After the Watford and Blackburn games I noticed clearly that our team is very much about combinations. When they work, the team is great, when they don’t, the team can look awful. These combinations run through the team. The first notable one I saw this season was Eboue and Hleb. These two were on fire earlier on in the season, Hleb making space for Eboue to put in crosses which led to goals, notably Porto at home and Charlton away. Hleb has been criticised at times, notably nearer the start of the season. However this was unfair in my opinion. Yes he wasn’t making goals but he was hugely involved in goals that involved Eboue.

This is not the only combination of which Hleb is part. Hleb, Rosicky and Fabregas can be a deadly trio. Undoubtedly three of the most talented ball players in the Premiership on their day. At times this season the three of them together has worked to great affect, Blackburn and Charlton at home being examples. Cesc links up well with both of them. They also provide extra time for Fabregas to do his job as they have to be closed down as well especially Rosicky who is a natural ball carrier.

The only problem is there are times when this combination doesn't work. It is commonly when Hleb is lacking in confidence. He holds the ball too often and does not use his full back and fellow midfielders as he seems to have no confidence in what he wants to do. Against Watford away from home he struggled, possibly his worst performance in an Arsenal shirt so far? Instead of losing the ball on the right we lost it all across the midfield, Hleb came across and seemed to cramp whatever room Rosicky and Fabregas had. In the second half he stuck to his wing more and Rosicky came into the game so much more.

We then have the three combinations up front. Henry and Van Persie together, Henry partnering Adebayor, Adebayor with Van Persie. Each one offers a different factor. For me the best one is Henry and Van Persie, they proved it in season 05/06 during the middle of the campaign. Van Persie had nine in nine at one point and was on fire until he got injured. He then got back to form in the World Cup and has looked even more dangerous this season. Playing off Henry he has bags of ability to create plenty of goals for Henry and also allows Henry to drift out wide while getting in the box himself for goals.

When Adebayor plays Henry drops off and gets knockdowns. I prefer Adebayor to come on as an impact player. He has the desire if we need a goal and means we can go long late on, an option we lose if he goes off as he has worked too hard early on. The third option is an interesting one. With Henry injured we have been able to see this in action. We scored lots of goals with Henry out and I am now confident Henry can be rested more often.

These partnerships and recent performances have hopefully proved to Wenger that 4-4-2 is definitely the Arsenal way. Granted sometimes we can play 4-5-1 away from home in difficult matches, like we did vs Man Utd and Chelsea. However it is not needed against teams like Newcastle and Middlesbrough at home.