Arsenal: 3 ways to play Saka, Martinelli, Odegaard & Smith Rowe

Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 18, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images) /

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CASTELLON, SPAIN – APRIL 29: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal v Arsenal at the Estadio de la Ceramica on April 29, 2021 in Castellon Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

2. Emile Smith Rowe as a False Nine

PTSD is kicking in.

Everyone is familiar with this approach, just as they are familiar with how appallingly it failed in the first leg of the Gunners’ Europa League semi-final defeat to Villarreal. Arteta went full galaxy brain meme with this ploy, and it back-fired horrendously: Smith Rowe was lost at sea against the Yellow Submarine and didn’t have the physicality to dominate that central zone.

But Arteta loves Pep Guardiola. He loves his approach to football and there have been enough indications that he will attempt to mould his Arsenal side into a mini-Man City when he gets the chance.

On paper, there is method to this madness, and initial examinations hint that it wouldn’t require a major tactical reshuffle. Recently we’ve seen Xhaka operate more as a left-sided No. 8 with Partey as the sitting midfielder, and in playing Smith Rowe up front in place of Lacazette it might not be all that different to what we’re seeing now. A midfield diamond would emerge, not too dissimilar from what Liverpool do.

Smith Rowe will still press and counter-press, with the occasional freedom to venture into the box a la the 30-year-old, and it opens up avenues for the front four to interchange more than they do now.

It’s all about combination play, something that is improving immeasurably lately, and Smith Rowe being played central offers the option to switch out into wide areas which Lacazette can’t do as efficiently. This wouldn’t click into place overnight, though. Some of Smith Rowe’s best play comes when he’s got grass to run into and playing with his back to goal more could limit his skillset.

But maybe Arteta foresees a future without an atypical No. 9; more forwards who can drop off, press, score and create. It has been and still is an intriguing development to consider in this team.

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