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Steve

By Steve,
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Vesper

Vesper 29,308

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How Arteta could fit Aubameyang, Lacazette, Willian and Pepe into the same side

https://theathletic.com/2070740/2020/09/18/aubameyang-lacazette-willian-pepe-same-side/

Pepe-Lacazaette-Auba-Willian-same-team-adventurous-Arteta-scaled-e1600351387751-1024x683.jpg

The old adage about not fixing something that isn’t broken feels very apt at Arsenal at the moment. But somewhere in the back — or even front — of Mikel Arteta’s mind must be the temptation to try to add some more creativity to his team. He has settled on a formation that has suited his resources very efficiently, but that has made the traditional No 10 role as peripheral as the man who currently wears the shirt. 

Arsenal could have no complaints with their fluency and chance creation on the opening day of the season. Three goals of great variety — a predator’s finish, a high-class set-piece and a beautiful passing move — demonstrate how Arteta is trying to evolve his team’s style. 

But some circumstances will demand more vision, more imagination, more attacking impetus, more options to unlock a significantly tighter resistance than Fulham were able to muster. The inclusion of something approaching a playmaker meandering between the lines is a useful option to have. That doesn’t look like being Mesut Ozil at the moment but if Arteta feels like playing around with the attackers at his disposal, he could get adventurous to find a way to blend a quartet of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Willian and Nicolas Pepe. 

The Ivorian missed out on the starting line-up of Arsenal’s comfortable opening day win at Fulham. Willian was influential on his debut, involved in all three goals, and Pepe got a run out in place of the new arrival for the final 15 minutes. If Arteta sticks to the current system, with three at the back limiting the number of attacking players, it does look like an either/or when it comes to Willian and Pepe. 

Arteta wants to run Arsenal on a meritocracy — if you train well and play well, you will be selected. He has given players second chances. Dani Ceballos and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are excellent examples. He has no fear of upsetting reputations either. If new signing Willian and record signing Pepe have to compete for a starting place, so be it. But at some point, it has to be worth exploring how it works having both on the pitch at the same time. They are both capable of dribbling, shooting, creating and assisting. Using one in a wide position and one as a deeper-lying playmaker is a tantalising option. 

The inevitable question, then, is how Arteta can formulate a cohesive side that features Lacazette, Aubameyang, Willian and Pepe. The obvious answer is switching to 4-2-3-1 and playing all four attackers. The realistic answer is a little more complex.

Although Arteta has played two different systems — 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 — since taking charge of Arsenal just before the end of 2019, in reality, they’re two different interpretations of the same approach. Arteta’s main intention is fielding a front five in the attacking phase of play — a centre-forward, a player in either channel and a player on either flank.

This works very easily in the 3-4-3. The wide forwards — Aubameyang and Pepe towards the end of last season — cut inside and the wing-backs overlap. A variation was used at times, particularly in the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, with Maitland-Niles coming inside. But Arsenal’s basic 3-4-3 would usually look something like this.

Graphic1.png

With the 4-2-3-1, more compromise is involved — how does a front four become a front five? Well, in Arteta’s early days, it involved an extremely overlapping left-back —usually Bukayo Saka — rampaging forward to allow Aubameyang into an inside-left position. On the opposite side, the right winger (Pepe or Reiss Nelson) would hug the touchline, while the right-back (often Maitland-Niles) would tuck inside into defence or midfield, rather than overlapping.

Article2.png

But that system featured Ozil. On paper, he was playing in his usual No 10 role, although in reality he was permanently located in the inside-right position in Arsenal’s front five. That position would be where Willian could slot in without any problems.

Then, though, the problem becomes Pepe. Although accustomed to playing from the right, Pepe’s improved form in the final months of last season was largely because the change of system allowed him to move inside to occupy that inside-right position.

From there, Pepe’s dangerous left foot became a greater factor, for crossing towards Aubameyang and Lacazette, or shooting at goal. He’s much less dangerous when playing as the permanent right winger in a five-man attack, asked to beat the opposition full-back on the outside.

Besides, it seems clear that just as Aubameyang has thrived from an inside-left position by bending the ball inside the far post with his right foot, Arteta has generally favoured a left-footer in the inside-right channel — Ozil, Pepe and Saka. The right-footed Nelson has also been used there — as was Willian at the weekend. But Arsenal’s attack seems to offer more variety with a left-footer cutting inside and a right-footer on the overlap.

Therefore, if Arteta does field Willian as his No 10 and Pepe from the right, Arsenal might end up with something like the situation below — the two essentially rotating positions on the right, the type of scheme RB Leipzig used in their Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid last month.

graphic3.png

The alternative would be using Willian more permanently wide on the right, going down the outside and crossing, and Pepe in his favoured right-centre role to cut inside and shoot.

Graphic4.png

That’s arguably the best solution, and yet would presumably prove quite controversial, as many would interpret Pepe playing as Arsenal’s No 10 in a 4-2-3-1. For what Arteta wants from Arsenal’s system, though, it might make more sense.

Pepe’s maiden season for Arsenal was challenging. He had to adapt in a team that was under pressure and struggling to express any kind of cohesive plan under Unai Emery. But the improvement as the season went on was clear. His performance was vital in the FA Cup win over Chelsea. Arteta won’t feel he must play merely because of his price tag, but he is right to feel that his second season is a good time to explore his potential. 

Arsenal have experienced plenty of frustrating afternoons against organised opponents who come to the Emirates to sit back. He has more ammunition with the arrival of Willian as well as the improving Pepe. Now it is a case of working out how best to use it. 

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Vesper

Vesper 29,308

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7 minutes ago, Sir Mikel OBE said:

Why the hell is the Bertrand Traore thread closed for replies?

 

Just signed for Aston Villa and is amazingly still only 25. I think he will be quality for them. He has all the tools.

I am sure they will fix it

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kellzfresh

kellzfresh 7,229

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41 minutes ago, Ryan Fong said:

Hames is still quality. Wish Kai can up to this level this season.

Was just about to say this, James is quality. Hopefully Kai can play to that level even if hes on the wing. 

Hopefully Lampard can find good tactical positions for him like Ancelotti. 

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prehuman

prehuman 119

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A great game to start Saturday.
It will be beautiful to see Everton this season.
I missed seeing James, pure class, what a pleasure to see him.
Carlo Ancelotti, the best that has happened to Everton in a long time.

And then there's Leeds.
Another team from which I will not lose a game.

 

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