Arsenal transfers confirm Arteta’s formation and tactics

Mikel Arteta, like many others, became smitten with Martin Odegaard last season. What he brought to Arsenal in a visionary sense as well as his presence off the pitch impressed the boss and his coaching staff to no end. That relationship will continue to flourish.

Having set out with the Norwegian at the top of the wishlist this summer, numerous names have been floated around, many of whom would have brought with different skillsets and presented Arsenal with the opportunity to instill a different tactical approach.

Odegaard was always the first choice, though.

A deal that could be worth around £30m constitutes fine business from the club, especially after moving Joe Willock on for not much less, and where the 22-year-old will feature is fairly set in stone. A natural No. 10, it was in the hole where Odegaard’s better performances for the Gunners came in the Premier League last season.

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Arsenal transfer decisions with Martin Odegaard & Granit Xhaka confirm Mikel Arteta’s formation and tactics for the 2021/22 Premier League season

Some of his less influential outings came in alternative formations. Against Villarreal in the Europa League he operated as a No. 8, while away at Chelsea in a 3-4-3 setup as one of the advanced floating No. 8’s he also struggled.

It was when the team setup in a 4-2-3-1, with Odegaard advanced, pressing from the front and allowed to drift into the right half-space where he was at his free-flowing best.

The extended time on the training pitch as a result of having no European football would have been the (un)ideal invitation Arteta needed to implement his preferred 4-3-3 system. Transfer business this summer seems to put that plan on hold.

While it isn’t out of the question, Odegaard’s lack of defensive nous has seen him struggle in a three-man midfield. It’s not a position that tailors to his skillset, nor does it present him with expansive creative freedom.

Additionally, opting against selling Granit Xhaka this summer adds further credence to the idea that the 4-2-3-1 is set to stay. If there is anyone who can’t hold a pivot all on their own it is Xhaka. Rich with other positive traits, he’s desperately poor at holding his own considering it takes longer for him to turn than it does Arsenal to conclude any transfer business.

The system (with a couple of new faces) that brought Arsenal some joy in the second half of last season looks set to remain in place with a few minor tweaks. What will be kept is the 4-2-3-1 moulding into a 2-3-5 during attacking phases, with more emphasis this term on maintaining a higher line and squeezing the opposition in their half.

Win the ball in those phases and Odegaard finds himself in his playground. Defensive assurance in the form of athleticism and mobility from Gabriel and Ben White aid the process.

4-2-3-1 is here to stay for a season at least. The market dictates decision and in this case the opportunity to transition into a 4-3-3 didn’t open itself up wide enough for Arteta. The transfer business this summer suggests so.