Originally Posted by
Penguin
We've been doing it for years but has it ever been effective? It was at its best for the invincibles, with Pires playing on the left. But one of the main reasons for its success was that he had Henry in front of him playing a pseudo wide-left forward role and basically providing the width and pace for us. None of our other forwards since have given us that, and it has affected our ability to break down teams.
It's an ongoing problem. We tend to pass too slow and predictably against organised teams who sit deep and keep their shape. We lumber our way through the game without seriously looking like scoring until the last 15 minutes when the opponent's tire (Wenger even suggested that this is actual one of our strategies...). Of course the risk here is that we don't miraculously find a way through right at the end, or that they counter us and nick a win cause we're pushing everyone forward. Which has happened time and time again.
The pundits kind of had it right when they said we don't have a 'plan B'. But really, the top teams have a plan C and a plan D as well. We need more variety on the pitch so we can mix it up. Don't forget that having more direct players and runners in the team would get more out of the likes of Ozil and Cazorla too as it would give them something to aim at, rather than having another similar player who occupies the same spaces as them.
I'm not saying that signing a winger like Griezmann would fix all that but it would be a step in the right direction.