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

How Ben White Can be Tactically Flexible With Takehiro Tomiyasu

The positives are that these two in the backline can promote versatility in build-up. Tomiyasu will play as a full-back closer to the white lines and look to underlap and overlap, allowing White to move into the right side and one of the midfielders to drop in.

He can also take on the mantle of being the drop-in midfielder as a version of a No. 6, with Sambi and Thomas Partey, or whoever it may be, either side to open more passing lanes into phase two.

Unlike previously with David Luiz and Chambers/Bellerin, there is real scope for versatility here with Tomiyasu’s arrival.

• White assumes right-sided berth in back three with midfielder dropping in
• White takes a David Luiz-esque deep central berth to pick out long passes
• White pushes forward into a No. 6 role with Gabriel and Tomiyasu splitting
• White can tuck into midfield three with Tomiyasu dropping back
• A more traditional back four lines up with White able to charge the channels

The dynamic of the defence can alter depending on how the opposition set up and what position Arsenal find themselves in in terms of the scoreline.

Arteta won’t have Arsenal trapped in a back three every time they’re in possession even if that style of build-up will be preferred, and these additional options in phase one can diversify the usually predictable methods of play building from the goalkeeper.

White being quick and Tomiyasu being most certainly faster – beneficial to lateral movements – than Chambers aids this, so too does having a hybrid full-back who is two footed and versatile across numerous positions. Interchanging with the £50m man is also an option.

When it’s Rob Holding and Chambers in the defence making the most passes of the team in Premier League matches, the groans can be heard from the dugout: everything is lacking tempo, cumbersome and a stark drop off in quality from what is needed.

Foreseeing it in advance can differ greatly from in practice. Arteta may want to stay in a rigid system as Arsenal play out from the back and White may be consigned to that central role of the three more often than not. But, at least, the options are there.