Greetings tactics fans!

Les Reed here, I’m sure you’ll remember me, but if you need a reminder – my Charlton side once forced six corners in the second half alone against Wycombe in the Carling Cup. This week I’m lending my tactical nous to the big game up at the Reebok Stadium where the Bolton Wanderers take on continental Arsenal.

I expect Sammy Lee to set his Bolton side up quite deep, and look to hit Arsenal on the break (fig 1). Megson is a manager who knows the importance of territory in the modern game, and he’ll be stressing to his back seven the importance of getting the ball in the air and away from their goal, hard, fast, early, hard, long and often, every time. Balls will be aimed towards Manuel Aluminium’s touchline, with players and ballboys (indicated by smaller-than life circles on my chalkboard) looking to get on the end of them, and waste as much time as possible.

fig 1:

Big Arsene Wenger should revert to one of his favourite tactics to break down the stubborn Wanderers’ defence – deploying his attacking four of Fabregas, Help, Rosicky and Adebayor just outside the box and instructing them to perform a dazzlingly quick series of intricate short passes between one another, without ever crossing or shooting (fig 2). This should confuse the Bolton defenders and generate what’s known as a "tactical storm" at the centre of the diamond of players, which can then be powered into the danger area at speed, causing havoc in the box.

fig 2:

If time is running out for Arsenal Wenger, he might want to mix it up by calling on the foreign expertise of some of his overseas players (fig 3). Aleksander Help has proved adept at sneaking into the penalty area under the cover of a traditional Belarusian rug, the Brazillian Denilson can baffle defences by performing his trademark salsa moves with a sexy Brazillian beauty, and William Gallas’s French necklace of onions should be brought out with five to spare, with the stench rendering the big defender unmarkable.

fig 3:

Enjoy the game tactics fans, and you’re welcome Arsene!