Arsenal: Ben White’s tactical roles with Tomiyasu in 4-2-3-1 system

The final signing of the summer transfer window was one of the more interesting ones of the entire summer. The desire for a right-back couldn’t be set aside any longer following the horror start to the season and Arsenal signed Takehiro Tomiyasu.

All six of the summer additions that Mikel Arteta brought in were done so with a specific role in mind. Every arrival needs to suit a certain tactical need but of them all, Tomiyasu felt extra niche.

Central defenders who’ve morphed into hybrid full-backs capable of playing across the backline and in various shapes are not readily available, and if they are they don’t come cheap.

Well known is the tactical role that the 22-year-old will have under Arteta. Like many, Arsenal want to build up their play in a back three and set up in a defensive 4-4-2 shape when they aren’t pressing high, and at Bologna this was a similar remit for Tomiyasu.

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Ben White can assume numerous tactical roles with Takehiro Tomiyasu at Arsenal in Mikel Arteta’s 4-2-3-1 system with back three build up

What does it mean for Ben White?

The most expensive defender in the club’s history spent the majority of last season thriving in a role not too dissimilar to the one Tomiyasu has played before. There are differences, of course, with Brighton adopting natural wing-backs, but when the back three took shape it was White who assumed the right-sided berth.

This catered to his excellent ball carrying ability and better than average pace, where his strength in delivery down the line and through the lines could either progress the Seagulls laterally or switch play at pace.

In what will line up as a ‘4-2-3-1’ (inverted commas since it’s ever fluctuating) when in possession alongside the expected duo of Gabriel and Tomiyasu, it will be White playing the central role much like Pablo Mari has done previously.

Arsenal won’t build up the same way every time they start from the goalkeeper as they do often split their centre-backs bringing a midfielder in to create a central triangle, but if it is the three defenders forming a horizontal line it may impact White’s trademark carries through the middle.

These were able to flourish as the right-sided centre-back down the line as wide areas could be covered by midfielders in case of turnovers to assert some numerical control. Being the central option of the three could imply that Arsenal will look to his deep long progression as a key attribute and lean more to Gabriel and Tomiyasu’s distribution down the line.

But changing the role White has usually played is not a negative. It’s another option, of which there are plenty.

Continued…