Does a Defensive Midfielder Anchor-Man exist in Arsenal's armory?

       Some say that Arsene Wenger's current formation and tactics are a copy of the total football tactics invented by Johan Cryuff, and practiced earlier by Ajax.. Some call it as Arsene Wenger's copy of FC Barcelona's tactics. But I say that AW has earned that right to call it his own. It may be an adaptation of the Ajax idea, but certainly not a copy!

     
       Some experts(and I too agree with them)that Arsene Wenger is too rigid with his tactics. He is too stubborn to tweak his tactics. I have noticed(and it is solely my observation)that Arsenal are not able to implement their game against teams which are good at closing down oponents. And also I have observed that while Arsenal are very good at keeping possession, we as a team don't work hard enough to gain back the possession once lost. If we are able to do that more often, Arsenal can have loads of possession and hence obviously will be able to create more chances.

        Also to regain possession we need to have a high defensive line.. But too much pressing and closing down higher up the pitch requires protection provided by a good DM especially if the oponent is quick, nimble and has good dribbling skills.To become a better team we need to have a high defensive line capable of winning the ball higher up the pitch.

         If we have a good holding player which the team can rely on defensively, the CM can also afford to become more attacking and also possess more Creative Freedom... Hence we dont need to rely on the assists of a defensively unreliable DM. I would (any day) prefer a DM who can defend well rather than provide assists..

        We should have a strong defensive lynch-pin or anchor-man which Song is not. Song is more assist oriented(his main job is to defend well and protect the back 4, which he is not competent). He does not seem secure like a Patrick Vieira or a Michael Essien. Hence I do think we need to step-up our chase for Yann M'Vila or train Francis Coquelin in that mould(and also need to get rid of some our dead-wood like Diaby, Denilson, Vela, Squilacci, Bendtner, Park). Also we need to unleash 'The-Ox' on the wings(somehow).

Thats the defensive peerless-ness which M'Vila provides and Song does not(Important Stats in BOLD)

Too early to say. But my ideal staring XI with the formation for next season would be-

My Idea of the tactics Arsenal should deploy..

                                                             

          The main position of discusion. The DM or the anchor-man. I think the ideal man suited for this role is M'Vila(I hope he does come). He is very good defensively and performs it with nonchalance. He is strong in the air too. He does not need to do much creatively( I don't know how creative this guy is?). He just needs to pass the ball to a more creative player(Wilshere, etc.) He just needs to sit back and protect the back 4 and also perform the 'Dirty-Player' role. Defend, defend and defend even more!

                                                              M'Vila is France's lynch-pin

          The above may seem similar to the current AW formation, but a more rigid approach to the current one. I think the above is ideal for the idea of possession retrieving. Wilshere will be the engine room in the center of the park. Main role is quick distribution of the ball, spreading the play, making it expansive for wing-play and sudden burst of pace with the ball.

          The wingers know their bit. Both are very pacy and both know how to cross the ball pretty well. 'Prince-Poldi' & Walcott have the special skill to finish very well. Both can cut-inside and allow the overlap of the full-backs(this overlapping requires protection which can be provided by a defensive-minded DM(M'Vila)).

           'Mikel Arteta' will provide the very important 'link-up' play between the midfield and RVP(the same role made him a Legend at Everton). He also has damn good vision and tendency to provide defence splitting through-balls(we are not going to get another Fabregas. Hence will have to be happy with Fabregas-lite). His ability on the wings and his crossing can add to the fluidity of Arsenal's attacking movement.(I would prefer Podolski to play here as he will take the goalscoring burden off RVP).

          RVP should be left to do what he does best. He knows his role as a 'Trequartista' and performs it to perfection.

          Hence a bit of rigidity is required in the midfield(this may reduce the Tiki-Taka but will surely bring in better results). The clear-cut roles must be specified for each player except Arteta and RVP. I think(this is what I observe)there are many players for a single role. Arsene Wenger has always been a Attack-minded manager. But I think he is overly so. He does not have a specified Anchor-Man in defence. He has sacrificed his defensive principles for Tiki-Taka football. I have noticed that a good attacking team has a steady, strongman in midfield for protection. Attacking football requires protection and Song(uptil now)has not provided it!

          So investing in M'Vila is not a bad option in my eyes as a DM : Football team = Protein : Human Body... A good defensive minded DM is a building block of an attack minded team..

So its for you to decide.. 'TIKI-TAKA' or 'TROPHIES'?

OR

(Disclaimer- I dont think I am a better tactician than AW. I am just suggesting roles which would make AW's delightful football more result-oriented)...