Premier League 2018-19: 4 ways in which Arsenal can get back to winning ways

Matteo Guendouzi in despair, as Arsenal's unbeaten run comes to an end
Matteo Guendouzi in despair, as Arsenal's unbeaten run comes to an end

With their 22-game unbeaten run coming to an end at the hands of Southampton, Arsenal would have already made plans to make some amends in their tactics, formation and player selection. With their next game coming up against Tottenham at home, it is possibly that they will suffer a second defeat in a row if they play as they did against Southampton, so a change of some kind is necessary.

This was Arsenal's first defeat in four months, and the negatives from the game are in abundance. I am certain Unai Emery and Co will come out strong in their next match, but they would need to identify the right areas to address.

Against Southampton, the Gunners got nowhere close to the level of football they have played against big teams this season. The win against Tottenham, a brilliant show against Liverpool - these were some examples of how lethal this Arsenal side can be. But Southampton took them for a second division team.

We can argue that Arsenal had three of their starting centre-backs sidelined; Holding due to a season-long injury and Mustafi and Sokratis due to suspension. Though Koscielny returned, it was his first Premier League game in seven months, and the coach could not have expected much from him.

The squad and the coaching staff have plenty of points to improve and learn from. Here are four things they can do to get back to winning ways:


#4 Switch to a back four

Southampton FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League
Southampton FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League

Unai Emery shifted to a 3-man defence a couple of weeks back, as the Spaniard wanted to put a stop to conceding goals and also help Bellerin and Kolasinac attack more frequently through the wings.

However, that has not really affected Arsenal's defence much, as they have only managed to keep 1 clean sheet out of the 17 games played.

It is crystal clear that Arsenal are struggling at the defensive aspects of the game, and with Rob Holding sidelined for the rest of the season, they desperately need reinforcements in January.

In the meantime, switching to a four-man defense could help keep disaster at bay, as it would give more solidity by sheer numbers.

#3 Start Lacazette as a sole striker

Southampton FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League
Southampton FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League

Aubameyang's versatility should be used more often. His extraordinary pace helps him get past defenders with ease, and he did pretty well as a left winger before Emery decided to play as a number 9.

However, I feel Lacazette is better when it comes to playing as a sole striker, as his positioning is perfect. Of course, he is not as quick as Aubameyang when it comes to getting behind the defense.

Lacazette has always played better alongside Aubameyang, and they surprisingly share a very good relationship on and off the pitch, despite never having played together before.

If Emery gets back to using a 4 man defence, that would also increase the number of attackers on the pitch. It's true that they could concede a few, but GD won't matter if you can't outscore your opponents and bag all the points in the first place.

#2 Adopt the 4-2-3-1 attacking formation

Southampton FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League
Southampton FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League

Arsenal started off their league games with this formation, and they were getting the results. However, against Bournemouth a couple of weeks back, Emery decided to play a 3-man defence.

Though Arsenal did well in that game, with the likes of Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin getting plenty of space to attack, they only managed a 2-1 victory away from home.

Since then, Emery has preferred the 3-4-3 formation over the 4-man defence. Though Arsenal play with nearly 5 defenders on the pitch, they have still conceded plenty of goals, making their goal difference 14 the worst among the top 5.

The 4-2-3-1 formation helps the manager deploy more attackers on the pitch, especially in the midfield. Granit Xhaka alongside Torreira play the double-pivot role very efficiently, and this gives the forwards the freedom to attack more frequently.

Ozil as a number 10, Aubameyang on the left and Mkhitaryan on the right wing in a 4-2-3-1 is the best formation possible for the Gunners.

#1 Give Ozil more minutes on the pitch

Southampton FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League
Southampton FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League

From being the best player for Arsenal to becoming a bench-warmer for the same, Mesut Ozil has failed to impress his new boss Unai Emery. Ozil was probably the only player under Arsene Wenger who never had a quality replacement on the bench that could provide him with some competition, but that has changed drastically under Emery.

Ozil is struggling to get minutes under Emery. The reasons for that are not yet clear, but he is still a world-class playmaker who can dictate the game when he's having a good day.

It is very likely that Ozil will start against Tottenham on Wednesday in the EFL Cup draw, and he must, for the following reasons.

Except for Mkhitaryan, there is no player who can do the job of a playmaker. And unfortunately, Mkhitaryan has been out of form for a significant part of this season. This leaves Arsenal with no creativity whatsoever in the middle of the park, costing them vital points.

Ozil creates better than anyone, as his vision and accuracy are second to none. Though he is a bit inconsistent, he still performs when he is asked to.

This Wednesday, Ozil should start as a number 10 behind Lacazette, with Iwobi and Mkhitaryan on the wings. At HT, get in Ramsey and Aubameyang for Iwobi and Mkhitaryan, and the game can be won.

Quick Links

Edited by Musab Abid