Wasn't Woy trying to play him in that #10 playmaker role? Not sure if he's suited for that, but he's capable of making some very nice passes. Box to boxer? e can do a little of everything. Carry the ball forward. The big thing is he needs to stop losing possession at key times. Ramsey had that problem too but he seems to be over it. Someone joked about the DAMF--Defensive Attacking MF----we seem to have a number of these--not specialists. Well, Our new number 11 will most likely take over the Old Fabregas role --not much defensive responsibilities-which means Ramsey Wilshere and Arteta will play the versatile DAMF roles.
Here's the thing: Ozil basically turns us into a 4231, because he plays really high up the pitch. Assuming Cazorla on the left, Giroud up top and Walcott on the right, that leaves the two "DM" spots open. These two players are responsible for running the game. When Arteta's healthy, that makes it a choice between JFW and Ramsey. That's not even a decision at this point, since Ramsey's a much better all around player right now - better passer, better defender, and more positionally disciplined. Wilshere's ability to dribble through defenses somewhat compensates for this, but right now JFW just doesn't have the vision to see some of the passes that Ramsey does. More than that though, JFW's greatest skill, running at players, clogs up space for the likes of Ozil and Cazorla, who need a certain amount of room to operate. It makes me wonder if Wilshere is best suited to games against sides that park the bus (like Sunderland), where his dribbling and running at players creates the sort of havoc that will create space for the likes of Giroud and Walcott, but he's less suited to the bigger, more tactical games where he becomes much more likely to lose possession. When Ramsey is playing in the Arteta role (and Ramsey looks like he'll be versatile enough to play both the pivot and the sitter role), do you play Wilshere, or Rosicky? Their games aren't that different - Rosicky's obviously the better passer, is more positionally aware, and has better movement, but JFW has younger legs, is a better dribbler, and probably a better tackler. I think Arsene doesn't sign another midfielder next summer - to do so might signal the end of JFW's career at Arsenal.
It varies, but Wenger's tried to have us be more of a 4-3-3 than a 4-2-3-1. The formations are so similar that the distinction isn't huge.
I think Arsene is going to give Wilshere and Ramsey a lot of run outs as the two deep lying cm's. If it works it could be the beginning of the best midfield trio in the prem. They both have the workrate and tenacity to make it work. They would need to develop an understanding of when to attack, defend, and cover defensively for one another and the fullbacks. I'm optimistic that it could work. And if it doesn't pan out, we have good cover in Arteta and Flamini.
Since 2009/2010 we have almost exclusively used it. Fabregas became our advanced central midfield player We also used it in 04 with henry and bergkamp and pires
If Giroud gets injured (i hope not), we could try to play like Barca. Özil in the Messi-role, he played there yesterday against Austria in the last 10 mins. Szczesny Sagna - Mertesacker - Koscielny - Gibbs Ramsey - Arteta - Wilshere Özil Walcott - - - - - - - - Podolski
A diamond midfield? Could work as we have distributors but would require flamini as a ball winner imo
Nice entry by Arseblog today: "Özil, though, isn’t short. He’s fairly slight although he has bulked up considerably and he is tricky. He fits in perfectly to the way Arsene Wenger wants to play – quick, one-touch football based around lots of movement off the ball......A midfield enforcer might allow Arsenal to compete better in certain areas that they may be lacking in – but it’d be a bit like sticking a square peg in a team of round holes, and would the improvement enough to make them outstanding? Some might point to the impact of Javi Martinez has made to a Bayern Munich team that was previously seen as a little bit flaccid at the back, but it’s not as if Arsenal don’t realise benefit of such a player, with both Arsene Wenger and Steve Bould proclaiming how Aaron Ramsey has grown in “stature” and is not a “physical presence.” The stats bear it out: last season, Ramsey attempted a tackle every 30 minutes, at an exceptional success rate of 89%. This season, he’s already the league’s best midfield tackler, winning 12/13 of his duels (a success rate of 92%). Because Arsenal are a side with so many of these tricky midfielders, the arrival of Mesut Özil poses the nice dilemma of how to fit them all into the starting line-up. Feasibly, Arsenal could deploy a midfield five who have all started in the number 10 position in the last two years. Jack Wilshere and Ramsey, though, have started to make themselves comfortable in deeper position.. To focus on Özil, though: he is a peculiar-type of playmaker. His chance creation statistics are extraordinary, delivering at least 3 key passes per game from open play. But his de facto move is not necessarily to position himself in central areas, as you would stereotypically expect a playmaker, but to drift into wide spaces. The effectiveness of this move facilitated by the quality of movements around him – at Real Madrid he had Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria both looking to cut inside and shoot, and Arsenal will need to try and look to do the same – yet it’s still unique to see somebody pick the ball out wide as often as Özil does. In essence, he’s doing just what all playmakers must be capable of doing nowadays: roam laterally. If the space in the centre is blocked – and often it is the most congested part of the pitch – then typically the most space will be on the flanks. Similarly, wingers are cramped for room so they’re increasingly forced to come inside – that’s why there’s a proliferation of inverted wingers these days. Therefore what Özil does to get space, is to make use of his team-mates by doubling up to create an overload. He doesn’t just move sideways though; he moves backwards and forwards, never sticking to one position, making it hard to mark. It also makes it hard to underpin what type of player Özil really is. He’s a number 10 for sure, but what kind? Because he drifts wide so frequently, he can almost be a winger. But then again, he can’t be as he always starts in the middle of the pitch. When he moves up the pitch, he at times, becomes a striker. And when he moves backwards to pick up the ball, he’s a third central midfielder. He’s also not really a dictator of play, more an instigator therefore you can’t really call him a playmaker."
Call this anathema, but I don't want Vermaelan back in the team. I think he's long lost his initial form, and Koscielny has usurped him as our best defender. Per has also, as both IMO since 11/12 and 12/13 have been our best performing centre-backs.
Per was really poor in 11/12, I didnt want to see him near the starting line up early last season because of it. He turned it around and had a great campaign last term and is starting well again though, and I am a big fanof the BFG.
That is far too negative on Wilshere mate. He is a great footballer on his day and still learning his trade. He provides a great engine in midfield. He will be an Arsenal captain one day. Arteta is 31, Wilshere and Ramsey will get plenty of minutes. Look at Ramsey last year..... Wilshere is still a more technical and skillful midfielder, watch this space.
That's the Arsenal BigSoccer way. Player's valuations have a one-month expiration date then they are free to change like the wind. It's quite funny, but you've been on the board long enough to expect it now, right? Ramsey always was talented - even last year when the BigSoccer concensus was that he was limited player. He just needed time to sort himself out after the injuries. Wilshere is the same now. As I have stated for years, I believe Wilshere will eventually end up being the more attacking of the two, and Ramsey will be the box-to-box. Wilshere just needs more time given that it's a harder position to play effectively.
I've been on the Ramsey wagon since day one so no argument from me there. IIRC He was rated ahead of Wilshere and imho shows why. As for Wilshere IMHO he's overhyped and that doesn't mean he's not a great talent its that he's looked at unreasonably as far as the expectations and ceiling on his talent. When I look at him I don't see the magical talent that many posters ascribe to him both here and on other internet portals, again, not you but in general. I think he will be a very good player but I don't see Cesc level talent from him and that is what we were sold and are still being sold by Wenger. I brought this up in another thread, I think Wenger says things about players that get the expectations out of wack and then when the player doesn't deliver he's looked at negatively and gets the supporters on his back to the detriment of the players development. IMHO I think Wenger does this to allay the fears of the fans who have seen players sold time and time again and frankly I get it I mean whats he going to say? Yeah you're right I sold Cescs, and RVP and these new guys? Oh they suck no way are they as good as the guys they're replacing. NO he's going to back his players and as admirable as that is it also puts an unfair amount of pressure on young players, again all IMHO. On a closing note, people have been far far more willing to give Wilshere a pass than ANY other player of his age. Everyone else has gotten baby diary poured upon them while Wilshere just gets backing. IMHO we should do that with all the young guys not selectively. /offsoapbox
It's all about perspective. It's hard to agree or disagree with you without knowing what your expectation for him at this stage in his development is. Personally, Wilshere has exceeded mine, but I don't expect him to be a world beater just yet. With that said, he HAS been a world beater a few times already, so he's A-okay with me. I know he will be a solid player. Where his ceiling stops depends on him, but I think he will go far. I think he's attacking instincts will come out as he ages and is able to control games more. He already can pass, move and keep possession well, and he has a nasty stresk in him that I typically like in midfielders. He has a ways to go to be a complete package, but for a 21 year old, he has shown me enough already..definitely enough for me not to question his talent.
I see that this line of posting, which apparently I started, has evolved into a "OMG someone said Wilshere sucks!" sort of conversation. That's not what I was saying at all. I, for one, think Wilshere is incredibly talented. It's just that Wilshere's best skill, making his marauding runs from deep, make the likes of Cazorla and Ozil less effective because he ends up in the space that they normally use. So the question is, as I asked earlier: how do you effectively utilize Wilshere's talents? It seems to me that the solution is to get Wilshere to adapt his game by: 1. Becoming more of a pass and move player, which also reduces how often he gets fouled (and also injured). 2. Sit slightly deeper - it means he has to become more positionally aware. Obviously these are more mental things than questions of technique, and I've seen Wilshere use his right foot effectively on more than a few occasions recently, which makes one think that he has the motivation to really, really improve once everything clicks, much like Ramsey has done in the last seven months. Just thinking about that makes me:
Couldn't agree more, mebeSajid. Wilshere is a great talent, and I think he's going to be a great player for a long time. I don't really get what's so controversial about saying Ramsey is a better player right now, and may possibly continue to be a better player over their careers. Can't we just all be excited about the fact that we have two of the (shooting from the hip with this statement) 5 or 10 best under-23-years-old center midfielders in the world?
Another brilliant article by Jane Cavendish. Back to the future with our burgeoning counter attacking team. http://avenell.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/in-blink-of-eye.html
Wilshere is not a strict playmaker IMO. Like Ramsey he's a box to box player, but with better passing/creativity than Wilshere.