By Boris Mellor
July 6 2005

Arsenal has signed Hleb for certain, and it looks increasingly likely that Baptista will sign later this week. This raises an interesting question of line-up, what will the starting eleven be?

 It might be stating the obvious, but the amount of involvement of these two players in Arsenal’s pre season will very important in Wenger’s final decision. Fans should also keep in mind that players, however good, need a long time to adapt to the EPL.

 

Henry took at least half a season to settle in, and some were not convinced until his second season. Robert Pires took a whole season to prove himself. Nor is Wenger a Ferguson type revolutionary, he prefers change by degree, he often leaves new players on the bench for quite a few games before bringing them in. He values continuity, but nonetheless change happens, as Petit discovered to his chagrin.

 

 Of course Hleb and Baptista are both physically strong, and may not be that bothered by the pace and ferocity of the Premiership, but they will still need to adjust to new teammates and style of play.

 

However, assuming that at some stage, sooner or later, the new players will be utilised, what will the line up be, and who will be relegated to the bench?

 

No doubt, Arsene knows, but for the rest of us mere mortals we can only guess, after all Hleb can play all over the park, but we can safely eliminate centre back position. But the rest of the midfield is up for grabs, as is Bergkamp’s role, but not just Bergy is under threat, both Pires, and Ljungberg could be replaced. Maybe Wenger will use a rotation policy, although that is not really his style, he knows his best eleven.

 

However, the introduction of Baptista would further complicate things, for clearly he is an out and out striker. Yet that is not really Wenger’s style of play, although he does not play 4-5-1, he does favour 4-4-1-1. And the lead striker often drifts wide, as wingers drift in, and the team becomes 4-3-3.

 

One would assume that Baptista would suit a direct two strikers up front method, but Henry does not suit that style at all. That is why Bergkamp has always been his most effective partner, because he plays in the hole. But if Baptista plays would Henry drop back?

 

If Henry drops back, then Bergkamp will definitely be on the bench, the consequence of that would then be that Hleb would replace Pires or Freddy. That is a tough call; they both have strengths and weaknesses. Neither is that good at tackling back, but Freddy does help the defence far more, just ask Sir Alex. Pires has scored more goals of late, but Freddy has scored some crucial ones too.

 

However, there is a consensus that we are weakest on the right, and provide the fewest chances from that side. We are also weakest in terms of defending on the right. So my guess is that Ljungberg would be under the greatest pressure. Or could Wenger give us an even greater surprise and put Hleb in the hole, with Henry, and Baptista as dual strikers? Of course RVP and Fabregas may find themselves on the bench more often. Or is Wenger planning to have a league team, for lower level teams, and a team for the CL, and top five teams,  al la Mourinho. We shall have to wait and see, but it is a mouth-watering prospect.