Arsenal’s Willian and Nicolas Pepe call – guile or goals?

How Does Mikel Arteta Add Goals?

The dilemma at the moment is turning domination into a numerical advantage. Arsenal scored three goals against Olympiacos and each one was a certified stunner. Two long-range pingers from Martin Odegaard and Mohamed Elneny and one the best headers we’ll see across Europe this season from Gabriel.

So much hinges on Aubameyang getting on the end of everything. Having Willian in the team ensures these spells of dominance can be lengthened, but at the cost of threat.

Bringing Pepe into the side will not immediately constitute a higher goal return. Nor will adding Gabriel Martinelli. What it does do is add an instinctive touch in the final third; flair, glamour and threat. All of which comes at the cost of the pressure Arteta wants his side to force on the opposition.

It’s a balance he’s yet to strike and one he may never discover until goals are spread throughout the team.

While it isn’t solely a Willian or Nicolas Pepe debate, the situation is that neither of Saka or Aubameyang can drop out. Nor can the No. 10 and the midfield pivot.

Arteta will surely have pondered adopting a single midfield pivot and having Odegaard/Emile Smith Rowe and Saka either side of Thomas Partey with Willian and Pepe/Martinelli on the flanks. As it is he’s less inclined to for fear of losing physicality in the central third, and understandably so.

However, on form and with the speed and directness he possesses, Pepe has too much talent to be a bench player. Willian keeping his place in three consecutive fixtures hints that this isn’t rotational.

In his best moment at the club, when he’s in the team defenders immediately know where the danger zones are. Someone to get you off your feet, just like Martinelli, Arsenal have more chance of scoring with either in the side. Simple as that.

But while his side win matches and control large spells of fixtures, Arteta is unlikely to stray too far from his status quo. For better or for worse.