (Pires, Gilberto and Campbell) didn’t help either. We ended up losing more games than ever in the league.
However, in Europe, we got a little lucky. An easy group (Ajax, Prague and Thun) meant that we not only coasted through it but it also allowed Cesc to express himself in a way he couldn’t do in the league. In Europe, you are allowed more time on the ball. The referees are also quick to blow the whistle for fouls which would just be waved on in the league. We ended on top of the group and a date with Real Madrid.
2. The first game was away at the Bernabeu. There was talk about how the Real attack would decimate our defence weakened by injuries. It was in this game that Wenger decided to go 4-5-1 for the only the second time in his career. He played Henry alone up front with Reyes and Hleb on the wings. This time (unlike in the FA Cup final) it worked to perfection. Ultimately, we won just 1-0, but it should have been atleast 3-0, if not more.
Since that game, Wenger stuck with the 4-5-1 in every CL game. Not only did we win over Real but also over Juve and Villareal. Despite having Lehmann sent off early in the final, we were just ten or so minutes from winning the CL itself. However, Wenger stuck with the 4-4-2 in the league. I think it had to do with Ade. This guy was suited to the style and linked up well with Henry. Results did improve in the league and we managed to secure 4th place in the end.
3. The final inflexion point was the move to the bigger and wider Emirates stadium. For a long time, Arsenal relied on the pace of wingers like Overmars, Pires, Ljunberg, etc. In the 04-05 season, for the first time, we lacked pace. Pires and Ljunberg had lost it, while Hleb was not that type of a player. However, it didn’t matter as much, since we played half the games at Highbury, where there was no width.
Once we move to the Emirates, our failings were immediately exposed. Pires was replaced by Rosicky, yet another non-pacy winger. Walcott was just 17, but did make a difference in the Villa game. In the first three games (two at home), we struggled and failed to win. In the first CL game, away to Hamburg, Wenger played the 4-4-2 for the first time since the game at the Bernabeu (excluding the Zagreb qualifiers). I don’t know what prompted the change, but I do feel that but for an early goal, we might have struggled in that game too.
The turning point was, of course, our wonderful win at OT, achieved yet again by the 4-5-1. Since then, we haven’t looked back. We did employ 4-4-2 against Sheffield, but used the 4-5-1 to win over Porto (at home in the CL) and Charlton (away in the league). Now even Wenger and the players (Hleb and Cesc) admit that the system suits us a lot better.
Many people tend to interpret the 4-4-2 as an exciting style and the 4-5-1 as a boring and defensive. That’s not true. Barca don’t play 4-4-2 and are still one of the most attractive teams. Chelsea have shifted to 4-4-2, but still play long ball tactics that has left Ballack and Sheva frustrated. Arsenal are still playing a beautiful and attacking style with the odd long ball and cross (some of which have yeilded terrific results, cue RvP goal).
Personally, I am thrilled with the change. I think it’s suits the players perfectly. Furthermore, it allows us to play well in both the league and Europe (with possibly a few exceptions). It’s easier to adapt to and more flexible. I do wonder why it took a series of accidental events for us to adopt such a style. If we had changed a while ago, could we have had more success (specifically in Europe)? Maybe I am just getting a little too greedy. 
12 Responses to “Evolution of the Arsenal Playing Style”
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October 6th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
There are many great scientific discoveries that have come from “accidents” such as the discovery of penecillin. The genius comes in the recognition of the significance of the accident and developing that accidental discovery into a mature endpoint. You have capsulized the history behind Wenger’s use of the 4-5-1 and his genius in adapting it to the team at his disposal as we go forward. Henry not fit, no problem, we went 4-5-1 against Man U with devastating effect this time. The 4-5-1 against Man U in the FA final was borne from desperation and I was pleasantly surprised with the win. I applauded Wenger’s pragmaticism in adapting his formation to the personel he had available at that time. The CL run showed us how attacking a 4-5-1 can be with the right players (Fabregas, Hleb, Henry). I am convinced that we should have won that final were it not for poor officiating (Eto’o’s goal and the lack of protection for Henry). Yes, I know Eboue did dive but like I said, poor officiating.
Looking ahead, it will be Wenger’s genius to apply formations (4-5-1, 4-4-2, ?4-3-3 even) and personal to maximize our strenghts and exploit the weaknesses of upcoming opponents. I would hate to use the word “rotation” (a la Liverpool) to describe our approach. That just means changing the personnel while the formation remains the same. We are always going to be a team that predominantly attacks with short passes/1-2’s. We have now seen this year a willingness to mix in more direct attacks and even CB’s leading the attack. The key will be meshing the right players, in the right formation against the right opponents (where scouting comes in). I am being vague about who are the ‘right personel’ because I don’t know but I trust Wenger to get it right. An example though would be the use of Baptista against Bolton.
October 6th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
excellent article mate. i think right now, the last piece in Wenger’s super team is ribery on the left wing. theres already talk of buying him in january. walcott could probably do the job in 1 or 2 years. hence, with ribery, we have vanpersie, baptista and walcott coming off the bench. now thats what i call depth.
October 7th, 2006 at 4:55 am
It will be great to bring in Ribery in Jan but I doubt Wenger has the dough to do so. Not with the current financial balance sheet. And definitely not unless Wenger sells first.
October 7th, 2006 at 6:32 am
well, i think wenger can afford to sell some players in january. ljungberg and lauren are two that come to mind. i know alot of people will hate this suggestion but ljungberg is way past it. and we’ve survived this long without lauren, im sure we don’t need him. we got gilbert coming back to provide eboue with competition. plus theres hoyte aswell. so i reckon could sell lauren and ljungberg and make around 5 mill?
that would mean Cole, Campbell, Lauren, Pires, Vieira, Ljungberg, Reyes and Bergkamp have left from the team of invincbles. quite a clean out hey?
October 7th, 2006 at 9:33 am
come on…. there is no way wenger will move on VETERANS like ljunberg and lauren MID SEASON. that is way too disrespectful. besides ljunberg is already CL tied.
ljunberg is also our second highest earner too.
the only possibility is that he moves next SUMMER … no way he is sold in january … NO WAY. even then, there is no guarrantee that wenger will want to sell him. but surely ljunberg has to go for ribery to come in.
laurens contract is ending this next summer…so its also highly unlikely he will be shipped out like a small fry in january. he is a veteran, and wenger wont just shove him out like that…this aint championship manager were u can just move players about.
October 7th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
why not? hes shipped out a truck load in last 2 years already.
lauren hasn’t played game in over a year now. whats the difference if hes here or not?
like you said it, ljungberg is our second highest earner! why the hell would we want to keep him if hes contributing jack s**t! walcott is ready to play at LM, and if ribery comes, i see no place for ljungberg. who cares if hes a veteran? vieira was our captain! we sold him cause he was playing like crap aswell. ljungberg been playing like crap for over a year now. 30 odd EPL games and one goal to show for it. pathethic.
October 8th, 2006 at 5:46 am
tell me ONE major player or “veteran” that has been moved on in JANUARY. tell me of just ONE!
u give the example of vieira…but if i recall he was moved in the summer not in january. it is TOTALLY unrealistic to expect major players to be moved on january. and believe it, ljunberg is a MAJOR player in the arsenal dressing room and has been in the fire pits with wenger for many years now….he will NOT be shipped out in a JANUARY transfer window…be realistic man…..in the SUMMER most probably, but in january…NO WAY its happening.
and its exactly the same scenario with lauren as well.
if juve got tired of delpiero or madrid of raul, ronaldo or man u of giggs or neville or scholes, they will NOT be shipped off in the middle of the season. only in the summer.
this is not championship manager. in real life no manager would move a major player at his club out in the MIDDLE of the season……..that creates unbalance and disrupts the team spirit. no manager would do this.
in the SUMMER we can then get in ribery or whoever and maybe sell ljunberg and let lauren go.
but in the JANUARY……no way its happening man. reality.
October 9th, 2006 at 9:29 am
I would doubt that freddie is the second highest earner, I presume Gallas and Toure would be above him.
totally agree about players leaving in Jan. You never see players move on due to CL commitments.
October 9th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
i don’t agree. cause ljungberg is so crap, hes the one whos disrupting team balance. how do you think henry feels playing with a retard? how you think baptista is feeling when ljungberg starts ahead of him? how about walcott, watching ljungberg run down the wing, then stop, shake is leg left and right acting like hes doing something, then just pass the ball inboard again. i imagine its very frustrating for the team knowing that the only reason ljungberg is playing hes because of his history and status, rather then skill.
im sorry but keeping walcott or baptista happy is more of a priority then ljungberg. im sure the whole team agrees. who think is the are one’s left that might feel the effects if ljungberg leave? henry? no. cause he hate playing with rubbish players. gilberto? maybe. the others are the new generation of arsenal. so we gotta move on.
i doubt ljungberg moving on will dampen our team sprit. its such a new arsenal team. as for replacing him? we got walcott, vanpersie and baptista lineing raring to go.
October 9th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
don’t agree. cause ljungberg is so crap, hes the one whos disrupting team balance. how do you think henry feels playing with a retard? how you think baptista is feeling when ljungberg starts ahead of him? how about walcott, watching ljungberg run down the wing, then stop, shake is leg left and right acting like hes doing something, then just pass the ball inboard again. i imagine its very frustrating for the team knowing that the only reason ljungberg is playing hes because of his history and status, rather then skill.
im sorry but keeping walcott or baptista happy is more of a priority then ljungberg. im sure the whole team agrees. who think is the are one’s left that might feel the effects if ljungberg leave? henry? no. cause he hate playing with rubbish players. gilberto? maybe. the others are the new generation of arsenal. so we gotta move on.
i doubt ljungberg moving on will dampen our team sprit. its such a new arsenal team. as for replacing him? we got walcott, vanpersie and baptista lineing raring to go.
October 10th, 2006 at 7:56 am
man, ur opinion on ljunberg?s status in the team is utterly wrong. and u think henry thinks ljunberg is useless??? u must be joking!
NOTE: i agree that ljunberg needs to be shipped out.
but please some REALISM is needed, this is real life. STOP PLAYING CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER (even if u play it dont think that is how the real world works).
December 30th, 2007 at 8:39 am
djholmes obvoulsy isn’t a real fan or has just started being a fan ljungberg and henry have been playing to gether for years. I’ve been to many aresnal games. I mean i’m from englans i just joined this state thing so i could teach you guys a lesson.we have great new talent coming in. but exspeince is needed also. now id don’t here fabregas complaining about ljungberg.
Truth is fred is right you guys need to stop pretending. djholmes you’re a moppet for dissing such a legendary arsenal player.