Alternative formation 2: 4-1-4-1
In the big away games this season we were out-witted by the tactics of our opponents and were humiliated in a number of games. This was due to the fact that we were too open and were caught time and time again as there was no protection for our back-line. By adopting this formation, we would shut out spaces for our opponents to work in and would be able to sit in and try and get goals on the counter-attack. This style may be a bit negative and un-Wengerish but football is about winning and not playing pretty football all the time. Mourinho adopts this kind of tactic perfectly, and although often criticised for ‘parking the bus’ i’d love to see Arsene use it from time to time. It would work by having either Flamini/a new CDM screening behind Wilshere and Ramsey (two players who can tackle and break away at pace). On the wings the need for pace again would be paramount, particularly as we’d be  playing on the break, so i’d adopt the OX and Walcott in these positions. Up-front would be Giroud as a kind of target man, bringing the wingers in to play.