Mikel Arteta has already made key Arsenal tactical change for Man Utd clash

Mikel Arteta has just days remaining to prepare his Arsenal side for their match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The club might have a tough start on paper, but if they secure a strong tally of points from their first six games, they would have set themselves up perfectly for a run at the Premier League title.

One of the major concerns going into the season has surrounded the left flank. There are still hopes that Arsenal might yet re-enter the market and find an upgrade to the existing players in the roles.

Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have been scrutinised and questions over their form, consistency, and impact have been inescapable. Should one depart, it would open the door to a move.

However, there is a strong argument that the issues on Arsenal’s left-side are not just related to personnel. Ahead of the 3-0 win over Athletic Club, football.londondiscussed the idea of a tactical tweak which could help unlock the left and balance the attack.

The idea of moving from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 and operating instead with a double pivot of Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice was posited. During the win over the Basque side, it was evident that Zubimendi was pushing forwards out of the number six position and seeing Rice dip in instead.

This moved Martin Odegaard over more centrally, and it was little surprise that one of his passes found a running Martinelli, who would set up Bukayo Saka for the chance. It was evidence that Arteta has indeed begun to evolve the midfield structure ahead of the new season.

There were even moments when Zubimendi and Rice swapped sides, meaning the creative Spaniard was helping to provide support to the left, and this was a real benefit. It added a layer of unpredictability to the Arsenal attacks that the Gunners have lacked so much of.

We have seen very little of Arsenal’s best starting XI this pre-season. The win on Saturday gave us the best look at what the team might look like, but there are still some questions over a couple of roles.

However, the movement of Zubimendi and Rice was telling, and as a result, the left flank became far more dangerous. Noni Madueke came off the bench and was regularly involved, crossing for Viktor Gyokeres for a big chance, which hit the post and would have been his second of the game.

When Arsenal do arrive in Manchester on Sunday, it will be very intriguing if these tactical tweaks bear success for Mikel Arteta. If they do, his side might have just found the next gear to take them to the highest of heights.

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