Should we revert to a back three for the game against the Spurs?
The gunners are gearing up to participate in the first North London derby of the new campaign, this also representing the second huge test of our title credentials after the game against Aston Villa. We passed that one with flying colors and will be hoping for more or less of the same when we make the short trip to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
The club will be boosted by Arteta putting pen to paper on a new deal recently even if we’ll be making that short journey in less than ideal circumstances. Circumstances caused by the absence of key players especially in the middle of the park, indeed we’ll be without the ever reliable Declan Rice through suspension, and our very own Maestro & skipper Martin Odegaard through injury for the huge clash on Sunday. Add to that the injury to Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori over the international break then a little tinkering might be needed from Mikel Arteta for us to get the win.
One way in which he could adjust the team to cope with Tottenham’s high press while simultaneously exploiting their highline would be to revert to a back three, a switch that has brought him success before during the Fa Cup win in 2020 where we shored things up at the back before using our pace and directness to cause havoc on the counter.
Taking into account that we’ll be losing our best presser in Odegaard and our midfield engine in Declan Rice, then it would be a good idea for Mikel Arteta to go with a back three with more conservative wing back so that we can cover for the aging legs of potential starters Jorginho and Thomas Partey.
Along with helping us defensively, going with a back three will also help us to cope without a central creative force in the squad by allowing us to play direct and on the transition when needed given the large space Spurs will leave in behind due to their highline. It could be a quick fix for just a game until Rice is back though.
However I know that Mikel Arteta can be sometimes adamant and stubborn about not changing his philosophy but he should adapt to the circumstances and try something which has served him well in the pass before.
Should Arteta go back to a back three for the game against Spurs?
KENNETH BENJAMIN.
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yah to me i was thinking arteta to use a back three of saliba,gabriel and calafior/timber.then afront three of saka,trosaard an sterling.
No
We always use three defenders when we have the ball, with White, Saliba and Magalhaes in the back
Our LB tends to invert into the defensive midfield area, to form 3-2-4-1 formation
Our formation changes to 4-1-4-1 when we don’t have the ball and this has been giving us more balance in midfield/ back lines when we’re defending
We beat Conte’s 3-4-2-1 formation several times using Arteta’s dynamic formation, because we outnumber Conte’s midfielders
Having a back three is not changing anything at all.As gotanidea already said,we always play with a back three during certain phases of the game. Since this season began,we’ve been mostly using a back three of White,Saliba and Gabriel to build play from the back. Timber has been slotting in midfield alongside Partey,making a double pivot.
It is when we don’t have the ball that we revert to a back four,playing a 442 formation with Havertz and Odegaard leading the press.
Arterta’s system changes shape so many times within a game you have to be keen to keep track of it. I remember him saying he used 43 formations against City – this sounds like hyperbole but the point is that we play with fluid tactics that keep changing during a game.
Another formation I’ve noticed this season is Partey dropping between the CBs ,pushing them wide which pushes the fullbacks further forward. This is intended to increase the numbers in the forward areas and get our wingers closer to goal.
Arsenal is one of the most tactically fluid teams in the league. We can have a 3-4-3, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 2-3-5, 3-2-2-3, etc all within the same match to try and counter the opponents’ tactics and find solutions against stubborn defences. There are podcasts that explain tactics which may not be obvious to us fans. Those interested should check them out.
Defo not a back three for me, we need a solid back four with the fullbacks to be instructed to mainly do their defensive jobs which is to stay wide (not invert) to cover spurs’ dangerous wide players which is where their main threat comes from.
Admin, it seems every time I post and then go back in my post has disappeared, even the completely non controversial remarks I occasionally make ☹️
Hi GB.
None of your comments have been moderated lately. I see you made 2 posts today and 5 yesterday without probs mate
Same for me
I had to shut down iPhone last night then All the comments reappeared when I came back on JA .
Gremlins, happened to me once, recently.
zero chance Arteta changing Arsenal formation and system
and especially not changing the defence in PL
this not panic stations time, if anything stability gives Arsenal the best chance of success
expect Arteta to make the forced changes only, Nwaneri coming in and Havertz dropping back with Jesus coming in up top, otherwise unchanged
sends a message of confidence and stability internally and externally