WHO CAN TAKE THE CUP FROM ARSENAL?
— Ivan Sharpe | 15/12/1930 —

Who can take the Cup from Arsenal? Blackburn asked a similar question of their team of Rovers in 1928-29, and neighbouring Bolton replied by holding them at Blackburn, beating them at Bolton, and going on to win the Cup. But this question of who can wrest the Cup from Arsenal is intriguing and important. I raise it because the holders have a special system of play and it is particularly effective in Cup football.

Their method of playing the inside-forward pair (Jack and James) in a pronounced W formation system and of calling on this pair of forwards to be semi-half-backs is a safety-first style specially suited to Cup-ties because:

(1) It augments their defence to seven or eight players and, by packing their goal, upsets opponents' forward play and renders scoring difficult;

(2) The Arsenal are splendidly equipped for converting defensive play into a dangerous breakaway by their three advance forwards (Williams, Lambert and Bastin).

These players, and Lambert in particular, are cut out for the lightning raid and shot which develops from the inside pair's sudden through-pass.

"Goal-snatching," I have called it. So it is. And isn't "goal-snatching" the very way to win Cup-games?

OPPONENTS AND PLANS.

How can this Arsenal method be beaten? Derby County — their only conquerors — managed it by seizing the initiative and ramming home goals by wonderful shooting. Such marksmanship, however, cannot be counted on in League games, let alone in exciting Cup-ties.

This, then, is a warning that, if the unwritten rule that the Cup shall not be won by one club in successive seasons is to be maintained, opponents must go into conference and prepare plans.

It may be necessary to play Arsenal their own game. This means a centre-half as a definite third back, and a W-formation — the third back not to shadow Lambert so much as to be drawn out of position and give an opening for Jack to slip through, but to maintain a position largely in the middle of the field and so be hovering between the backs.

What opponents have to counter in the main, anyway, is the individual breakaway by one of the spear-head three; the herty dash for goal from midfield or elsewhere by a big centre like Lambert, and the quick cut-in or pass-in from the penalty-box corner by either of the wingmen.

Yes, Arsenal are going to be bad to beat and clubs who do not study the problem will be very foolish.

Of course, the League leadership, injuries or wear and tear, may reduce Arsenal's effectiveness. As the football world knows, something has generally happened to ruin dreams of successive Cup wins, or of the capture of League and Cup in one season.

Since professionalism arrived, only Blackburn Rovers (in 1890 and 1891) have won the Cup in successive seasons. Newcastle — the real Newcastle — have been the only challengers. They won the Final of 1910, but lost the Final of 1911.

Much can happen, of course, but to-day Arsenal's flaring red colours are a danger signal to be heeded by opponents. In fact, they are more dangerous in the Cup than in the League.