Wenger's Arsenal: How the Gunners will exploit Liverpool’s 3-5-2 system

In order to maximise his attacking options, Brendan Rodgers has opted to implement a 3-5-2 formation this season following the return of Luis Suarez; it enables his Liverpool side to feature both Suarez and the potent Daniel Sturridge and creates an extremely fluent contraption which is bearing fruit so far in 2013-14.

The results have been clear to see; in the 4-1 dismantling of West Brom on Saturday, Suarez and Sturridge thrived as the latter netted to complement his partner’s hat-trick. The system allows Rodgers to play both of his strikers, a feature that the 4-2-3-1 formation which dominates the Premier League does not possess, and also means that the manager is able to select more of the plethora of centre-backs at his disposal; it is a system which is well-suited to the squad that Rodgers has crafted.

The formation faces arguably its sternest test so far this weekend as Liverpool travel to North London to face Arsenal. Arsene Wenger’s side top the Premier League having not lost since the opening day, and their brand of football is one which could potentially pose a threat to the system which Rodgers has devised.

Arsenal’s attacking threat, in particular down the wings, could take the edge off the momentum which Liverpool have gathered recently; the 4-2-3-1 formation favoured by Wenger means that his side have a lot of width, with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and a potentially returning Theo Walcott able to attack Liverpool in these areas.

Rodgers’ 3-5-2 system means that the protection which would ordinarily be offered by a team’s wingers is absent, leaving the wing-backs more exposed than the full-backs would be in a team with both full-backs and wide midfielders. This is an obvious area of weakness in the Liverpool machine, and therefore it is likely to be Wenger’s first port of call when identifying which parts of the Liverpool anatomy he should attack.

Indeed, in the Gunners’ last league game against Liverpool, Arsenal showed their prowess down the flanks. From the graphic below it is evident that they favour attacking in these areas, and this means that they will not have to adapt too much to be able to overcome Liverpool, should Rodgers retain his 3-5-2.

Arsenal’s Completed Passes v Palace

By combining the pressures exerted by both the wingers and the full-backs, Arsenal could overrun Liverpool in the wide areas and deliver plentiful crosses to an in-form Olivier Giroud. The attacking tendencies of Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs, coupled with the slippery, skilful abilities which the likes of Ozil and Cazorla posses, this could prove to be difficult for the Reds. If Sagna overlaps in the same fashion as against Crystal Palace this weekend, Aly Cissokho may have a torrid time.

The pressure which Arsenal apply in wide areas could also have the added effect of creating more space for their central players against Liverpool’s 3-5-2. By outnumbering the wing-back’s, Wenger’s side will force one of the Reds’ centre-halves to move across to neutralise the threat that has been created. This could open up a huge hole in Liverpool’s defence, which, if not covered by the other defenders, is open for exploitation by players such as Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey or Ozil if he is deployed in the number ten role.

Wenger will hope to stretch Liverpool in the hope that, if the threat out wide is controlled, his side can attack their opponents more centrally. Whilst this may not be the case for the duration of the match, one slip in discipline from the travelling side could give Arsenal the opportunity which they require.

These two areas for exploitation both result from pressure down the flanks. The game could be decided if Arsenal manage to do this, and I’m fairly sure that Arsene Wenger doesn’t need my advice to make sure that his side are instructed in this way!