Changing positions
When was the last time Wenger properly converted a player into a new position?
I’m not talking about moving wingers and full-backs into a wing-back berth, I’m talking a genuine Kolo Toure/Thierry Henry style positional switch?
It’s been a while.
The pre-season friendlies in Sydney gave the first indications that he’s once again considering a conversion, and this time it is Elneny who is being evaluated for the move from central midfielder to central defender.
Logically, it’s a good fit.
Arsene is fond of a ball-playing defender, capable of both carrying and distributing the ball. Elneny, as a technically gifted midfielder is an ideal candidate for such a role. Plus, since we moved to three at the back, the central defender in that three functions very like the deep-lying midfielder who drops into a back four to collect the ball while the two centre backs split wide.
The only real difference is that in the three, that man is already moving and facing forwards, rather than travelling towards their own goal to collect possession.
It also has the added bonus of finding a place for a player who is talented, but unlikely to break into our first choice midfield pairing, and provides greater squad depth across a range of positions. It also potentially frees Koscielny up to play in one of the wider centre back roles and make better use of his speed and tackling without having to be quite so disciplined.