Arsenal set for tactical boost with Howe’s 3-4-3 system

Starting with the numbers, Arsenal have won their past seven matches in a row in all competitions against Newcastle. They’ve won 17 of the past 18 against them. They have also kept six consecutive clean sheets against the Magpies. That’s quite the superiority.

Those statistics also count for absolutely nothing when it comes to Saturday’s meeting. Both teams have changed in personnel since the last showdown, with Newcastle even changing manager.

It’s quite the change too.

Gone are the pragmatic days of Steve Bruce and in is coming the more expansive and forward thinking era under Eddie Howe. The alterations in approach were already visible from the 3-3 draw with Brentford, and if Patrick Vieira has taught us anything it’s that completely revamping a team’s style of play is possible in a short period of time.

Arsenal set for tactical boost against Newcastle should Eddie Howe adopt a 3-4-3 system with high intensity team pressing

There are differences that need mentioning, mind you, like Vieira bringing in a wealth of new talent to effectively build an entirely different team, and that he inherited some players who are actually half decent.

While he wasn’t in the dugout for the Brentford draw, already his principles were on show as Newcastle lined up in a 3-4-3 shape. More often than not Howe would opt for a back four at Bournemouth, so it appears as if he’s adapting his style to suit the players he has: with rubbish central defenders the best port of call is to put three of them on the pitch.

In terms of approach, the early years of Howe’s Cherries tenure saw them play front-footed and possession-based football with an emphasis on pressing high. Each pass was a forward pass and progression of the ball was at the forefront of everyone’s thinking. As time went on that adapted to more of a counter-attacking style, before it eventually fizzled out for Howe.

It was more of this earlier brand of football that was on show against the Bees, and should he adopt a similar approach at the Emirates then Arsenal will be licking their lips.

Arteta is building a team that wants to be pressed (Liverpool’s excellence aside). All of the principles of the play are catered to teams coming on to them, which would be a breath of fresh air from the numerous low-block encounters Arsenal have come up against in previous installments of Newcastle.

Howe knows how to coordinate an effective press and he is not going to willingly play this way unless he feels it can give his side a result. He’s a smart coach. But his philosophy, should he go this route on Saturday, is utterly dependent on each individual performing their role steadfastly.

Bournemouth famously won 3-0 away at Chelsea in January 2018 and on that day each Cherries player to a man executed the high pressing gloriously. Howe has barely had chance to spend time with his Newcastle players and not only does it take time to master such an approach, or at least perform it to an acceptable standard, the players in question have been working in a different way – and are lacking in quality overall.

If he is to go brave at the Emirates and look to take the game to Arsenal, he is relying on a new crop of players doing something they’ve been unfamiliar with over the past few years, whether that be Bruce or Benitez.

Arteta will be hoping the expansive and dynamic side of Howe’s philosophy will be selected as opposed to the verticality he demonstrated in his later years at Dean Court.

When teams have stepped off Arsenal, like Watford more recently in the Premier League, it’s been tougher to break sides down. The lack of creativity becomes evident. If there is a 3-4-3 with a narrow forward trio looking to force the ball out wide in build up, Arsenal have the tools to work through or over that.

Arsenal want teams pressing on us. Hopefully that’s Howe’s directive.