Arsenal’s Past and Present Informs the Squad Overhaul
Noah Eliot
Arsenal ended the 2020–21 season playing in a 4–2–3–1 that served them well as performances improved after Christmas with the more permanent move away from the 3–4–3 system and the introduction of younger players in the starting XI. Despite some easier games in that period of the Premier League season, the wider structure began to prove its burgeoning effectiveness. From this template it will be interesting to see how it evolves with the squad overhaul that seems to be on the cards before the 2021–22 season kicks off. One of the areas that seems to have been prioritized is RCB despite the many centre backs Arsenal already have on the books. Another area of interest is an addition to the creative ranks at Arsenal, with many of the players already linked seeming to favour playing in the right half-space or being right footed. This may spark some concern because of how signings in these areas may displace players such as Nicolas Pepe and William Saliba. However, the specifications that Arsenal’s 4–2–3–1 at the end of the past season may allow for greater inclusivity than many think. It seems a more measured look at how Arsenal’s system may work or evolve if the players that are currently linked with were to join the squad.
The way Arsenal used the 4–2–3–1 system often resembled a classic 3–2–5 from the old W-M days of Herbert Chapman, that has also seen elements of it utilized to great success by Pep Guardiola in recent years. Those years included the years Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta served as his assistant manager. The lineup in Arsenal’s last few league games took up the 3–2–5 shape as the right back tucked inside, with the left back pushing up to overlap wide as the left winger moved inside. This initial movement set off a final initial chain reaction in the formation, with the central attacking midfielder moving into the right half space and the right winger holding the width on the right. Intriguingly, Calum Chambers’ reintroduction at right back seemed to have solidified this approach. He offered both the ability to hold the central position as an inverted right back and also the ability to overlap to deliver balls into the box when the moment required it. The setup also seemed to set up both Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney to spearhead Arsenal’s attacks, as it allows greater space and defensive cover which allows them both to get forward and create chances. It also allows Saka to make great use of his two-footedness by taking up wider positions to run at opposition defenders or cut in to set up shots and passes off of his favoured left-foot.
The requirements of this system, or a similar 4–3–3 system that could morph also into the same 3–2–5 shape, may inform who Arsenal look to target in the transfer window. At right back it seems like the template has more to do with the flexibility of Chambers, as predominantly overlapping right backs such as Cedric Soares and Hector Bellerin fell out of regular selection near the end of the season. Ben White for example played in a back three at Brighton, even playing some games as a right back and as a midfielder. Could he play in Calum Chambers’ position in a back four of Tierney-Gabriel-Saliba-White that turns into a back 3 in attack. Chambers would still have plenty of scope for inclusion given the skill he has shown on the overlap. This would allow you to play Saliba, but not necessarily every week at just 20 years-old, and Chambers could provide alternative qualities when chasing a game or when setting up to dominate weaker opposition again. This also seems to fit with the right sided bias (even Marin Odegaard who is left footed preferred to play in the right half space) of the targets Arsenal seem to have for the attacking midfielder position. Furthermore, it could mean Emile Smith-Rowe and Nicolas Pepe take up the left winger who moves into the left half space. Smith-Rowe seemed to warm to the left-wing role after a strong introduction as the number 10. Furthermore, Pepe could be valuable in this system as he can play on either wing and seemed to find some joy on the left where he was able to balance his left footed-bias with the development his right foot. I think when looking at the way Arsenal played to end last season and how it relates to both the work Mikel Arteta did under Pep Guardiola and the success the club had in the Premier League under that system may help us understand how some of the current targets may fit in at Arsenal. It also may allow us to being to make greater sense of where the squad is going given its size and state of flux.
