Arsenal are taking tactical risks that require patience

Arsenal are evolving under Mikel Arteta and the results are cause for optimism, both regards to the current Premier League table as well as the future of the team.

Fans are witnessing an Arsenal side more dominant for longer spells of matches then previously. Capable of imposing themselves for almost the full 90 minutes, the result is a more exciting brand of football on the eye. All the attacking metrics have shot up from last season – especially chances created, for which Arsenal ranked 12th last term.

The reasons for this improvement stem largely from the visible shift to a 4-3-3 shape. Arsenal play with the intention of squeezing their opponents higher up the pitch, winning the ball back with more intensity and occupying threatening territory in the opposing half.

Granit Xhaka’s role has been highlighted numerous times in the system, with the Swiss operating as an advanced No. 8 on the left where he can help the team create overloads with Kieran Tierney and one of Gabriel Martinelli or Emile Smith Rowe. With Thomas Partey as the base there are both options in possession and greater symmetry to attacking patterns of play.

Arsenal are taking tactical risks with their 4-3-3 shape that require patience as the space left in transition is an invitation for opposition sides

But no system is perfect, especially with players who by all accounts aren’t stylistically suited to the role. There are always risks involved.

This of course relates to the spaces left in behind Xhaka if the ball is turned over. It’s not just him though – this relates to Martin Odegaard too – as even the quickest No. 8’s wouldn’t be capable of covering 60 metres of grass behind them in transition; it’s all about finding a balance.

Fans can expect to see much of the same when they travel to Vicarage Road on Sunday to face Watford. A side fighting for their Premier League status don’t pose the same threats in transition as, say, Liverpool would, so it’s important how Arsenal adjust their style against a different calibre of opposition.

Arsenal show little fear, though.

Hosting Manchester City on New Year’s Day and seeing the intent of the team was a primary example of where adjustments aren’t tailored to the opposition willingly. In most cases, the natural dominance of the opposition forced Arsenal into certain positions, with Xhaka simply incapable of leaving Partey’s side. But Arsenal maintained their approach up until the red card.

What might require some patience from supporters is that while this approach does come with more exciting, front-footed attacking football, it does so at the expense of defensive solidity in transitional moments.

Arsenal are much improved off the ball in their block, yet there are occasional shrieks let out when seeing the ball turned over high up the pitch with the spaces left vacated.

At some point there will need to be a balance struck against the opposition until this is gradully improved with each passing week. Elements such as Partey’s positioning, how high the defensive line is and what area of the pitch the full-back occupies will all be fine-tuned over time. When Arsenal do concede a goal in this manner – and it is a case of when, not if – it’s a situation they’ll learn from.

In their current vein of form, the rewards are heavily outweighing the risks. This isn’t Unai Emery disasterball where two passes was all it took for the opposition to transition from their own goal to the other end of the pitch. Arsenal are finding joy in this system and even where there might be chinks in the armour there haven’t been any fatal incidents.

Patience will nonetheless be needed. While it’s a riskier strategy that is yet to bite them in the back, they have to be expected and understood. However, for the time being, barring a couple of moments in the 2-1 win over Wolves where Daniel Podence picked up clever positions, it’s paying dividends.