Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: 4 key Vieira tactics & how to stop them

4. A Midfield Three With More Room for Expression

The tactical change: One of Vieira’s first calls was to move Kouyaté back into his favoured midfield position from the centre-back role he adopted under Hodgson. McArthur has kept his place in that area of the pitch but is being used as a much more aggressive pressing tool, even allowed to dribble and carry with more adventure.

Gallagher is the most attacking of the trio, yet the Scot joins him in the front-footed pressing system and the long legs of Kouyaté provide a strong screen in front of the defence.

In unison the midfield pushes up with the defence the second the ball is won back, and while there are still teething issues in every tactical change that Vieira is stamping on this team, the signs are there already that the collective shape and midfield balance is improving.

How to exploit it: What will be key on Monday is to force McArthur back into a more defensive role than he’s been tasked with this season. It might already be the case that he does if Palace head to north London with some of their ambition reined in, and in which case it’s Gallagher who needs to be forced into defensive duties.

To do so, Arsenal have to get continue getting Tierney high up the pitch, as per usual, in order to get the bodies into the attacking half-spaces that occupy the Eagles midfield at all times. Saka and Smith Rowe need presence in those areas to shift Palace’s midfield laterally, allowing for the wide players to make diagonal runs infield to continue moving them out of position.

As much as tactics player their part, so too does having better players. Sometimes it is that simple: McArthur isn’t exactly blessed with pace and Gallagher can be overly ambitious on the ball, leaving spaces in behind. Partey is the Bentley in midfield and Odegaard’ calmness and vision can thread balls through the tightest gaps.

The onus is on Arsenal to force Palace to change their ways, not vice versa. A better quality of midfield is, well…helpful.