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.

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2. Thomas Partey Can Dictate Play and Add Balance

Back when chances were at a premium and Arsenal looked devoid of idesa going forward, the amount of emphasis on Xhaka funneling the ball out to Tierney to whip a cross into the box was deeply concerning.

Tierney possesses a wicked delivery from wide areas, but the whole ploy was predictable and, for the most part, aimless, given the lack of aerial threat from any of the Gunners’ attacking options.

Xhaka does what Xhaka does best: progress the ball from deep into those left spaces. He is very one dimensional and one-footed, and as effective as he is in moving the ball in that manner it was always readable from the opposition’s point of view.

Moving him further up the field puts more emphasis on Partey to be the deep creator. This is what Arsenal want. The Ghanaian sitting in that No. 6 role has the agility to turn his man, the vision to look both ways and the speed of thought to vary his distribution. It results in Arsenal attacking both sides of the pitch with much less bias, as he often receives possession with two No. 8’s in view for a pass.

The pitch opens up for him. Going sideways is less of an option anymore, unless lanes are blocked and he shifts the ball out to one of the full-backs as Arsenal practically line up in a 2-3-2-3 shape in possession. Everything moves quicker in this system and, crucially, isn’t as heavily reliant on one point of attack.

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3. Granit Xhaka’s Engine & Positioning Put to Use

Is this…good? Everything about Xhaka the player suggests having him higher up the pitch is a danger: he turns sluggishly, is slow in transitioning back to goal and doesn’t boast the technical craft to weave past a challenge around the opposition box.

What he does have, however, is an incredible engine. The only time this season, and arguably in many of his previous campaigns, where he looked even remotely tired was in the 2-1 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park: a game where he was thrust straight into the starting lineup despite having just spent two and a half months in the treatment room with a serious knee injury.

He still completed the 90 minutes.

Now seen pressing higher, he also cuts off passing lanes sharply in those advanced zones. He’s still slow, of course, but he’s an aggressive counter-presser. It’s a quite remarkable shift in role for him on account of all the reasons why it shouldn’t work, but Arteta has unwavering trust in the Swiss to cover the spaces and defend running back to goal. For now, it’s working.

One of the best traits of Xhaka is that he never shies away from the ball. Ever. Hate him or love for any multitude of reasons, he will always show for a pass in any situation, for better or for worse. Having him play on the angle more advanced than Partey means there is always the option for the Ghanaian when he’s in possession in deeper areas.

Everyone is aware how adept Xhaka is in progressing the play and when he does pick up the ball he’s those few yards closer to goal to make it count.

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4. Arsenal’s Summer Transfer Window Targets Are Clear

The summer is the time to invest. It’s time to attack the market and really lift the level of this team in the areas where it can be improved upon.

That absolutely, unequivocally, includes Xhaka, despite the positive usage of him in the current system. Because no matter how well he is doing as a No. 8, Arsenal need someone who can travel with the ball as well as pass it. That little bit of technical craft and adventure is waiting to be signed.

Lacazette isn’t offering the presence, or indeed fitness, that Arsenal urgently need at centre-forward and this defined style of play will make it easier to narrow down the targets that can elevate Arsenal to a new level.

It’s painstakingly obvious where the gaps are.

The current system is helping Arsenal see that. Operating in this 4-3-3 shape has provided crystal clear clarity on what it is that this team needs to go up another level. As well as the obvious upgrade at centre-forward, what Xhaka is doing can be done with additional bells and whistles by that new and shiny player everyone is pining for. A starter in that position, as well as a backup, is on the agenda since it’s apparent that Sambi is being viewed as Partey’s long-term successor.

We know what we need in the summer.