Arsenal: 3-4-3 formation continues to highlight key weaknesses

Arsenal’s weekend loss to Bournemouth saw many problems resurface. One key observation is that the 3-4-3 formation is not effective for our current squad.

The loss at the weekend was dreadful. While the shock defeat to Nottingham Forest a week ago could at least be partially put down to a weakened starting XI. This week, that was not the case. Arsenal played their strongest side, injuries allowing, and the lack of quality was painfully apparent.

The defence looked lost, the attack was disjointed, and our midfield was overrun by, with all due respect, Gosling and Cook. Jamie Rednapp said it was one of the worst line-ups ever put out by Wenger and I find it difficult to disagree with him.

Without Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, the team looked ordinary and average. Passes were going astray, balls were being miss-controlled. It was all so un-Arsenal like. While rivals like Spurs and Liverpool seem to be building for the future with a real identity. Arsenal look to be falling by the wayside.

Tactically, Arsenal also seemed lost. This was epitomised by the creation of Bournmouth’s first goal. Ryan Fraser was being chased by four Arsenal players. Everyone was out of position and all it needed was a simple ball across goal and the hosts were level.

I put such calamitous defending partly down to our current formation. When the 3-4-3 was brought in last season, it was meant to stabilise our defence with an extra man. But it looks to be doing the opposite. The wide centre halves don’t look comfortable and are constantly being targeted by pacey wingers.

Often, the center backs outnumber the one striker they are facing and are left marking space while the rest of the side is outnumbered. The midfield two is often overrun by an opposition midfield three. The wing-backs don’t know whether to stay forward and provide width or defend opposition wingers. The freedom given to the front three may be a plus. But I don’t think it outweighs the imbalance of the rest of the formation.

This does not mean I discard the three at the back as an effective system, I just don’t think it is suitable for our current crop of players. Defence has always been our weakness and with a lack of options at centre back, why overstock this area of the field?

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Arsenal have always been known to control the midfield and ultimately that is where football games are decided. Playing a back four would give Arsenal an extra man in the engine room. Right now, Granit Xhaka has too much to do with protecting the centre backs and instigating attacks.

Personally, I think Wenger should go back to basics and what he knows best and stick with the 4-3-3. Leave Jack Wilshere and Xhaka in central midfield and bring in Aaron Ramsey/Ozil as the number 10 in the three.

Once Sead Kolasinac and Laurent Koscielny are fully fit I think they should be drafted into the back 4 to freshen the team up a bit. Ainsley Maitland-Niles’, Calum Chambers’, and Rob Holding’s inexperience was horribly exposed on Sunday. With the club in such a difficult moment, it is time to turn to experienced heads.

I would also give David Ospina a chance in the League. He has proven to be an admirable stopper in the secondary competitions. Cech has looked slow on reaction time and movement recently. He could do with a sit-down for a period of re-evaluation.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Bournemouth

I’m hoping Arsene Wenger can bring in one or two forwards with Sanchez and Theo Walcott seemingly on their way out. The attack looked stale on Sunday and is in desperate need of some fresh ideas. The club has a feeling of doom and gloom at present. But with tactical changes, new signings and hungry fringe players, I’m praying it turns around soon. If not, the scenes at our great club could get ugly very soon…