Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 06:51

Arsenal fans have often scratched heads over the form and inconsistency of talented attacker Andrey Arshavin. He came to England in 2008 and exploded onto the scene. He started wide in a 4-4-2 before Arsene Wenger shifted his system to 4-3-3 and similar versions of this.

Arshavin has shown plenty of flashes of quality mixed in with some dire displays. His defensive contribution has often been noticeable in our system and the game has at times passed him by out wide.

Arshavin made his name at the Euro 2008 where he played behind Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko. He hasn't been able to play that role for Arsenal because it was occupied by then captain Cesc Fabregas. Now that the Spaniard has departed and the creative void has yet to be filled consistently in his absence. Arshavin has often been overlooked in that position behind the front man, often handed to a midfielder who can slot back and rotate with other midfielders and carry out defensive duties.

Arshavin was given a start in his favoured role in last night's 2-1 victory against Bolton in the Carling cup. The Russian scored and made the final pass to Ju Park who scored his first Arsenal goal.

Arsene Wenger speaking in his post match press conference explained his reasons for not playing Arshavin in that role until last night.

We have plenty of players [who want to play no.10] you cannot play with two wingers and two offensive players like that because you are too short in midfield. He is normally a wide player but he wants now to grow in a role behind the striker and of course, he can do that.

He plays where you want him to play, but if you ask him honestly, he's an honest boy, he will always tell you that he wants to play in there.

Yossi Benayoun's inclusion handed Arshavin the free pass to play in his favoured position as the Israeli midfielder slotted into the left attacking position and had the work rate and graft to help his midfield and this allowed Arshavin to drift into areas where he does the most damage.

It looks as if Arshavin will not be able to play in his role if Arsene continues with Theo Walcott and Gervinho in our attacking wide areas but if Arsene was to select a player like Benayoun or Tomas Rosicky in a wide berth then maybe Arshavin will get more of what he wants and possibly the position that gets the best out of him.

It will be very interesting if we see more of this tactical adjustment in the coming weeks.

• Add New
• RSS

Comments (27)

• 26-Oct-2011 07:18 | | Nicky P
  

  Shavs should b given a chance at 10 esp when were chasing games. He needs players ahead of him to create some space n we all know he can
  thread a pass or pick his way thru a busy box

• 26-Oct-2011 07:18 | | moses  - Hse officer
  

  yeah keep going gunners

• 26-Oct-2011 07:29 | | Anonymous
  

  Hurray Ʊ guys made my day

• 26-Oct-2011 07:40 | | miclovin watson
  

  andrey is such a lovely player and deserves first team action....go gunners

• 26-Oct-2011 08:04 | | Anonymous
  

  Shava should play behind CF. Shava knows when he must give pass and shot. He will be very dengerous creative in the cmd

• 26-Oct-2011 08:04 | | Gunner
  

  Shava should play behind CF. Shava knows when he must give pass and shot. He will be very dengerous creative in the cmd

• 26-Oct-2011 08:18 | | Ali kihobe  - Gooner go
  

  

• 26-Oct-2011 08:56 | | HR  - Arshavin should play no.10!
  

  In my opinion, Wenger has ruined Arshavins career. There was a reason clubs like Barcelona wanted him and we saw why at Euro 2008.
  Wenger has played Arshavin out of position from day 1. The man is a creative hub, not a winger.
  Put Arshavin at no.10, if we want him to rise again.

• 26-Oct-2011 09:04 | | MeanLean
  

  'ruined Arshavins career' is somewhat harsh don't you think? Don't forget that Cesc Fabregas was at the club the whole time until the start of this season. Arsene was hardly going to drop Cesc to give Arshavin the number 10 role.

• 26-Oct-2011 09:08 | | Anonymous
  

  in zenit he wasnt playing as ten ...zenit also played 433 with advocaat with bistrov and zyrianov as the two attacking mids and arshavin was the right extrem.
  
  in russia again hiddink played him on the flanks

• 26-Oct-2011 09:38 | | Ben  - Arshavin is badly maligned.
  

  Drop Walcott who is a bloody waste of space. Even Benayoun is better. Arshavin's creativity and talent is obvious compared to Walcott except to blind Wenger.

• 26-Oct-2011 09:49 | | chiedo  - gun 4 life
  

  wenger should give arshavin chance 2 play dat 10 i belive he ll rise again good job park looking 4ward 2 c u in chelsea game gunners 4 life

• 26-Oct-2011 10:11 | | richie  - I'm fully with Anonymous
  

  Spot on! I don't remember Shava playing in the No.10 spot at Zenit, and I don't remember Zenit playing 442? My memory is of an all out attacking 433 Zenit's coaches might have given the front 3 licence to roam and Shava might've instinctively dropped behind in the hole, but I seem to recall him constantly cutting inside from the flanks.

• 26-Oct-2011 10:15 | | Anonymous
  

  exactly! advocaat is from ducth school of football..no 442 in his football..only cruyffs 433.. all dutch managers play that ..hiddink too.
  
  when zenit disgraced leverkusen in germany for uefa arshavin provided two goals cutting in from the left

• 26-Oct-2011 11:11 | | Henrydön5
  

  Wenger giv him a try in dat position let's see wat he can offer dat's all

• 26-Oct-2011 11:25 | | pika
  

  lol..where the f...k is the MUG and his rectum ?
  
  
  hehehehehe .......

• 26-Oct-2011 12:06 | | Feeno
  

  Spectrum said he was taking a break becasue of all the abuse he was taking. Just a coincidence that the upturn in form was leaving his crisis talk looking very foolish, I imagine he'll be back as soon as we draw a game

• 26-Oct-2011 12:18 | | pika
  

  i cant wait to ridicule him even further

• 26-Oct-2011 12:18 | | pika
  

  ohh poor little spud troll not being able to take it .....thats new isnt it..hehehe

• 26-Oct-2011 12:34 | | pedantic george  - I like Andrei
  

  Andrei should play in the centre of the 3 in a 4.2.3.1. formation.
  
  Sorry LM I have been plagiarising you over at Yogi's gaff.It is your own fault for being a better writer than me.

• 26-Oct-2011 17:15 | | MeanLean
  

  I'll let you off this once PG.
  
  Would like to see Arshavin play in this role with the first team around him. But as Arsene says, we won't see it unless one of Theo or Gervinho are dropped for a midfield type.

• 26-Oct-2011 17:36 | | pizzy05
  

  We've flogged this issue so many times, it's just that so many gooners think they are better at managing than the gaffer. The fact is that Andrei cannot put in the required effort to operate in the middle for The Arsenal, even when he just came in(and he was at his best ever form then). Note that Arsenal midfielders are usually the players that cover up the most ground in matches. Andrei might just gas out(and we could be chasing the game...).
  Another point is from the tactic perspective. Wenger just gave his view of Andrei as a highly speculative playmaker who is always looking for 'that dangerous pass'. Considering our habit of regularly overcommitting players to the offensive third, putting Andrei in the middle will potentially open us up to counters more regularly and you know how well we handle counter attacks...
  In contrast, his pace and directness is a massive plus on the wing, and he regularly drifts inwards, committing the opposition full back and allowing space for our overlapping full back to help in attack(Clichy constantly misused this move)
  So, please our gaffer is there because he's got the know how...
  Spectrum, if you're reading, well, Arsene knows....

• 26-Oct-2011 17:49 | | pizzy05  - Shava can't play in the middle!
  

  Why? Simple
  - He doesn't have the required engine to run the show, to cover much ground.
  - He makes too many speculative(careless) passes which can lead to less protection for the back four in case of counters
  In contrast his pace and directness are valued assets down the flanks, while his tendency to drift inwards create space for the fullback to attack... So, in this case, 'Arsene knows.....'(Speccie, where are you?!!)

• 26-Oct-2011 19:50 | | pedantic george  - shava can play in the middle
  

  Andrei should play in the centre of the 3 in a 4.2.3.1. formation.
  
  The formation would need to be adapted, he would have to be relieved of defensive responsibility and he would loose possession we would have to sit back more.
  Its called chatting and no one is saying they know better than Arsene or that we should do it .
  Can you not understand the difference?

• 26-Oct-2011 22:56 | | richie
  

  If you and I have the same type of recollection, and we do then who's trying to fall who? Like you I remember Shava cutting infield from the left at Zenit before we signed him. I remember someone asking me if Shava was a replacement for Helb and I said no Shava plays on the other side, the left.
  
  I understand that he might now fancy his chances playing more centrally but if he does then it will be in a new position, at both Zenit and for Russian he played on the left. I think thats half his problem because he doesn't have the pace to go down the line and whip in a cross. Predictably he always tends to cuts inside and defenders know this.

• 27-Oct-2011 08:22 | | pika
  

  yep i remember him tearing leverkusen to shreds with runs from the left , as well as in euro, and yes its quite normal for a dutch 433 to see the two extrems swap positions. back then arshavin had lots of pace. now that he is close to 30 of course he would prefer to play central and of course can do it. he has the intelligence to play in that position. but as someone mentioned if he plays central then we automatically lose two players from pressing and defending, him and the striker. if we include the two extrems as well then thaat makes it four players who will predominently be situated in the opponents final thread. asking them to chase back and defend and make 30-40-50 meter sprints back and then the same to go forward...they will get exhausted tired and possibly injured. it is a very tricky decission.

• 27-Oct-2011 08:25 | | pizzy05  - PG, pls understand
  

  @PG, I do not disagree with you, and from your post, I realise too that you're not in disagreement with me too. I also know that you are a big fan of Andrei(you claimed on ACLF that you'd stoutly defend him thru a bad patch, I respect that and I'd do the same for my fav player) True, Shava can play in the middle, but we would have to alter some basic parts of our tactics(which is almost impossible without preseason training/right personnel). pls understand this(just finished watching the Bolton CC game, so I'll use in as an example): - our formation will become 4-2-3-1 in offense, but swiftly transform to 4-4-1-1 when we lose possession(liverpool 2009). this will be ok, but will ask more of a lot of other players on the pitch, while reducing Shava's responsibility. You may not accept, but in my view, that's difficult to work out(tho it becomes less difficult if we can get a certain Dirk Kuyt, or a similar player in January). AOC for example left the defence exposed against Bolton, leaving ou3 defence exposed on more than one occasion. Yossi was much better on the other wing, having played a similar tactic before(at Liverpool '08/09) - it will also mean that we'll change our tactic of possession football and short(triangular) passes in favour of pressure football and long(wing) pass thru the channel(maybe from Mikel Arts/Rambo/Jack). IMHO, I don't think our current squad can sustain this type of play for long before they fag out(Liverpool tried it in 08/09; they suffered from March onwards, concedeing late goals largely due to lack of coverage from midfield, and wasn't their European campaign stormy?). - If we play this tactic too, it would mean that we expect Andrei to make late runs to join the lone striker in the box for crosses. Well, I don't know what to make of this move, since Andrei, though a clinical finisher, is guilty of blasting so many balls into space from these positions. Now, in relation to the current squad, I'll prefer it if Andrei is providing such balls from the byline(he's good at getting into such positions), and Rambo or TR7(both more composed finishers) at the end of those balls.Either way, the current formation, and Asharvin's role in it, wins, and it shows(13 goals and 15 overall assists in a below par season). It is no longer news that Arsenal players always want to play thru the middle(one of Wenger's requirement for purchase), but Arsene's gotta do what is best for the team.

Write comment

Your Details:

Name:

Comment:

Title:

Message:

Powered by Compojoom comment 4.1.7 stable