Arsenal: 3 tactical changes we could see from Mikel Arteta

2. The 4-3-3

Arteta has stringently stuck by the 4-2-3-1 formation while at Arsenal. However, his former boss Pep Guardiola uses a 4-3-3 at Manchester City. The difference is the structure of the central midfield.

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Arteta’s uses two holding players and one attacking midfielder; Guardiola’s has one holding player and two half-eights, who play an attacking box-to-box role but not quite as offensive as a traditional number 10 like in the 4-2-3-1.

With Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka not fitting into the 4-3-3, neither possessing the skill set to play in any of the specific roles, Arteta’s hands have been tied. He has been forced into the 4-2-3-1 to squeeze the pair into the team.

Arsenal have been successful with this system, and both Xhaka and Ozil have performed well under Arteta thus far. However, Ozil is far from the match-winner he used to be and Xhaka still suffers serious limitations that impact his overall value. Could that hint at a shift to the 4-3-3 that Guardiola — and likely Arteta — loves? With Lucas Torreira, the only player in the squad capable playing the lone holding role, now back from injury, it is not inconceivable.