A reckless gamble that could cost Arsenal their place in the top four or a necessary step to rid the squad of an unwanted influence? Good business or bad judgment? Amid all the questions that arise from the speed with which Arsene Wenger allowed Emmanuel Adebayor to join Manchester City, one thing is certain: no £25 million striker has ever left a club with such little fuss from the fan-base.

The prevailing feeling among Arsenal supporters is ‘good riddance’ and, considering Adebayor’s flirtation with AC Milan over the past year, you can hardly blame them. For the fans, there is no crime in football more sinister than a perceived lack of commitment or loyalty.

Yet what now for Arsenal? And how does selling your star striker to one of your main rivals help retain a position among the Premier League’s top four?

The old adage that ‘Arsene knows’ will be tested to the maximum this season and, while selling Adebayor and not investing in a replacement would represent one of the biggest decisions of Wenger’s career, it is a strategy that he looks increasingly likely to follow.

The lack of height and physical presence offered by a traditional ‘number nine’ striker is the obvious potential omission in the squad now that Adebayor has left.

After the first pre-season friendly on Saturday against Barnet, Wenger said that he would look at adapting the team’s style with his existing players and he has hinted at a return to the 4-4-2 system that was generally favoured during the years when Arsenal were regularly winning trophies.

On Saturday, it was noticeable that Andrei Arshavin played through the middle as a second striker while Rosicky featured as a winger. It is also known that Wenger regards Theo Walcott as a central striker in the longer term.

Last season he generally adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw two midfielders shield the back four and three players push forward to support a lone central striker. It is a system that allowed Wenger to play Walcott and Arshavin in wide positions without worrying too much at their deficiencies in working defensively to help the team’s full-backs.

The sale of Adebayor, however, points to a slightly different style, potentially built around new positions for Arshavin and Walcott and a return to more traditional wingers in the form of Rosicky and Samir Nasri.

Even without Adebayor, the options remain numerous. The wider question, though, is not whether Wenger has enough players but if they will prove good enough to justify their manager’s considerable faith. It is another big season for everyone at Arsenal.



Wenger’s options:



(4-2-3-1) Last season’s system offers added protection for the defence while granting Walcott and Arshavin the freedom to attack from wide positions. It depended, however, on a striker that can lead the line on his own.



Alumina

Sagna, Gallas, Toure/Vermaelen, Clichy

Song, Denilson

Walcott, Fabregas, Arshavin

Van Persie/Bendtner



(4-2-2) Wenger enjoyed his greatest triumphs with Arsenal in a 4-4-2 formation. He would have plenty of options with this system, including the use of Arshavin and Walcott as central strikers.



Alumina

Sagna, Gallas, Toure/Vermaelen, Clichy

Rosicky/Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri/Arshavin

Van Persie, Eduardo



Alumina

Sagna, Gallas, Toure/Vermaelen, Clichy

Rosicky, Fabregas, Song, Nasri

Arshavin/Walcott, Van Persie



(4-3-3) The system that was introduced at Chelsea by Jose Mourinho and one that is similar to the 4-2-3-1 option. This would allow Wenger to play an extra central midfielder while also retaining strong attacking possibilities. Width, though, would largely depend upon the full-backs.



Alumina

Sagna, Gallas, Toure/Vermaelen, Clichy

Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri/Diaby

Walcott, Van Persie, Arshavin

Arsène Wenger has revealed why Lukasz Fabianski did not travel to Austria for the Gunners’ pre-season tour.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper was the only surprising omission from the squad which landed in Austria on Monday.

But, speaking after Tuesday’s victory over SC Columbia, Wenger cleared up the reason for his absence.

“He has a little knee problem,” the manager told Arsenal TV Online. “But he should be available for the Emirates Cup.”