Arsenal vs Benfica: 4 talking points from Europa League draw

Has Mikel Arteta Found His Preferred Arsenal Lineup?

That was the first time Arsenal have fielded the same starting lineup since September…..2018. Not since Unai Emery has that happened. It’s quite remarkable.

Picking apart that statistic for reasoning, you’re left with a chicken and egg scenario. Why he fielded that team against Leeds made perfect sense. Clever tactical understanding. Given the differing styles of Leeds and Benfica, however, seeing the same lineup was thought to be unlikely. While wholesale changes weren’t expected, one of either Martin Odegaard or Emile Smith Rowe was thought to be benched for the game.

Thus, is this his favoured lineup and the Leeds game was a litmus test for how effective it could be? Signs would point to that. It was more Wenger-esque in approach by packing lots of technical players in and around the centre-forward.

It’s too soon to know whether this is where he is going with this team as Sunday will cough up an entirely different set of players for the visit of Manchester City, but he evidently lauds the added wall-pass player out wide who can drift in field and make two No. 10 operators for wide overloads.

Pepe will, of course, feel hard done by. He should. But Arteta can’t leave out Saka, Aubameyang or Smith Rowe from his version of the strongest side, and Odegaard offers different qualities to this squad. Standards are high and Arteta feels he can get the maximum out of his team with this set of players.

When Thomas Partey is back, the reintroduction of a wide player to the side could be expected. With a deep-sitting double pivot and not a line-breaking option such as Partey, the need for the No. 10 to come deep becomes more prevalent and then the left-winger, in this case Smith Rowe, tucks into the half-space when Cedric adds width.

Early signs are there but nothing conclusive just yet.