Arsenal should learn from Spain’s 4-3-3 system at Euro 2020

All good things must come to an end! After being treated to a thrilling summer of international football, where we witnessed some dramatic upsets and the growing prospect of the beautiful game coming home, an unprecedented Euro 2020 will draw to a close this weekend as Italy and Arsenal star boy Bukayo Saka’s England go head-to-head at Wembley in search of continental supremacy.

There has been much to admire on the sporting front over the past four weeks, ranging from the extraordinary resilience demonstrated by Denmark to the remarkable defensive organisation of Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri. However, Spain were also one of the tournament’s standout performers and Arsenal should take notes on the Iberian outfit as they prepare for the new Premier League season.

Beginning the competition with the unfamiliar tag of outsiders, Spain’s progression to the semi-finals can be attributed to an unwavering belief in possession-based attacking football. La Roja’s penchant for playing on the front foot saw them record an incredible 115 shots across their six games – topping the charts for attempts and goals – and they would likely still be in contention were it not for the woes of Mikel Oyarzabal and the perennially-hapless Alvaro Morata.

On paper at least, the Spaniards like to set up in the same 4-3-3 formation as preferred by Mikel Arteta and frequently carve teams open courtesy of clever positional play from Dani Olmo and Koke. This pairing alternate between drifting into central zones and staying wide to draw defenders out, before Jordi Alba ventures into the vacated space with overlapping runs and delivers into the box.

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Arsenal can learn from Spain’s creative productivity in the 4-3-3 shape adopted at Euro 2020 in preparation for the new Premier League season

The impact of these combinations is potentiated by Morata’s hold-up ability as, despite the former Chelsea man’s struggles in front of goal, he is nevertheless adept at receiving passes from deep and quickly exchanging with the creative linchpins, while he also uses sharp movement and darting runs in behind to stretch the defence.

Similar methods have been implemented at Arsenal, where Emile Smith Rowe operates in the half-space and Kieran Tierney provides the additional wide outlet. Unfortunately, the duo was absent for prolonged spells of last season and we paid a heavy price for the lack of capable depth, evidenced by our Autumn collapse and the Europa League debacle.

Spain’s creative success at Euro 2020 highlights our potential if we can perfect their methods in the final third and, unlike Luis Enrique’s toothless side, we have a historically-clinical striker in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who will, more often than not, convert when given the opportunity.

Therefore, it is essential that we strengthen in the creative department this summer and, if the incoming Nuno Tavares can offer us something in the left-back role when required, we can perhaps expect the attacking floodgates to open next term.

Another aspect of the Spanish philosophy Arsenal can adopt is their verticality in transition, which enables them to penetrate low blocks. Despite their reputation for patient, methodical build-up play, Spain are arguably more dangerous when recovering possession as this is when the opposition is at its most disorganised.

At this point, rather than merely passing side-to-side, the Iberians take advantage of the large spaces left void by committed opponents, and either Eric Garcia or Aymeric Laporte are tasked with quickly distributing the ball through the lines to the roaming figures of Olmo or Ferran Torres, which they did to great effect in their 6-0 thrashing of Germany in the Nations League last November.

Again, this is something already worked on at Arsenal, where the centre-backs initiate attacking phases while Bukayo Saka and Smith Rowe provide the movement, but our progression up the pitch is often painfully slow and affords opponents time to regroup, subsequently reducing our ‘breakaway’ to an impromptu midfield rondo session.

As a result, greater movement in central areas is another issue that must be addressed in the coming weeks to make us more threatening against conservative sides intent on frustrating, while the probable arrival of Ben White will increase our efficacy in passing from the back into advanced positions and allow us to reap similar offensive rewards to those enjoyed by the Euro 2012 winners.

Not many people had Spain down as European champions-in-waiting this summer, and with their three knockout ties all going to extra-time, they are certainly not the ruthless Spanish side of old. Nevertheless, they showcased an exciting brand of football that may have achieved more had luck been on their side and, most importantly, underlined what we can do with the right recruitment during this transfer window.