Arsenal: Arteta’s tactical acumen excels with 3-4-3 Slavia Prague setup

Mikel Arteta has been criticised prolifically at Arsenal this season, with questions over his man management, approach, favouritism and substitutions just a few of the sticks used to try and beat his perfect hair out of shape.

However, accusations of being tactically numb can be tucked into bed ready for hibernation after a resounding 4-0 Europa League win over Slavia Prague. The way the side was set up to both exploit opposition weaknesses and nullify their own was exceptional.

Every fixture is hard to win without Kieran Tierney present. An outstanding talent who excels at both ends of the pitch, he’s not readily replaced. Thus, Arteta’s decision to field Granit Xhaka in the role, as against Sheffield United, must be heralded as a masterstroke. A solution to a problem that solidifies his standing as a fine coach.

Boil it down and Arteta found a way to replace a bombarding and athletic left-back with an immobile defensive midfielder. It’s very left field. Square pegs in round holes carved away at until they fit.

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Slavia Prague 0-4 Arsenal: Mikel Arteta’s tactical acumen excels with 3-4-3 setup with Granit Xhaka at left-back

And it’s how he’s shaped this particular peg to fit into the hole that is so clever. On Thursday, Arsenal’s shape fluttered between a whole host of formations throughout the 90 minutes – and there will be those who saw different variations of the setup – as a fairly sluggish opening 15 minutes took time exude authority. There was nuance to his thinking, but in essence it resembled the great Johan Cruyff’s 3-4-3 diamond setup in key moments.

Calum Chambers would tuck into a floating right midfield position with Thomas Partey acting as the sole pivot, one with Dani Ceballos to his left as a roaming No. 8. It altered depending on which flank Arsenal attacked as sometimes Emile Smith Rowe would slot into the right No. 8, but it ensured that a defensive diamond shape could be employed.

Pablo Mari would sit at the base with Xhaka and Holding slightly advanced, with Partey being both the advanced tip of the defensive group and the deepest point of the midfield diamond. It allowed Smith Rowe to support Bukayo Saka and build triangles on the right, and when he pressed highest beyond Alexandre Lacazette then Chambers would shift inside.

Out of possession it could reverse to either a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 to cut off passing lanes and force Slavia Prague to go long, in which case the added physicality of Chambers and Xhaka made Arsenal significantly sturdier. Cedric and Hector Bellerin wouldn’t have provided such physical security.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1383033934791856134

And Xhaka’s place in that position meant Arsenal could build with confidence. There is safety in his technique that means possession can be retained in defensive build-up, using Partey as an option to draw midfielders in that that can release Nicolas Pepe out down the left.

The whole shape worked effectively to isolate Saka with his left-back and cause unrest in the opposition. Variation in bypassing the press and playing through it, Xhaka was a source of stability and foundation. That sensational 25 minute spell exemplified that.

Finding a solution to a problem is so unbelievably crucial as a coach. Having all your best players fit and adopting your style of play is the dream all bosses want week in week out, one that almost never occurs. How you react to changes of personnel, form and injury is what can define you.

Arteta is an excellent coach. The jury is still out on his overall management and for all of Thursday’s success there will come times, as there already have been this season, where he gets his setup wrong.

Yet this was the biggest game of his managerial career and Arsenal’s biggest this season and he set his stall out with a lineup that he’d only seen in competitive action against one of the worst sides in Premier League history. There was a belief in his abilities and a belief in his players to carry out their commands.

It worked superbly.