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Arsenal vs Chelsea: 3-4-3 defensive reshuffle for Arteta?
By Kenneth Daly
Is it time to reconsider those pre-season predictions? As storm clouds gather around north London following the disappointing opening-day loss to Brentford, Arsenal will be hoping to get their Premier League campaign back on track this weekend when they take on old adversaries Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
The manner of last Friday’s defeat away to the Bees would have caused Mikel Arteta much consternation and, currently faced with a myriad of injuries and COVID-related absentees up front, he may have to take drastic measures to nullify the threat posed by Thomas Tuchel’s European champions.
Therefore, bearing in mind our comparatively well-stocked resources at the back, is a defensive reshuffle on the cards?
Rarely seen since the heady days of Project Restart, speculation is rife about the 3-4-3 formation making a return on Sunday to add numbers and subsequent stability to the Arsenal defence, and Rob Holding is just one player who may benefit from its prospective revival.
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Will injuries and Covid-related absentees spark a defensive reshuffle for Arsenal ahead of their Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday?
Despite being left on the bench last time out, the former Bolton man was – somewhat controversially – favoured by the boss throughout the previous season, making 39 appearances in all competitions, and he will likely be back in contention for a starting berth after the Gunners’ abject defensive display during the domestic curtain-raiser.
Opting to pair Pablo Marí with the recently acquired Ben White, Arsenal were carved open time and again by Thomas Frank’s side in west London. The £50m recruit endured a torrid time in his aerial duels with Ivan Toney, winning just 42.8% of the contests, while his Spanish teammate was run ragged by the clever movement of Bryan Mbeumo and appeared to struggle greatly with the Bees’ pressing style.
In total, our fledgling centre-back partnership lost six aerial battles and exhibited a lack of pace that does not bode well for the future, and this realisation could prompt a rethink in defence.
Adopting a more cautious structure will help to mitigate vulnerability to the Chelsea attack and, with Romelu Lukaku’s arrival potentially enticing our opponents to explore aerial avenues, Holding may represent our greatest hope of keeping the Belgian international quiet.
Continued…