It is no secret that we have adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation in the past few months alongside the more traditional 4-4-2. And alternating between the two has worked pretty well. Having overcome our goalscoring fear that saw a string of 0-0 draws

The international break is here. Lord help us all, for we are now subjected to a week of nothingness in the Gooner sense (except for maybe more fallout from the Hull spit-spat, former players talking about us and – of course – being linked with Miguel Veloso). With Theo not playing for England, I have little interest in the national team’s friendly on Saturday except for it representing an opportunity meet my mates and get mildly drunk. I will probably play keener attention to the Holland/Scotland game later that day, in the hope that Spud Hutton doesn’t maim RvP. That sentiment extends to all our players on duty for their countries: PLEASE GOD NO INJURIES.

So to while away the hours, I figured there was no better time than now to focus on abstract issues such as tactics, formation and personnel.

It is no secret that we have adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation in the past few months alongside the more traditional 4-4-2. And alternating between the two has worked pretty well. Having overcome our goalscoring fear that saw a string of 0-0 draws, the goals have been veritably flying in (notwithstanding the defeat in Rome, where the penalties were flying in).

We are well stocked in the attacking midfield department. Pick any trio from the following: Arshavin, Nasri, Walcott, Vela, Rosicky (eventually) and even Eboue. Don’t forget that van Persie is adept at playing in any of the roles, Eduardo has done a job on the left, whilst Bendtner has recently cut his teeth out wide and soon Jack Wilshere could be challenging for a place.

But who should be the spearhead?

For me, a lone striker has to have four main characteristics:

1. goalscoring ability
2. pace
3. physical strength
4. good link-up play

So which of our current forwards fits the role best?

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR:
This season, Ade has been something of an enigma. Granted he has not had the same service as last year’s goal-laden campaign, but his work ethic has seemed to take a nosedive. What warmed us to the Togonator was not his clinical finishing or silky skills – but the fact that he ran his arse off for the team and hassled and harried defenders and chased every ball. And that he often came up with the goods in the biggest of games: anytime we play Spurs, Man Utd away in 2006, and Anfield in the Champions League last season.

Of the four aforementioned characteristics, he has pace and power in abundance. A ringing endorsement of this is the admission by John Terry and Rio Ferdinand that Ade is one of the most difficult opponents they have faced. His finishing can be a bit wayward at times, and generally his link-up play is sound if unspectacular.

He had considerable success playing the lone role last season with Hleb in behind, and it’s not impossible to envisage the big man striking up a similar partnership with Arshavin…as long as he pulls his finger out.

ROBIN VAN PERSIE:
Arguably our player of the season and showing what he can do when injury-free. The Dutchman’s two goals at the Bridge will not be forgotten, nor will his strike against Liverpool at the Emirates. He had a golden January where he either scored or made all of our goals, and so it came as no surprise in February that when he went off the boil, a similar fate befell the team’s attacking threat. Thankfully he has since perked up, undoubtedly aided by the arrival of Arshavin and the continued emergence of Nasri.

When I compare Robin’s game to the four characteristics, I see a jack of all trades but a master of none. He is not the most clinical of finishers, but he’s none too shabby either. Pace and power aren’t his strongest points, but he is neither a slouch nor a weakling. And while his link-up play can be magical, he does sometimes have a tendency to take a touch too many (being ultra-harsh here). Actually I take back that last point, which is why I feel he is more suited to the second-striker role.

What differentiates him from the rest is that X-factor, the ability to produce something out of nothing. It is better to have that ability further up the field as it can result in a goal; hence the reason Arsene deployed him as the centre-forward against Roma instead of the more obvious candidate, Nicklas Bendtner. I always hark back to that wonder goal against Inter in pre-season last year. The only man who can rival RvP for moments of inspired genius is…

EDUARDO:
Our beloved Crozillian has dispelled the myth that he is merely a goal poacher (although that on its own is no bad thing). A quiet man off the pitch, his goal against Burnley in the Cup spoke volumes.

For those of you who think that all he does is “goal hang” and stick the ball in the net, compare and contrast him with Michael Owen. His link-up play is underrated and he is pretty nimble, if not rapid. For a man with a slight frame he is pretty strong at holding the ball up – but it is hard to see him effectively contesting aerial challenges with the likes of Vidic and Carragher.

So I think his size works against him in his quest to be the lone frontman. A fantastic four of Arshavin, Nasri, Walcott and Eduardo may have all the creativity, speed and finishing prowess in the world – but the need for balance is key. The only way I could see Eddie as the sole focal point is if a Bendtner or v.Persie was in behind, but then I guess that’d make the formation more of a 4-4-2 than a 4-2-3-1.

NICKLAS BENDTNER:
Why this guy is oft-maligned by his own fans confuses the hell out of me. He is a fourth-choice striker who has punched above his weight all season as his senior peers have been either injured or suspended. He is level on goals with Ade and must have a similar return to the likes of Rooney, Berbatov and Tevez – not to mention being well ahead of Ngog, El Zhar, Miroslav Stoch, Franco di Santo, Danny Welbeck and Delfouneso. Catch my drift?

Yes, he has missed his fair share of chances – especially at home in the cauldron that is the Emirates. But technically I think he is a fine finisher and the spurned opportunities are due to a lack of confidence. Why the Emirates faithful therefore seek to drain the confidence away from him also confuses me. Power is not a problem for a man referred to as the Big Dane, and his link-up play can be breathtaking (see the first goal against Blackburn and his through ball to Theo, or any pre-season friendly alongside Carlos Vela).

Pace may be his main drawback, but in a team with rapid tyros like Arshavin and Walcott buzzing around him, any lack of speed can be compensated by speed of thought.

CONCLUSION:
So there you have it. If 4-2-3-1 is our future who should be ‘The One’? In my humble opinion, the Emmanuel Adebayor of 2007/08 shades it. Can he recapture that form? Will he even be around next season?

Playing Ade would mean leaving out either RvP or Eddie (or both). Bit of a dilemma, eh? In the long-term, I feel Nicklas Bendtner could be the best bet of them all.

Agree? Disagree? That’s what the comments section is for. See you there.