Without RVP you no longer have a striker imposing (or clinical) enough to play all by himself up there IMO, might as well replace him with two players.
Provided you get M'villa (which I think you will) it should look more like a 4-2-2-2 when attacking, like this:
---------- M'vila ----- Arteta
Cazorla---------------------------- Gervinho
-------------------------- Podolski
-------- Giroud
I'd get a new LM though, but Gervinho's pace would be useful. Too bad his end product is shit. It should bring Arshavin back to life as you said too. Walcott would be Cazorla's sub.
When defending you could switch back to a 4411 or 451 as Podolski has a nice work rate. Gervinho wouldn't help much defending though, dunno about Cazorla either but a small team shouldn't put you on your back foot too much.
I reckon it would be easier to get the goals flowing this way, M'villa would act as an enforcer while Arteta can work out his magic with his nice passing ability (he's also not too shabby at reading the game and defending)
Cazorla is probably our best player right now, i like him down the middle to be honest, plus 4-2-3-1 is my favorite formation, so i rather we keep it. I don't have fond memories of the 4-4-2 in Europe, it was too predictable, and teams shut us out easily.
Still, i'd like to see us try it in the league to be honest. Arshavin can sometimes play the second striker role with Podolski filling in on the left, i really like Arshavin when he plays in that pocket.
I don't like him as everyone knows, but massive respect for that

---------- Post added 20.08.2012 at 20:51 ----------
Without RVP you no longer have a striker imposing (or clinical) enough to play all by himself up there IMO, might as well replace him with two players.
Provided you get M'villa (which I think you will) it should look more like a 4-2-2-2 when attacking, like this:
---------- M'vila ----- Arteta
Cazorla---------------------------- Gervinho
-------------------------- Podolski
-------- Giroud
I'd get a new LM though, but Gervinho's pace would be useful. Too bad his end product is shit. It should bring Arshavin back to life as you said too. Walcott would be Cazorla's sub.
When defending you could switch back to a 4411 or 451 as Podolski has a nice work rate. Gervinho wouldn't help much defending though, dunno about Cazorla either but a small team shouldn't put you on your back foot too much.
I reckon it would be easier to get the goals flowing this way, M'villa would act as an enforcer while Arteta can work out his magic with his nice passing ability (he's also not too shabby at reading the game and defending)
Cazorla is probably our best player right now, i like him down the middle to be honest, plus 4-2-3-1 is my favorite formation, so i rather we keep it. I don't have fond memories of the 4-4-2 in Europe, it was too predictable, and teams shut us out easily.
Still, i'd like to see us try it in the league to be honest. Arshavin can sometimes play the second striker role with Podolski filling in on the left, i really like Arshavin when he plays in that pocket.
I don't like him as everyone knows, but massive respect for that
