5 player rule for every 2 central positions?

[Adam]

It increasingly seems that 4 strikers, 4 midfielders, and 4 centre backs is not enough in a squad challenging on 4 fronts. These always seemed the squad targets . Is this attitude change partly down to Chelsea, United and ourselves trying to reach the 'perfect' squad level for the last few years?

5 players needed to cover 2 striking positions, 5 midfielders needed to cover 2 central midfield positions, and 5 players needed to cover 2 defensive positions. After this, it appears 2 players for every wing and full back positions.

If Henry and Wenger believe our squad is small, then that is what they must be looking at.

Campbell, Toure, Senderos, Cygan

Vieira, Gilberto, Edu, Flamini, Cesc (Even this has been tested on a 4 prong challenge)

Henry, Bergkamp, Van Persie, Reyes (but it seems he may become the LM, and if this definitely manifests itself as the case another striker is needed)

If you said at the start of the season that we would struggle with the size of the squad to this extent then it wouldn't have been believed. It's been yet another year where we have had difficulty visualising the extent of our injuries.

So we have been tested in each central area. The wing positions seemed to have regulated themselves fairly well in comparison.

 

[Dr. Alban]

4 Centre backs is enough.

At least if you're Arsène Wenger. He rarely rotates his back four, and never subs his centre backs unless injuries, no matter how poor they play. To have a 5th centre back would be quite extravagant, and this 5th choice player would maybe get a couple of game all season. Last season even our 4th choice centre back, Martin Keown, started 3 games - all of them at an early stage of the season where he was ahead of, or at least on par with, Pascal Cygan in the pecking order.

What kind of player would settle for a senior squad role as a 5th choice centre back? Not a very good one. No, leave that spot for some reserve player.

 

[Adam]

I agree, but in leaving that spot for a reserve team player acknowledges it as a role.

Currently we have no back up for Toure/Senderos. Frankie Simek and Djourou would be the reserve options. Pascal Cygan isn't the ideal 4th.

The central defence is usually not rested by Arsène unless injury is experienced. Is that a flaw? It's definitely good for consistency.

 

[Gazza Martinez]

I don't think it's a flaw at all. Centrebacks generally don't get injured or do as much running as midfielders and strikers, and so aren't required to rest as much.

 

[hollow]

I was just about to create a post on similar lines. You do need 5 players for each central position if you are playing 4-4-2. Chelsea only have three strikers but they only play a lone striker. Lets compare

Arsenal CB's
Campbell, Toure, Cygan, Senderos, Eboue (He is a CB)

Chelsea CB's
Terry, Gallas, Carvallo, Huth, ?

Man U CB's
Rio, Silvestre, Brown, O'shea, ?

Man U and Chelsea either play a kid (and yes I know Senderos is 19 but he's class) or a first team player out of position as their fifth choice so we're not doing as bad as you might think. Cygan isn't good enough for Arsenal in my opinion but Djorou will soon replace him.

Arsenal CM's
Vieira, Gilberto, Edu, Cesc, Flamini

Makalele, Lampard, Tiago, Parker, New Signing

Man U CM's
Keane, Scholes, P. Neville, Djemba Djemba, Kleberson

Again, not to bad if Edu stays.

Arsenal CF's
Henry, Bergkamp, Reyes, RVP, Alidiere

Chelsea CF's
Drogba, Gudjohnsen, Kezman

Man U CF's
Van Nisterooy, Rooney, Smith, Saha, Bellion

Final analysis
Defence - Cygan apart I'm happy.
Midfield - If Edu leaves we have to sign an established player to replace him or we will be short of experience.
Forwards - Alidiere is gifted but plagued with injuries. Our strike force is unbalanced as Henry is our only genuine striker, the rest are forwards.

Of course Bojinov could change all that, but that's another point for a another thread.

 

[lewdikris]

Chelsea don't have a fifth centre back, do they? And Huth hasn't played at all this year. Four's plenty. You can't really regulate for the kind of mass injuries we've been getting this year, in any position.

 

[AFCG7]

The make up of our 5 CMs is the problem.
Our 4-4-2 thrives on two midfield ball winners.
Our 5 in the middle would look much better if we had :

Gilberto Vieira (Another good experienced defensive midfielder) Cesc, Edu.

RIght now we have Gilberto out , Vieira in ****e form and that leaves Cesc , Flamini and Edu..which means our back four dont have the protection they need.

 

[AFCG7]

Chelsea have Terry Carvalho Gallas Huth..2 of those will play at a time..if one is injured then the other 2 can do a great job : Terry + Carvalho or Terry + Gallas or Gallas+ Carvalho.

Can we say the same for Arsenal?

Sol is out and we are left with Toure and one out of Senderos and calamity Pascal. There is no comparison at all.

Doesnt matter if we have 4 or 10 CBs ..the most important thing is having a backup CB who can be reliable.

 

[awooga83]

Have to agree with AFCG7 the difference in our CBs is that we have two quality proven players and 2 unproven and and one inconsistent. Chelsea who have carvallo and terry and gallas all who i see as soild defenders and so they can afford an injury to one but thier standard is similar enough to allow them to interchange if necessary if a rest was needed for one to prevent an injury. Arsenal's position at the moment means we don't have that luxury.

 

[Mark]

With Eboue's arrival, central defence, central midfield, right defence and right midifield have been filled a little more. I'm still not sure it's enough though.

 

[Ridge]

Makalele, Lampard, Tiago, Parker, New Signing

anyway it should be lampard makalele tiago smertin geremi parker cole plus that new signing from the russian club. ? :roll:

 

[patrick42uk]

even now in his latest interviews, wenger is recognising reyes as a striker. wenger seems adamant that will be his permanent position and i'm hopeful that will be the case. we'll need wide midfield re-infocements in the near future although there is also ryan smith who seems to have a decent chance of making it.

 

[gooner#1]

even now in his latest interviews, wenger is recognising reyes as a striker. wenger seems adamant that will be his permanent position and i'm hopeful that will be the case. we'll need wide midfield re-infocements in the near future although there is also ryan smith who seems to have a decent chance of making it.

Yeah, Remember how long it took Henry to adjust as a striker?Its a long process but the result ends up top class

 

[awesomarsenal]

its not a neccesary thing to have 5 players for 2 positions. if you have players who can play everywhere, such as pires(left right center) or toure( defender or mid) or reyes(striker or lef wing)you dont need as many players as a team full of one position specialist

 

[JazzG]

Doesnt matter if we have 4 or 10 CBs ..the most important thing is having a backup CB who can be reliable.

I agree but the problem is quality backup costs money and it doesn't look like we have that money.

Sol + Kolo + Senderos + Cygan = £3mill cost to us (Sol being free)

Carvalho + Terry + Gallas + Huth = approx £27.5mill cost to Chelsea (Terry and Huth are both free as well!)

It all comes down to money in the end. I would however like to see Wenger bring in an experienced CB, someone like Kuffour even would be an excellent signing even if he can't play in the CL. His contract is up in the summer so Bayern would let him go cheap. But would he rather be backup here or first team at the Toon? However he did say back in Nov he would like to play for us.

The lack of experience in some positions has to be adressed by Wenger.