The Tactical Evolution

After returning from France, he gave the first team a day off, so the Colney training ground was quieter than usual. Wenger arrived at his office very early. Standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, he fell into deep thought.

He was reminiscing about the strongest Arsenal lineup he ever managed, which was based on the 4-4-2 formation with a midfield butterfly. The core of that lineup featured the strike partnership of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. Henry's speed and attacking prowess from the left flank were almost unstoppable, while Bergkamp's exquisite foot skills, passing, ball protection, dribbling, and shooting made him a perfect partner. Supporting these two forwards were the powerful central midfield duo of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva. This formidable combination allowed the formation to fully exploit the talents of the forwards.

Now, Wenger faced a different challenge. He wasn't sure about letting Louis play as a lone forward because his characteristics were too singular. Louis needed a center forward to press forward and contain the opponent's defense, allowing him to utilize his advantage of flexible movement and goal-scoring ability. Essentially, if Arsenal wanted Louis to play, it was best to use a double center-forward formation, with Giroud covering for Louis.

However, this created a dilemma for Arsenal's midfield configuration. The combination of Arteta and Diaby was sufficient, but what about the left and right sides?

"Maybe we can follow Manchester City's example and play Cazorla or Wilshere as a winger," Bould suggested.

Manchester City also employed a 4-4-2 system, placing the core of their frontcourt offense on the left wing, with David Silva occupying this position. In modern football, the concept of a side midfielder has emerged. With the increasingly stringent defense of forward areas around the penalty box, the responsibility of organizing the offense has shifted from the attacking midfielder position to the defensive midfielder position. The more successful adaptation of this change is seen in Pirlo's deep-lying playmaker role.

Setting up a team commander in the backfield avoids the tightly defended area and prevents the commander from being surrounded. This tactical change has been widely adopted, leading to the emergence of the wide midfielder. Typical examples include David Silva, Juan Mata, and Isco in La Liga. At Arsenal, players like Cazorla and Wilshere could potentially fill this role.

"Two wide midfielders, one playing as an attacking midfielder and the other as a winger, such as Podolski on the left and Wilshere on the right, or Cazorla on the left and Walcott on the right. This combination offers a lot of formation flexibility. Giroud can drop back, the winger can press forward, and the wide midfielder can cut inside," Bould continued, demonstrating the tactical possibilities on the board.

Wenger showed interest in this idea. He was never a conservative coach and always advocated for beautiful, offensive football. Moreover, reducing the intensity of play for Cazorla and Wilshere, both prone to injuries, might keep them healthier.

"By the way, is Louis not training today?" Wenger asked suddenly. Although the team was on holiday, he remembered that Louis had come to train even on previous off days.

"He's in the gym," Bould replied.

Wenger nodded, satisfied. Louis's physical improvement was essential for him to establish himself as a central forward.

Louis ended his training session for the day and smiled as he headed back to his residence. Under his hard training, the [Walcott Activation Speed Module] was fully integrated. His starting speed had returned to, or even surpassed, its peak a year ago. He could now effectively use this speed to evade defenders and score.

Louis's next goals were to complete the [Balotelli Strength Confrontation Module] and the [Basic Passing Training Module]. This way, he could hold the ball, break through defenses, pass, and score, solidifying his tactical position.

Louis's neighbors had become accustomed to his early departures and late returns from training. Mrs. Russell prepared him a meal of macaroni and fried salmon as usual. Despite the bland taste, Louis ate with gusto before heading to bed.

The following day, after the holiday, players returned to the Colney training base.

"Hey, Louis!"

"You came so early."

"Good morning, Louis."

Everyone greeted Louis, who had already arrived. From being a transparent player, he had become one of the focal points of the first team in just two games. In competitive sports, status is earned through strength.

The rise in Louis's status was evident during the morning tactical meeting. Wenger showed the team key points of the 4-4-2 system. Seeing the formation on the board, the players all looked at Louis. They knew the double center-forward formation was due to Louis's presence.

If Arsenal previously used a double center-forward out of necessity, now they were genuinely practicing it as a tactic. Giroud, who had yet to score despite his higher transfer fee, felt relieved. The team practicing a double center formation indicated his continued role as a starter alongside Louis.

As Wenger considered these tactics, he realized the potential for Louis and Giroud to spearhead Arsenal's attack, reminiscent of the glory days with Henry and Bergkamp. The future looked promising.