Arsenal: 4 helpful ways to beat Southampton

4. Stick to a Known Tactical Approach

When there appeared to be signs of something working for Arsenal over the unbeaten run it felt like the perfect opportunity to build on that platform. It was the closest this team have come to being a high pressing side (which Arteta clearly doesn’t favour) and with a few tweaks it had the potential to be successful.

Since then Arteta has fielded Elneny at Old Trafford and instructed Alexandre Lacazette to dovetail with Martin Odegaard as double No. 10’s. Any notion of pressing has vanished and in the bid to find a winning solution he’s reverting to old methods.

So long as the method isn’t completely outlandish, then it should be enough.

Play 4-2-3-1. Arteta would be best using the talent in the squad in a way that he wants, but that also doesn’t shackle the players with a whole new set of rules and regulations. Finding a formula that works doesn’t require knocking all the building blocks down and starting all over again with a new plan.

Working within the framework of a system that secured results previously won’t clog the players’ minds. They shouldn’t have to balance Lacazette dropping into right-back with Martinelli shifting infield to stretch the last line of defence for the first time a Goodison Park.

All of these intricate and elaborate approaches are too much. Arteta can show himself to be an effective tactical manager without needing to demonstrate he can coach every system going. Just keep it simple.