Mikel Arteta has made slight modifications to his Arsenal system in this new season following a more than £200 million summer transfer splurge. The Arsenal manager has tried to enhance and evolve his team’s structure. Even the key fundamental players and the majority of the players are the same as they were the previous season. Seven points from three games is a strong start to the new season. However there are concerns among the supporters that Arsenal is not yet agile and inventive as they were for the majority of the last season. Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Fulham on Saturday, in which they gave up two cheap goals, was a significant setback.
A new defensive backline in Arsenal’s new system
Following Oleksandr Zinchenko’s transfer from Manchester City last season, Arsenal typically used a system where the left-back dropped into midfield whenever Arteta’s team had possession of the ball. Ben White, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhaes gave Zinchenko a defensive foundation to stand on, enabling him to do so.
Zinchenko hasn’t been fit enough to play right away so far this season. As a result, Arteta chose to change the approach and requested Thomas Partey to play the “Zinchenko role” from the right side, sneaking in behind recent addition Declan Rice.
Saliba and Gabriel typically sat in the middle of the pitch as a defensive two during the previous season. But now Saliba is virtually operating as Arsenal’s sole defender in certain situations this season whenever Partey advances to join the midfield. The left-back plays wide on the left side while White is still occasionally pushing down the right wing. Thus, defense looks weaker in the absence of Gabriel. For instance when Bukayo Saka lost the ball cheaply last match, Andreas Pereira exploited the large gap in the centre of the Arsenal defence to score the goal.
Arrival of Havertz as Xhaka moved out this summer
Granit Xhaka who was sold to Bayer Leverkusen this summer. In the exact same position that Granit Xhaka played last season, on the left side of the midfield, Kai Havertz, Arsenal’s £65 million acquisition from Chelsea, has appeared in each of the team’s first three Premier League games. However Havertz and Xhaka has entirely different playstyles. Havertz has always played as a forward. But Xhaka spent the majority of his career as a defensive midfielder before being moved farther forward last season. It is a brave and attack-minded approach by Arteta to replace Xhaka with Havertz. Although Havertz lacks expertise on the defensive abilities, he is good in launching attacks. The German is theoretically much more at ease penetrating the box as well as delivering the ball between the defensive lines in the final third.
Lack of experienced stars in Left side of the pitch
Arsenal’s left-flank was vital to their attack last season. On that side of the ball, Arsenal possessed a great blend of speed and control thanks to Zinchenko fascinating plays, Xhaka dashing runs between the boxes, and Gabriel Martinelli outclassing the rival right-backs.
Arsenal’s need to use an alternative left-back in each of their three games so far has not improved the chemistry on the left side of the field. Jurrien Timber, a recent acquisition, began the game against Nottingham Forest but has since sustained a major knee injury. Takehiro Tomiyasu entered the game against Crystal Palace but received a red card. On Saturday, Arteta deployed Jakub Kiwior there. Undoubtedly, it is hoped that Zinchenko’s return to fitness will be the deciding factor. Last season, the Ukraine international aided Xhaka and Martinelli’s playstyle. Thus Arteta will undoubtedly think he can do the same with Havertz.
The left side hasn’t been working so well this year. Havertz’s entry has altered the situation, and he is not yet operating at Martinelli’s level. Both players were trying to run into each other’s areas at different times, while at other occasions, passes have not been placed where either player desired. However Arsenal was a different team when Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira arrived to the left flank against Fulham. Arsenal scored both of their goals from that side. Zinchenko’s brilliant forward play restricted Fulham for the majority of the second half. The Arsenal coaching staff holds “unit meetings” at the team’s training facility. Arteta is ensuring that the left side of the team works together to develop a shared understanding.
Follow us on Twitter to get regular football updates.
