Martin Odegaard out for two weeks. Mikel Merino out for the foreseeable. As is Gabriel Jesus. Throw in Declan Rice’s suspension and Mikel Arteta has a headache.
We are basically without our first choice midfield trio. Not a position you want to be in ahead of a double-header away trip to Tottenham and Manchester City. But this should not be an excuse. Mikel Arteta still has options.
A temporary measure, for the Tottenham game at least, could be to go to 4231.
With no Declan Rice, Jorginho was probably already scheduled to come in for Spurs. Personally I would play him alongside Thomas Partey rather than with one of them in a more advanced position.
Jorginho and Partey would provide a solid defensive shield in an away fixture where we might be best conceding possession.
Under Fat Ange, Tottenham like to dominate possession, but struggle to break down teams who defend deep. They are also vulnerable on the counter attack.
A defensive 6 of White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Jorginho and Partey should be more than enough to cope with anything Tottenham might throw at us. And then Jorginho has the passing range to quickly transition the ball from defence into attack.
To fully exploit Tottenham’s vulnerabilities, we then need pace in attack. And pace is not one of Kai Havertz’s strong points. So instead of the German, I would take a risk and play Gabriel Martinelli through the middle.
The Brazilians movement and finishing could prove too much for Tottenham. He will be able to expose left by Tottenham’s defence. Players who are more interested in the glory of goals than the clean sheet.
Then to add extra pace, I would start Raheem Sterling on the left, with Bukayo Saka on the right.
Both Sterling and Saka would find plenty of space in behind Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie.
It will be a basic ploy – win the ball, get it to Jorginho, who can then launch an attack either via the left, the right, or centrally. And there were be plenty of pace for the players to catch up an influence at the other end of the pitch,.
As for Havertz, he would then go deeper, playing in the 10 role behind Martinelli.
This will enable us to still use Havertz’s ariel duel ability, and go longer and higher quickly via David Raya. He would then compete for the high ball, with Martinelli in and around him ready for those flick ons. The old “big man, small man” combination.
Lurking Spurs fans will now be thinking “Arsenal needing to go long ball to compete”. that is not the case. It is simple a tactic that works against them, and a tactic they have used in the past.
How often in the last decade has Harry Kane looked to drop a little deeper to win the aerial challenge and then look to play in Son who has the pace to run clean through and the finishing to grab his team a goal. It was a highly successful tactic and at not point did Spurs fans bemoan long ball football.
Havertz going up for the ball, and either flicking it on to Sterling / Martinelli or Saka. Or Havertz dropping deeper and looking to play a pass around the corner into space for his team mate. It is a tactic which should work time and again against Tottenham.
My predicted team v Tottenham:
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 