How will Arsenal line up to get the best out of LMAÖ ?

With the fantastic news of Özil's renewal today, Arsenal's attack now looks genuinely impressive on paper.

Aubameyang and Lacazette are both top strikers, with Aubameyangs output since being moved to CF by Tuchel being genuinely elite (he scored more goals in the last 2.5 seasons than Kane, Aguero, Higuain, Neymar, only Messi, Suarez, Ronaldo, Lewa and Cavani being more prolific than him).

Additionally, with Özil and Mkhitaryan Arsenal now have two top class attacking AMs who are among the most creative in the world.

However, the question arises, how do you line them up to make it work?

None of the 4 are wingers, with Mkhi being the on most adept to play wide. Aubameyang played wide under Klopp, but clearly only fully blossomed once he was put centrally. With his pace and directness, he could play Walcott-like, but why sign a superior striker to play him Walcott-like, when Walcott himself couldn't get into the formation anymore?
Lacazette has played wide too in the beginning IIRC (?), but his story is similar to PEAs.. he too moved centrally

In short, all 4 together, while potentially offering great variability, suggest a severe lack of width.

So, how do you compensate that?

Through wingbacks? Meaning 3 CBs and only ONE central midfielder? Who is that then, between Xhaka, Wilshere, Elneny?

And what about Ramsey?

Or a 4-2-3-1, putting two of LMAÖ on the wing in a slightly out-of-position situation?

Let's think about how Arsenal could line up, coupled with what you think Wenger is planning.

By not having Xhaka in the starting line-up

I thought Aubameyang and Lacazette would play together, but watching Lacazette's recent performances I think he's going to drop out the side. He looks jaded and slow.

So chances are, it's going to be this:

Cech - Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal - Xhaka, Ramsey, Wilshere - Ozil, Mkhitaryan - Aubameyang

But as you say, this really lacks width unless the full backs push on, and that's going to leave us vulnerable. So maybe we could this:

Cech - Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal - Bellerin, Xhaka, Ramsey, Kolasinac - Ozil, Mkhitaryan - Aubameyang

Well, if he's out of form, of course Auba can just slot in for Lacazette.
But generally, Lacazette is far too good to be discarded already, and I think him and Auba should be tried to work together if both are fit and in form.

Can't wait to see what the Mister comes up with

Maybe it's worth pointing out that Max Meyer, who's another Schalke youngster out of contract in June, and whom I just read Arsenal are alleged to be interested in, was converted from an attacking midfielder to DM by Tedesco this season.
Everyone's saying how well he has fulfilled the role, but I'm not completely buying it and I don't think he could be the missing DM in your line up. Schalke under Tedesco play a 3-5-2, so he's much more a deep lying playmaker than a destroyer in a double pivot.

The diamond like 4-4-2 shape seems most promising to me

Ramsay-------Xhaka-------Wheelchair
Ozil--------Auba---------------Mkhi

A more accurate representation of that team:

@Jay29 wrote:A more accurate representation of that team:

Cech

Mustafi - Koscielny


Xhaka

Wilshere

Bellerin - Ozil - Mkhiraryan - Monreal

Aubameyang

Ramsey

The famous Inverted Cross formation

Thats a great line up but until Arse'ne is there I'm not optimistic

@Jay29 wrote:A more accurate representation of that team:

Cech

Mustafi - Koscielny


Xhaka

Wilshere

Bellerin - Ozil - Mkhiraryan - Monreal

Aubameyang

Ramsey

Looks about right.

They should line up without Wenger to get the most out of the players tbh.

I don't look at those lineups with a lot of expectation though, epecially considering their offense is, as far as I'm concerned, the least of Arsenal's worries. Not sure why they're signing Auba when they desperately need a good CM/DM and CB

Aye they should sell Sanchez and not replace him.

They absolutely needed him, just purely on the basis there's hardly any goals in the team without Sanchez.

Everyone knows they need to revamp their midfield and defence but not replacing Sanchez would be moronic.

Nah you're right, my argument was flawed and revolved more around how I think revamping the mid and defense is more important than replacing Sanchez.

@Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Aye they should sell Sanchez and not replace him.

They absolutely needed him, just purely on the basis there's hardly any goals in the team without Sanchez.

Everyone knows they need to revamp their midfield and defence but not replacing Sanchez would be moronic.

Aubameyang is a far better player than Alexis Sanchez.

thats a given

Doesn't matter, defence is poo

@Hapless_Hans wrote:

Spoiler:

With the fantastic news of Özil's renewal today, Arsenal's attack now looks genuinely impressive on paper.

Aubameyang and Lacazette are both top strikers, with Aubameyangs output since being moved to CF by Tuchel being genuinely elite (he scored more goals in the last 2.5 seasons than Kane, Aguero, Higuain, Neymar, only Messi, Suarez, Ronaldo, Lewa and Cavani being more prolific than him).

Additionally, with Özil and Mkhitaryan Arsenal now have two top class attacking AMs who are among the most creative in the world.

However, the question arises, how do you line them up to make it work?

None of the 4 are wingers, with Mkhi being the on most adept to play wide. Aubameyang played wide under Klopp, but clearly only fully blossomed once he was put centrally. With his pace and directness, he could play Walcott-like, but why sign a superior striker to play him Walcott-like, when Walcott himself couldn't get into the formation anymore?
Lacazette has played wide too in the beginning IIRC (?), but his story is similar to PEAs.. he too moved centrally

In short, all 4 together, while potentially offering great variability, suggest a severe lack of width.

So, how do you compensate that?

Through wingbacks? Meaning 3 CBs and only ONE central midfielder? Who is that then, between Xhaka, Wilshere, Elneny?

And what about Ramsey?

Or a 4-2-3-1, putting two of LMAÖ on the wing in a slightly out-of-position situation?

Let's think about how Arsenal could line up, coupled with what you think Wenger is planning.

Cech
Bellerin Mavropanos Koscielny Monreal
Wilshere Xhaka
Özil                     Mkhitaryan
Aubaymeyang Lacazette

All this effort just so Hans can get his silly pun out of his system

What?

I care for Arsenal and their team. It's an honest thread.

As for the pun, if you mean lmaö it's not me that came up with it, someone else posted it already and it makes too much sense not to use it.

Looks like it will be more like a fearsome Oma attack.

Lacazette benched

I wonder which club Lacazette will join next season

AC Milan

We're not getting rid of Lacazette.
At least not in the foreseeable future