Arsenal's mouth-watering Barcelona-style attacking trio set for 2015/16

Can Arsenal play with Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain up front?

I have not written a new article here for a while but, as is often the case, a few thoughts that are hanging around in the back of my mind are brought to the fore by events. The events in question are the Champions League final and Barcelona in general and the first half of England vs Ireland the other day.

Oh, and one other train of thought that is a constant worry, for I am a worrier and that is for the sustainable future at Arsenal, of much heralded British core. Our first choice 11 by the end of the campaign had none of our England internationals in it as a rule.

Before I continue with the output in my mind resulting from the above input I will say that this is likely to become a series of articles I suspect. A series of articles that could go under the tagline or indeed theme – what could Arsenal do to up their game if they buy no one this summer? I know this is a proposition that no one expects of indeed wants, but it is intriguing all the same. So here goes:

Spicing up the tank without breaking the bank – Part 1

Logically, this article and others to follow will have to suggest ways to change the mentality and game style with the current squad. After all, one cannot expect an improvement if we carry on doing this the same way, can we? The only variable that could see that I suppose is better luck with injuries which we are long overdue.

The first proposal, and one that I confess has me salivating, is to replicate, in our own way, the attacking formation of Barcelona. No, we do not have Messi, Suarez and Neymar but what we do have is the ability to set up to emulate their fluidity and pace. The formation is their 4-1-2-3 varying to this year’s 4-1-4-1 when we are out of possession.

It puts out a front three whose speed cannot be matched any way in European football and it excites the hell out of me. It also gives us the potential to use all four of our British attacking quartet that, to my knowledge (and I stand to be corrected), have never started a competitive match together.

Combining pace and finishing

The front three I have in mind has Theo Walcott, centrally, although positions would be interchangeable with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alexis Sanchez either side of him. The key with Walcott is now clear and that is to give him a role with minimal defensive responsibility.

Ox excites me like no player since Rocky and he is the type of player that lifts me off my seat when he gets the ball to feet with space ahead of him. Yes, he has to improve his finishing, but playing in a more advanced role alongside toe accomplished finishers can only assist in that objective. Technically, with the ball at his feet, running at defenders I believe he is the best we have and I would take him over Raheem Sterling all day, every day.

Combining pace, dribbling and trickery

Can you imagine the terror of Premier League defences faced with Walcott who would be the fastest central striker in the league, flanked by two of the fastest with the ball at their feet, both of who have a trick? When we lose the ball, we know that both Ox and Alexis, as they showed at Manchester City and at Manchester United, will work back as the formation when required reverts to 4-1-4-1.

This formation has another huge advantage in that Danny Welbeck can slot in and/or cover any of the three positions seamlessly. And for some, maybe, he would be ahead of Ox or Theo.

Danny slots in easily with any combination

Who will play in Arsenal’s midfield?

I am a huge fan of both Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla, my player of 2014/15, but Cazorla will not play every game next season. So could this system allow us to try Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere ahead of Francis Coquelin? Ozil is not as effective in the 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 as he is when we utilise the customary 4-2-3-1. So could it be perfect for Aaron and Jack?

The Welshman looking to link with the strikers and go beyond when obvious and the English Bulldog winning tackles and receiving the ball from Coquelin and then spraying balls from deep or making probing runs as he does for his country.

It also gives a right-left foot balance in front of the patrolling Coquelin which in itself has merit. This formation gives Wilshere the perfect role as a deeper playmaker but without the extra responsibility of being the outright defensive midfielder and should utilise his best attributes without infringing on Ramsey’s.

Playing together centrally?

The argument against this selection might be that with the pace of the front three, we would need the superior passing of Ozil or Cazorla to find attacking runs. I partly agree, although feel Jack has the passing game in him as well. Certainly Ozil over Ramsey would make sense in the system, most particularly against superior opposition where a 4-2-1-3 alteration might be in order.

With this aggressive attacking formation, one might be tempted to see Mathieu Debuchy over Hector Bellerin and certainly Nacho Monreal over Kieran Gibbs. But as a better man, I might wager this fluid pace laden attack would see us stretching teams so much that opposition full backs would rarely foray forward, so wary of the speed they face.

So that brings me to the end of the first piece on how to potentially change our fortunes without new arrivals and I fully expect many will disagree, But before you jump in, let me leave you with one thought. In 2013/14 when Liverpool could have and should have won the Premier League title, their fluid and skilful front three of Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Sterling scored a combined total of 62 goals (31, 22 and 9 respectively). Do you honestly think that Walcott, Sanchez and Ox/Welbeck could not do the same?

Frightening the wits out of defences in 2015/16?

Until Part 2 of “Spicing up the tank without breaking the bank”! Thanks for reading and not having Ozil in this particular XI does not mean I hate him!

WARNING: No transfer rumours were hurt in the writing of this blog!