My Tactics and Squad

My Tactic:
The main tactic i play is: 4-3-1-2, with 3 central midfielders and an attacking midfielder.

I play with a more attacking approach to the game and so my mentality is attacking, normal creative freedom with really short passing style; this allows be to ping the ball around the field, involving as much of the team as i can. I use a very wide width and this allows my two front men to split out with to recieve the ball on their respective flanks. I use often time wasting as i find this frustrates opponents and they are more likely to make mistakes allow me to counter. I also play a high defensive line as my defence are in general terms quite quick. This allows me to use the offside trap effectively, however if it doesn't work i feel confident in my players to get back.

In regards to set pieces, i have my best players for each set piece taking them. However, i do not use the corner cheat i just tend to put all my corners into the 6 yard box and have my tallest/strongest player to man mark the goalkeeper.

My Squad:
I would describe my Arsenal squad as having a good depth with young talented players. The main advantages of my squad are speed, flair, passing and in my opinion general counter attacking play. However, Arsenal both in my football manager team and in real life have a problem in the height department, being one of the shorter teams in the league. This being the case Arsenal are often exploited from set pieces and this is why as soon as my team blended together in this formation with this tactic (2/3 games after pre-season). I began to focus my match preparation on defending set pieces in order for my team to have a greater chance at defending these situations.

Below is the first eleven team I play when all players are fit or match ready. However, this varies in competitions such as the carling cup and when playing lower opposition in the Fa Cup and Premiership. In these cases youth players that feature reguarly are: Jay Emmanuel Thomas, Kyle Ebecilio, Mark Randall, Benik Afobe and Jack Grimmer. I would have player full young squads however i have sent many of my hot prospects out on loan to lower league clubs in order for them to get full team experience.

Again however, i like to rotate my squad as much as i can in the following areas:
CB - my centre backs i believe are the key to a successful football manager team, and with this arsenal squad i have many strong cb. This is why i like to rotate every few games between a different combination of players as well as including Johan Djourou to gain experience. Gary Cahill, Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscienly all play frequently in my squad.

CM (either side of fabregas) - Fabregas is the pinhold of my team and so features in all top flite games unless injured or in need of rest. I like to vary the players around him for two reasons, a) first team experience with fabregas and b) so they themselves can get playing time. Often it will be a combination of a more attacking cm and a more conservative cm. For example, Abou Diaby and Denilson. Denilson being the player i see more as a holding midfielder.

STR - Every game i will bring on at least on striker substitute at various times depending on how the game is going. For example, if i feel the game needs more pace or if i am looking for a big impact i will use Theo Walcott who many may argue should be in the starting line up however i feel is more of an impact substitute. Or another example would be if i feel we are being ineffective from out set plays i will bring on Nicklas Bendtner in order to achieve a more arial threat.