Arsenal Vs Manchester City: Back Three The Way Forward?

Arsenal face Manchester City on Sunday in the FA Cup semi-final. Should Arsene Wenger proceed with his newly implemented three-at-the-back system?

There was a need for a fresh and different approach at Arsenal. The loss to Crystal Palace earlier this April highlighted the stagnating and rotting atmosphere within the side. Arsene Wenger’s approach was no longer inspiring expansive football within his players, there was a lethargic, apathetic feel to the squad, culminating in the fans, justifiably, chanting that the players were not fit to wear the shirt.

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Wenger made uncharacteristic and sweeping tactical changes in the Gunners’ next game, an away trip to Middlesbrough on Monday. For the first time since 1997 and only the second time during his time in North London, Wenger employed a three-at-the-back system.

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It was a huge surprise given his usual stubbornness to the ideals and the principles with which he manages his side. And after the 2-1 win saw Arsenal creep past the relegation stragglers Middlesbrough with some difficulties, there were questions regarding whether it would be an approach that he looks to use more in the future. In his post-match press conference, Wenger detailed how he believed it was a short-term fix but is something that they have worked on in training:

"“I don’t know, I just felt that sometimes the team needs to believe in something new, something different, just to find a bit of confidence back. Overall I felt that it worked quite well today because we won the game. We had practised on it before at some stage, (but) we like offensive football so this was a bit more defensive-minded for us. I feel overall it is not a long-term plan, but punctually it can work.”"

That leads me to ask, should Wenger employ the unusual approach against Manchester City in the upcoming FA Cup semi-final? It would certainly be a risky strategy for Arsenal to implement. The issue with the three-at-the-back system is that it can be exposed in the wide areas by releasing wingers in behind the more advanced wing-backs, dragging the centre-halves out wide.

City’s personnel in wide areas lends themselves well to exploiting the likely defensive ill-discipline of their opponents. Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane up against Shkodran Mustafi or Gabriel Paulista or Rob Holding in one-on-one situations with the ball at their feet and space to drive into is a scary thought indeed.

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However, the greater freedom in attacking areas for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez could well confuse what has been a disorganised and disjointed defensive unit throughout the season. It is a compromise that Wenger may look to take but it would certainly be risky in a game that could well have long-lasting ramifications regarding his and the club’s future.