The start of the season hasn’t been smooth sailing for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, as they grapple to find the delicate balance necessary for success on the pitch. With unconvincing victories in their first two matches and a disappointing draw against 10-man Fulham at home, it’s clear that Arsenal is facing early-season challenges.
In a bid to elevate the team’s performance, Arteta welcomed new signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz into the squad. However, their integration has caused some growing pains, disrupting the previously established cohesion that propelled Arsenal’s title push in the previous season.
Arteta’s tactical approach involves a seemingly straightforward 4-3-3 system on paper. However, it has evolved into a complex structure on the field. Notably, Thomas Partey has been deployed as a right-back, while various center-backs have been shifted to the left-back position. This dynamic sees Partey frequently drifting into midfield to aid in building up the attack, prompting the left-back to shift over, essentially forming a back three.
During possession, this setup transforms Arsenal’s shape into more of a 3-2-5 formation. Unfortunately, the opposing team, in this case, Marco Silva’s Fulham, expertly nullified this strategy at the Emirates stadium. Within just 57 seconds, Andreas Pereira capitalized on a mistake by Bukayo Saka and the space vacated by Partey to secure an early lead for Fulham.
The frontline consisting of Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli struggled to find their rhythm and lacked effectiveness in their pursuit of an equalizer. Their movements seemed to hinder each other, particularly with the wingers constantly cutting inside. Surprisingly, none of the central attackers made runs behind the defense, with each player preferring to receive the ball at the edge of the box, rendering Arsenal’s attacks predictable and playing into Fulham’s hands.
In response, Arteta made crucial halftime adjustments to revert to a more familiar formation. He introduced Oleksandr Zinchenko to replace Partey and shifted Ben White to his favored right-back position. Eddie Nketiah was brought on to add a threat with his runs behind the defense, and Fabio Vieira replaced a lackluster Havertz.
Vieira’s impact was immediate, as he earned a penalty that Saka confidently converted, followed by setting up Nketiah’s goal just minutes later, propelling Arsenal into the lead. Nketiah’s clever play forced Calvin Bassey into a costly mistake, resulting in a red card. Despite this, Joao Palhinha stunned the Emirates by scoring from a corner in the 87th minute, securing an unexpected equalizer for 10-man Fulham.
While Arsenal’s woes have been compounded by Jurrien Timber’s season-ending knee injury, the larger challenge lies in maximizing the potential of a squad reshaped by £150 million worth of new midfield signings.
As the season progresses, Arteta faces the looming challenge of the title race against Manchester City. Failing to find the right balance and cohesiveness in the next few matches could place significant pressure on Arteta’s leadership and the team’s aspirations for the championship. It’s a critical juncture, and the spotlight will be on Arteta’s strategic acumen as he navigates these early hurdles.
Image Source:
Embed from Getty Images
