Arsenal: 4 benefits of 4-3-3 tactical shift under Arteta

Arsenal are evolving. It’s often spoken about how teams go through transitions, much like Arsene Wenger’s shift to a more diminutive group of technical accomplished midfielders and forwards in the mid 2000’s, and the current side is undergoing its own transformation.

Mikel Arteta has had Arsenal operating in a wealth of manners throughout his tenure. Taught in the Pep Guardiola school of juego de posicion, however, his long-term vision has always been with an eye on sculpting his version of the 4-3-3.

From the early back three/five days to the 4-2-3-1 system, he’s moulded his team depending on the options at his disposal. It hasn’t always worked. In truth, he’s struggled to ingrain his desired style of play on his players.

Still not in any way perfect, the development in style over the past few months has been the closest to his preferred 4-3-3 model since he took the job back in December 2019.

Arsenal: 4 benefits of the 4-3-3 tactical change under Mikel Arteta this season with Xhaka and Odegaard playing as No. 8’s in front of Partey

Noticeable across the second half of the Premier League season, including recently against Brentford, the double pivot has been gradually moved away from in favour of duel No. 8’s either side of a more traditional No. 6.

Earlier in the season he attempted this, with mixed results. One standout occasion was the 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace in which the Eagles succeeded in carving their way through Arsenal centrally, dominating transitions and scoring goals at the end of them.

But this group of players are learning. They’re developing. The 4-3-3 has flaws, like all systems do without highly trained and experienced personnel, just as it has undoubted benefits, too.

With it appearing as if it is here to stay – it won’t be as evident in all matches, granted – four particular positives spring to mind when dissecting its usage with the current crop of Arsenal players.

1. Numerical Strength in Wide Areas

When you have a central pivot tasked with primarily controlling the deeper spaces, it releases both of the other midfielders further forward to help with ball retention and creation.

In its current guise, in possession Thomas Partey sits deep with Granit Xhaka to his left and Martin Odegaard to his right, both acting as No. 8’s, albeit with differing remits.

But the base reason remains the same: Arsenal can build triangles on either side of the pitch, forcing 3v3 situations in most cases. Using Brentford as the most recent example, Xhaka, Tierney and Smith Rowe would branch off into their own troupe on the left, with Saka, Cedric and Odegaard doing likewise on the right.

In positional play there is great emphasis on flooding one side of the pitch, drawing the opposition in, before shifting the ball across the pitch where spaces open up on the opposite flank. What is additionally beneficial of matching the opponent on either flank is it frees up players to take defenders on without being numerically disadvantaged.

Saka is a fine example of someone who demands the opponents’ attention, with teams often seeking to double if not triple up on him to minimise his threat. The way Arsenal play now allows the collective numbers to present more frequent opportunities for individual brilliance to shine. These trios of players either side have an outstanding quality of forward, and their high quality of small space passing play is a threat to any opposing team.

One need only see the blossoming relationship between Saka and Odegaard as an example of its effectiveness.

Continued on next page…