Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Aston Villa: 5 things we learned – Midtable performance; midtable team

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 21: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal speaks to his team during a drinks break during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on July 21, 2020 in Birmingham, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Rui Vieira/Pool via Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 21: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal speaks to his team during a drinks break during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on July 21, 2020 in Birmingham, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Rui Vieira/Pool via Getty Images) /

2. The system was all wrong

Mikel Arteta went with the 3-4-3 shape that he has fielded in recent weeks. The system is ideal in two key areas: it provides an extra central defender to cover for poor personnel at the position, which Arsenal certainly struggle from; it is the ideal shape to counter-attack out of, with the wide forwards relieved of defensive responsibility. Neither of these elements were needed here.

While Arteta has used the 3-4-3 extensively, he also wants his team to press high up the pitch and control matches with long periods of possession. In this instance, however, the formation hampers the team’s overall approach, rather than aids what Arteta wants his players to execute on the pitch.

In the second half, Arteta changed. First, he switched to a 4-3-3, tucking Bukayo Saka into central midfield and moving Sead Kolasinac to left-back. At the hour-mark, he moved to a 4-4-2 with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah leading the line and Nicolas Pepe introduced on the right flank. Immediately, Arsenal were able to control the game and create more chances. Arteta got his system wrong.