Football, for such a simple game can be mindbendingly complicated. Your team can have its own style, its own identity and its own verve.
Sacrifices are made here and there to create these styles and identities. Take Arsenal, the current arsenal style is based on pace, creativity and movement. The full backs breaking forwards at pace to back up the midfield which attacks as a unit when in possession. The strikers role is to create space for themselves and where possible others to open up further lines of attack through opposition defences.
This fluid, fast, intricate football is beautiful to watch, infuriating when it doesn't come off and a talking point of many. We've sacrificed defensive security for this, using one holding midfielder and adding two very attacking full-backs to create 6 wily, lightweight greyhounds designed to create havoc in the opposition half.
We've been called Barcelona-lite, a term I hate because I think we have our own identity, but in some ways the comparison is fair. Our 4-2-3-1 formation is identical to barca and the interchanging of the front three is also similar.
Some would argue that it gives Arsenal the flexibility to switch to a 4-5-1 if required, but in truth this is on in terms of numbers. You can't ask Arshavin to defend like Song, its not physically possible. It would allow us to pack a midfield, but we couldn't physically dominate it due to our small, fast-paced wingers. Square peg round hole. They're fit for purpose, driving at players and ducking past them to create opportunities.
Blackburn will play 4-5-1 today, rumours abound that they might start with Mame Diouf up front. As its a Big Sam side I expect them to try and physically intimidate us and I'm interested to see how we stand up to that. Its our first such test of the season.
I think we'll steam-roller them, I really do. I think Arshavin and Rosicky will be crucial today. Arsha, the spiky russian will take their battering and use it to hurt them. Rosicky will continue his good form in the centre and create 5-6 chances today. He's been one of my players of the season so far, if not THE player so far.
I'm off to watch the footy with me ole dad, stick it up em gooners!
WG
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