W-M Formation today - Does the road to Arsenal's future lie in it's past?

A three member back-line is the last thing someone would think of as a remedy for Arsenal‘s defensive woes. In fact Arsenal’s recent history is congested with the words “famous back four”, a reference to the spirited, tough and doughty back line that Tony Adams marshaled in his heyday.

However, in first era of Arsenal’s glory days i.e. the 1930s , the great Herbert Chapman played a unique W-M formation that was new to the teams of that time. It’s ages since this formation has been used in its pure form, which emphasized fast feet and quick thinking.

The W-M formation consisted of a shallow W (the peak in the centre of the W is a short one) and a Deep M (the trough in M is a deep one). This entails three defenders who keep close to the goalkeeper during defending, and spread out to prevent a long ball counter attack, when the team attacked.

The so called holding midfielder, or the ” Makelele” player (as the media asserts) was a non-entity in this formation. Two central midfielders capable of tracking back fast and frequent forward surges occupied the centre of the midfield, while two swift wingers with good crossing ability would lie slightly ahead one each side. The two forwards would be assisted by a playmaker (in the “hole” position) to complete the formation.

Well technically this formation isn’t new or old. Its numerous re-hashes have been used time and again by European teams where long ball is not a commonly used knife to slice out enemy defences. In England this formation in its pure sense went out of fashion due to various factors:

1. Fitness levels required were extremely high as the formation demanded tracking back at a furious pace when the ball was lost, and since the reliance on long ball was minimal (as most players would be behind trying to win the ball back), rapid passing during an attack was a necessity.

In the thirties, fitness of players wasn’t anywhere near to today’s levels. Still the formation was successful initially due to the lesser number of games played back then.

2. Higher technical skill of players, with better ball keeping, clean ball-winning ability, broader vision and accurate passing was mandatory, keeping in mind the extreme fluidity of the formation.

3. More than five creative players were usually required to complete attacks as the role of each position was not restricted as in today’s formation. In other words, the reason why other teams failed with this formation was same as to why not every one could emulate Ajax‘s all conquering total football.

Back to today, under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal has another young squad in the build capable of fluid passing, surging counter attacks, but also a ramshackle defence (if we could say that without the usual media exaggeration). Being very mobile, W-M formation suits the Gunners’ present style of play as it would make zonal or even man marking difficult for opposition teams.

During an opposition attack, the two CMs and the WMs would track back, giving a seven-member defence, with the CAM just inside our half and the two forwards behind the centre line in the opposition half. When the team attack, the two CMs move forward leaving a three member back line (which shall spread out to mark the opposition forwards) and in the process, sending seven players down the opposition half, causing even the opposition forwards to track back for defending their half. This gives time and space for the defence to anticipate and clear any attempts at counter attacks that normally begin in the EPL with a “lob and scurry” routine.

Considering the present team, Vermaelen, Koscielny and Mertesacker can marshall the backline, while Song/Arteta and Wilshere/Ramsey can be the box to box midfielders considering their great tackling and runs into the opposition half though Song’s speed is a little suspect.

For the winger role, Walcott, Gervinho,Gibbs, Sagna would be options. We do not need the wingers to barge into the centre more than often like Arshavin does and Nasri did. It is to be noted that normally the winger in this formation would station himself a little withdrawn from the usual stance so, this would suit the sagna and gibbs too. It would be very interesting to see Santos in this role as his defensive duties would be lessened some what and this shall liberate him sufficiently to run at the opposing defence. Ramsey/ Rosicky/Arshavin and Chamberlain can play the in the hole role depending on form and fitness. Though i believe this is the role Chamberlain would make his own given the chance.

Van Persie can be one of the front two and the other can be slightly withdrawn from him.It would be advisable to go for a new striker for the 2nd role with the youngsters, Chamakh and Arshavin playing back up.

Considering the depleted attacking options Wenger now has, and the low number of creative players – I can think only of Arteta who has been good this season, when Wilshere hasnt played and Walcott, Ramsey have excelled in patches and Arshavin abysmal and dismal alike; I believe the formation can be tried out for the next season with enough time to try out the intricacies of this formation.

Having three defenders close to the goal keeper shall cut out long balls to the opposition lone forward and crowd the box better on a side attack. It gives the defence more options and time to defend the ball.

With two midfielders tracking back, one of them can take up the ball and proceed straight further or pass it to a winger to take the ball ahead. If the ball is played to the left or right, one winger, two midfielders and one attacking midfielder and one withdrawn forward can make it a dense presence against the opposition who wouldn’t be able to handle so many players. At the same time, the winger at the other side and the center forward can wait in the box for a hold up or a cross as the case may be. At this time if the ball is lost, we still have a crowded area to win the ball back. If the opposition punts one over the midfield, we have 3 defenders waiting to deal with it, left right or centre; instead of the usual two who try to stay close to the striker and hope that if an opposition winger attacks with the ball, the returning full back shall try and close him down, which doesn’t happen always. However in the present case, even with two defenders shackling the opposing centre forward, one is left alone to attack any wing counter attack taking place immediately after our attack fails.

Will this formation work? Well Pep Guardiola made it work in the beginning of this season. Defending doesn’t have to happen in our half always. Having a mass of players on one side of the field in the opposition half draws most of the opposition players to that side. It makes it easy to win the ball back and also it lets the winger on the other side free to receive the ball in space.

What Arsenal need to be able to succeed in this formation? A pressing game that forces mistakes rather than making risky tackles, A team that keeps running all the time to tire the opposition out, A sharp shooter to takes chances along with Van Persie and also another creative midfielder who can strengthen the trequartista (in the hole) role in the team.

If Wenger is really hungry for more success, he needs to change the way Arsenal play. Every time he has won the League, he has come up with a new attacking style. It’s time he did it once again. The W-M can be one way to do it.