He doesn't play as a 10 for Wales. Thats the misconception about dude. He is a box to box guy with support behind him in 2 CMs. I think Ozil can play out wide with the license to move around and keep him in the final 3rd more. Ozil is a monster and I don't think people realize that. He can legit play anywhere behind the striker. Alexis is hte bigger problem, imo. Not Ozil.
Happens at many clubs, but we all know AW doesn't do that. It has been stated many times that he prefers to give his players creative freedom. Unfortunately that will always come at the expense of strong defense. None of us should expect a strong defense as long as AW is in charge.
Ok, maybe not a 10 but as you said he has 2 CMs behind him giving him freedom to move around a push forward. I think he could play a similar role in that SS/WF role that Ozil & Alexis play. You could also shift the formation around a bit and find other options. Either way we really need a better partner for Xhaka. I am still running with the assumption that Alexis will either be sold (bring that big offer PSG) or he will see the bench more this year due to lower levels of effort.
I'm not so sure this is the case anymore. Arsenal were really bad defensively for three and a half months, but the team hasn't conceded very many shots against Leicester and Stoke. Caveat that this was against Leicester and Stoke, so we don't know much about this team: we'll know a lot more after the upcoming games against Chelsea and Liverpool. Agree with the rest of what you say.
Eeek. If that's the kind of structure you need to get the best out of Ramsey, the conclusion has to be that Ramsey the player has serious flaws. This. Ozil is far and away Arsenal's best player, and his game seems like it'll age pretty well. I've been on the record saying Alexis should be sold, because Alexis will be unplayable once he loses a step.
It is one of the bigger fallacies of Wengerball that Ramsey is a CM. He plays like a 10 who doesn't score or assist enough. Playing him in midfield means his partner is playing CM by himself; the only example of that I have seen work was with peak Carrick and it got destroyed every time it came up against elite opposition. A lot of Arsena's current issues would be solved by binning Ramsey and buying a proper 6 and 8. Or play Xhaka with an elite allrounder like a Saul.
Only Wenger in 2017 would switch to a 3 man defence and not then not use an extra CM. Its not even like he would have to buy a player, we have 37 CM youth players, let one or 3 of them learn to play pro ball as a disciplined cm, where they defer to Xhaka and cover for Ramsey's runs.
I dont disagree with this thinking at all, but Wenger isnt going to buy a CM and he clearly keeps telling Ramsey to make those runs, so we have to makedo. Seri had a relatively low release clause which either Wenger isnt interested in paying or Seri isnt keen to come to Arsenal. totally, or just play with 3 in CM. Wenger will continue playing the two and hope something happens. he is an old, washed up manager.
Liability! Most Chances Created So Far This Season Özil (10)Mkhitaryan (9)Redmond (8)Tadic (6)Xhaka (6) pic.twitter.com/G1W2QSmoSE— Stats Per 90 (@StatsPer90) August 21, 2017
Agreed. Ramsey underperforms his xG too much to be justified in the team. I tend to think he could have been a top player but he wrecked his career by staying too long under Wenger He's never learned the art of a modern midfielder
I'm not going to subject myself to the entire thread, as I assume it's said here someplace, but I am completely ambivalent to this season already. Watched the game live with gooners at the Globe who yelled and screamed like I used to. I barely reacted at the goal. Unless this team seriously overperforms, or makes a serious run at the league I'm just not sure I'm going to really care until a new manager joins the club. I love Wenger and this club and have watched hundreds of matches, but it's the same thing every year. And I finally got to the point where I just don't give a shit. For now.
I think he'd be OK in a 3man midfield with a 6 and an 8 and then he has a freer role, as the other 8 would have intelligence to cover for him. But why you'd want to shunt Ozil wide for that is an open question - maybe buy a decent 8 and invest in a proper right sided forward
Diamond anyone? Gets the beat out of Ramsey ozil and xhaka imo but would work best with another 6 ..... welbeck...laca ...........ozil ....seri.......Ramsey .........xhaka U can play bellerin or ox rb for width and use ozil and welbeck for width left with no real staying at home Imo it is very balanced this way
The best part about Ozil is he knows where to be and usually when to be there. Let Ozil manage himself on the field.
That's how I am. I mean I'll still watch but without much emotion. Maybe a laugh here or there at our inevitable usual mistakes and idiocies but the goals have elicited much reaction from me. That's because at the end of the day, and sadly for apparently two more years, Wenger will remain.
Since we are unlikely to add the CM we need (AW skips signing atleast 1 need position per window) and Ox's desire to play more central, I wonder if it would be worth trying... ----- Alexis* ----- Laca ------- -------------- Ozil -------------- --- Ox --- Xhaka --- Ramsey --- Kolo -- Kos -- Mustafi -- Bellerin * Sub Alexis for Welbeck, OG or a new ST if/when Alexis is sold. Biggest issue is see with that setup is A) Though Ox is more defensively responsible then Ramsey, both like to push forward. That along with Kolo and Bellerin moving into the attack could leave us with no better of a situation then we have now. B) We would have even less quality depth at CM then we have when we are playing 2.
If u think of the best and most. Balanced diamond midfield ever it is ac Milan at around 05-07 ........kaka ...ambro....gattusso ..........pirlo In some ways pirlo actually went box to box as well as dlp as ambrosini sat and Harrison was the ball winner. The perfect player in our situation would be a guy like Vidal (won't happen) high energy and capable at both ends maybe nainggolan? It would also work with a sitter like seri or in a dream world veratti The diamond can become whatever your front 3 make it as long as it is balanced. Kol could be a good lb as he is comfortable at cv which he could become when bellerin overloads for example Laca and ozil are comfortable wide so It can be a 433 4231 or diamond at any point. It would require xhaka to operate more disciplined unless he becomes the sitter and we buy a screen or true dlp?
@thebigman if you want to play a diamond with Welbeck and are looking for a post-Sanchez setup, a classical 3-4-3 would make a lot of sense. ---------------------------Laca Welbeck------------------------------------------?? ---------------------------Oezil ----------------Seri/??----------------Xhaka -----------------------------??? ---------Kola----------Koscielny-----Mustafi ----------------------------Cech It also means you can start getting rid of a lot of your inconsistent lot like Ox and Bellerin or at least keep one of each.
I'd be nervous about a diamond with a back 3. You lose a good deal of width or have players wide that don't belong there. With a back 3 I like 3-4-2-1, 3-4-1-2 or 3-1-4-2. We don't currently have the DM for the 3-1-4-2 or the ST depth for 2 up top. Honestly I would prefer we run with 2 ST up top with my favorite being 3-1-4-2 (Juventus with Pirlo) or a more defensive alternative being 3-3-2-2 (Nagelsmann's preferred formation).
I'm not apposed to a diamond. If you are gonna do it I think you need a new ST atleast for depth and you need a strong DM to give some midfield cover. Xhaka is the DLP, Ramsey the offensive B2B and new guy as the ball winner. Ox backs up Ramsey, Coq backs up the new guy and Wilshire (or someone new) backs up Xhaka. El Neny becomes a utility mid that can play multiple spots.
I hate the idea that we need to spend a large amount of money (because that's what it will take) for a top CM simply because Aaron Ramsey can't figure out how to play in the midfield. He doesn't finish well enough to play as a FW. We already have one of the best #10s on the planet. He doesn't have a position in our current formation. Our best 3 field players are Ozil, Alexis & Laca. We need a formation that gets the best out of them in their best positions together, not Aaron Ramsey. He's not good enough. He's good, but we need great. I don't like formations that try to fit Ramsey on the field. He's not elite enough for that.
A bit harsh on Aaron, but sadly probably true. Apparently 2014 was a blip. He's regressed to the mean. And the mean isn't sweet enough.