Arsenal vs Brentford: 4 tactical improvements needed

4. Play Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Centre-Forward

It does get somewhat frustrating continuously wanting the best No. 9 at the club to be played at No. 9.

There are those who point to his successes being fielded out on the left in previous renditions of Arteta’s Arsenal, yet in those prior setups the emphasis remained on him being a low-touch player. Why? Because he is.

This isn’t someone who made his career on being involved in every facet of build-up and picking the ball up on the touchline ready to beat his man. Aubameyang isn’t a wall-pass option to aid others. He needs helping more than anyone and being thrust out into wide areas limits any attacking output.

Following on from the previous point, there are better options to be collecting the ball in the half-spaces when faced with a deep block than Aubameyang. It’s having the right personnel with the right balance in the right zones.

Put your striker in a position where his few touches are of use. Far from as hopeless in linking play as he is often criticised for, having him in central zones and playing on the shoulders of defenders is where he can do damage.

Against an expected back three, it won’t be down to him to pull defenders out of position laterally, and instead to stretch them. His pace hasn’t gone and the diminishing responsibility of playing vertically is hindering his output. Arteta has to return to using him that way.