Arsenal: Arsene Wenger may be held hostage by back three

Arsenal has shown a new level of attacking potency with a back four, but without the right personnel, is the back three all Arsene Wenger can do?

Everything looked like it was being righted when Arsenal swapped out the old 4-2-3-1 for the 3-4-2-1. There was more defensive solidity, more usefulness for our attackers and more protection for guys like Aaron Ramsey to thrive in a multifaceted role.

It has also looked like a potential solution to Granit Xhaka‘s lack of defensive ability because with a ball-playing centerback like Shkodran Mustafi tucked in behind him, the added security has resulted in positive signs.

However, in the past two matches, Arsenal has spent about 150+ minutes with a back four and they have amassed just a ridiculous amount of shots. Over 50 of them. And ranted, those 50+ shots came against parked Manchester United and BATE Borisov, but you can only make the most of what you’re given.

Arsenal did that. They showed that, with a back four, their midfield has had so much more of a presence and so much more punch then what we are used to seeing.

But we can’t exactly explore that option much more than what we’ve seen, or in matches where we are throwing everyone forward. Why? Because the personnel is not there for a back four. I am speaking mainly about the defense.

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The way our defense is currently manned, we have three under-sized centerbacks that boast a good deal of athleticism but not a lot of strength. It’s what has plagued a porous Arsenal defense in the past, when Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker turned into Mustafi replacing the latter. The new pairing didn’t work because of the similarities between the two defenders.

And now, with Nacho Monreal playing well as a centerback, the inclination may be to veer towards him, but the back four does him the most harm. He is not a two-man centerback team and he isn’t going to take the leftback job from Sead Kolasinac.

Meaning that unless Calum Chambers or Rob Holding are ready to replace Mustafi or Monreal, then a back four isn’t going to happen.

The only other alternative is to revert back to Mertesacker-Koscielny, but then you unfairly oust Monreal and Mustafi when they have done enough to deserve it.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against BATE Borisov

There just aren’t many – if any – ways to spin this defense into a feasible back four. Going forward, Holding and Chambers may be the answer, but for now, the back three has a vice-grip on Wenger’s decision making. There really isn’t an alternative option.

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