Arsenal: Injuries beg the question, back three or back four?

Injuries to Arsenal’s squad have had a significant impact in their play. With the players left available, might it be best to revert to a back four?

Last season, Arsene Wenger shocked us all by demonstrating his new-found tactical flexibility by deploying his Arsenal squad in a 3-4-3. This remarkable switch highlighted the defensive unit’s versatility while allowing our creative playmakers more freedom and less defensive responsibility.

But the growing injury list leaves doubt as to whether this system is best suited to the remaining squad.

An injury free-squad, with the first choice back line of Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi, and Laurent Koscielny suit the back-three system. There’s no one in any position that could keep these three out of the side. But remove any one of these three and it’s a different story entirely.

This is what Arsenal face with the current injury to Monreal.

While Calum Chambers has proven to be a decent alternative in the absence of Monreal, could the Gunners benefit more by reverting to a back four and playing another attacking threat? This could mean a familiar center-back partnership of Koscielny and Mustafi, Hector Bellerin at right back, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles at left back (due to the recent injury to Sead Kolasinac).

On the topic of Hector Bellerin, his current form at wing-back has not been up to the standard Arsenal fans expect from the Spaniard and a switch to a back four might be exactly what he needs to kick on. Having a winger playing ahead of him could provide the simple outlet ball he needs to improve his distribution.

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For those that want to see Bellerin dropped, Arsenal could always play Chambers as a right back. That was after all, where he played during his breakout season for Southampton.

The current injuries to Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey suggest a midfield shift from creativity to industry. In a back four, Jack Wilshere could push higher up the field where the Gunners could desperately use his directness and creativity in attack. This would mean Coquelin or Elneny stepping in alongside Granit Xhaka, adding work rate in place of ability.

This added work rate through the middle could allow for the likes of Welbeck or Walcott joining Sanchez and Lacazette in the attack. Both players add a different element to the likes of Iwobi, who’s skill set is more of what Arsenal have in abundance, and less of what this club need.

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If you boil it down, it’s a case of playing Coquelin and Welbeck or Chambers and Iwobi. Neither jump off the page, but with a tepid attack and one point from West Brom, why not shake things up?

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