There is no ideal formation in modern tactics. It’s more about field occupation. Players are not static on the pitch, they are fluid and be in different position at different time.
Tactics are all about creating numerical advantage in certain area of the pitch temporarily.
Your defensive formation would be determined by how you want to press, and determined by your opponent formation in their building up phase. For example, if your opponent is playing a very attacking 2000s brazilian 3-5-2. You may want to press their back line aggressively with 3 players up front. So your defensive formation would have 3 strikers. And this is based on how many players you would like to commit to the press, and how your opponent set up.
And in attacking, formation isn’t that important anymore. Because what in your mind should be field occupation and players movement.
For example, most team would arrived to the below field occupation in their final phase of attacking.
You can achieve the same field occupation using the same or different “starting formation” from different players movements.
There is no ideal formation in modern tactics. It’s more about field occupation. Players are not static on the pitch, they are fluid and be in different position at different time.
Tactics are all about creating numerical advantage in certain area of the pitch temporarily.
Your defensive formation would be determined by how you want to press, and determined by your opponent formation in their building up phase. For example, if your opponent is playing a very attacking 2000s brazilian 3-5-2. You may want to press their back line aggressively with 3 players up front. So your defensive formation would have 3 strikers. And this is based on how many players you would like to commit to the press, and how your opponent set up.
And in attacking, formation isn’t that important anymore. Because what in your mind should be field occupation and players movement.
For example, most team would arrived to the below field occupation in their final phase of attacking.
You can achieve the same field occupation using the same or different “starting formation” from different players movements.
To conclude. In defending, formation is more determined by your opponent. More and more modern managers would change formation or players position constantly during a game, as a reaction to the opponent changes (which is a reaction to your formation changes). In attacking, field occupation can be achieved by different starting formation anyway. As a result, an ideal starting formation is not that of an important aspect in modern football.
The season tickets are a disgrace really, considering were we are in the league...but bar that, that just the way it is...we aren't a team that challenges really anymore, since the stadium move or priority has mainly been Champions League football...unfortunately it's the way it is, and there isn't much any of us can do about it.
Just by your age I am assuming you watched our 1996-2006 period or around that, just be grateful really that you saw a golden period for the club...imagine if your became a fan from summer 2006 on, on even worse after Arsène left...you would be furious
Anyone who became a fan between 1996-2006, should considering themselves very lucky, you say Arsenal's best...even fans before that witness some amazing days, 1989 is the best night in our history really!
It's sad where we are, but all our decisions have pretty much gone against us as a club since we lost Highbury really, sad but what can you do.
Just try to find something to enjoy if you can, good crop of young players coming through at least.
Finally, don't dismiss the FA Cups wins so quickly...might not be the biggest trophies, but still all great days for the club.
United also produced better youth products than us whether we like it or not. Scholes, Beckham, Giggs, Neville who were ever present in their dominant teams, all came up through the ranks
I think many English players would be good for Arsenal today
They don't now though.
