Arsenal: 4 reasons Arteta should go 4-3-3 vs Tottenham

4. Going 4-3-3 Allows Arsenal to Keep Nicolas Pepe in the Team

More goalscorers, more chances of goals. Right? Isn’t that how it works? Well, pretty much, yeah.

It would be more of a 4-1-4-1 as mentioned even with Odegaard coming deep as he did against Burnley – sometimes even deeper than Partey – to add some structure in the centre of the pitch, but crucially this system allows Arsenal to add in another attacking player in the starting lineup.

Nicolas Pepe is the obvious choice.

Tottenham have not looked especially stable at right-back with Emerson Royal still finding his feet, and as seen against Wilfried Zaha he has struggled when one-on-one with tricky, pacey wide players. Putting Bukayo Saka out on the right, his best position, and playing Pepe inverted will open up the chances to isolate the Brazilian and have joy in that flank.

With the addition of Tierney overlapping Arsenal can create numerical advantages on both flanks since Saka is someone Spurs know they can’t leave unattended.

For a team struggling for goals, this attacking approach can pummel the Tottenham goal early doors, get the advantage craved and manage the game from there with the extra pace in wide areas to strike on the counter-attack.

Pepe hasn’t been especially fruitful in front of goal but he’s worked his socks off all season, contesting every ball, jumping for every aerial challenge and relishing the physical aspect. If he gets hit, he gets back up, and that attitude is invaluable in a North London Derby.

That, and the fact he knows where the goal is better than most others in the team.