Talking about our strikers has, however, got me pondering with some lateral thinking on playing formations. If we possess a proven goal-scoring bunch of technically gifted midfielders, do we actually need strikers at all?

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It’s interesting to hear reports today that perhaps Cesc will take up an advanced role just behind the striker for tomorrow’s big match. Is it just because he scored a couple of goals?

I for one hope he doesn’t play in that position, as I think he is a far more potent force splaying passes from deep. In any case, I have a feeling Arsene might go a touch gung-ho and even play both Adebayor and Bendtner (assuming RVP is still out), in order to get at least one vital away goal. I am sure we all feel that attack is our very best form of defence – especially against the Mancs.

Talking about our strikers has, however, got me pondering with some lateral thinking on playing formations. If we possess a proven goal-scoring bunch of technically gifted midfielders, do we actually need strikers at all?

Radical as it might seem, I wonder if it’s time to consider a formation of 4-6-0, 5-5-0, or more precisely 3-3-4-0.

Before anyone thinks I am off my rocker, there are a few stats and observances to back up my hypothesis.

Firstly when I am talking about ‘strikers’, I am referring to the likes of Adebayor and Bendtner – big, target men whose job it is to hold the ball in a high line and wait for the cavalry. Well, whilst the greatest exponent of this art was undoubtedly the great TH14, (who didn’t often need the cavalry of course), we don’t currently have anyone of his ability. Perhaps with a Torres it might be different, but maybe we should try to utilise the wealth of midfield talent that we have at the moment.

I don’t really class RVP as an out and out striker, nor indeed Eduardo, as they are not really ‘target’ strikers, and, as has been demonstrated in the last few games, we are more than capable of getting goals from others in midfield.

Three centre backs would help our jittery defence and with the two full back holding a higher line and an extra man just in front of the back three I think we would be more solid at the back than we appear to be at the moment. Then with four free-flowing highly technical attacking midfielders, we should still have plenty of goals in us.

With our current squad, how about this 3-3-4-0 line up ahead of Almunia – Toure, Djourou, Gallas – Sagna, Song, Cliché – Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin. Alternatively RVP and/or Eduardo in the front four – in fact perm any four from that lot, and Cesc could always play in the deep link role – at least at home.

With no big target strikers at least Adebayor wont keep getting himself offside! It’s an interesting fact this season that so far in the 5 games against the top four sides, neither ‘strikers’ have yet scored a goal, whilst we have still mustered 10 from the others.