Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has three simple solutions to solve the problems his team have faced so far this season. Gary Neville has hit the nail on the head as to why the Gunners are not playing at the levels they reached at this point 12 months ago.
Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal should have won against Fulham.
Arsenal are unbeaten following their first three Premier League matches of the season. But Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Fulham has raised question marks over the changes Arteta has made, particularly in defence.
Thomas Partey again began the match at right-back, while Gabriel started on the bench for a third successive game. Kai Havertz continued in his left-sided central midfield role but drew criticism from supporters and pundits for his performance.
Arsenal won their first two matches against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace but neither performance was convincing. Arteta got away with his tweaking when his team were winning but further questions have been raised since the weekend.
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Manchester United legend Neville has called for Arteta to return to basics ahead of this Sunday’s match at home to his former side. He said on his podcast: “Next week, I’d expect them to go back to something that resembles the team that played last season and get back to those basics of what they are – which is a 4-3-3 team.”
The first of three simple changes Arteta needs to make is to put Partey back into midfield. The Ghanaian has played at right-back before but doesn’t look as comfortable inverting as Oleksandr Zinchenko often does on the opposite side.
Partey was also a standout player in the midfield for the majority of last season and needs to return to that role, despite the arrival of Declan Rice. Arteta must also bring Gabriel back in from the wilderness.
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Why the Brazilian hasn’t started this season is beyond most Arsenal fans. He was the most consistent performer at the back last term and had a strong partnership with William Saliba.
Both Ben White and Saliba should shift one position to the right, to allow Gabriel to come in at left-sided centre-back. Zinchenko has also had two cameo performances off the bench so is nearing full fitness after missing all of pre-season due to injury.
He is the third simple change Arteta must make to return to the back four that excelled for so much of last season. If Partey moves into midfield that would likely see Kai Havertz left out of the side, with Rice operating as a No 8.
Arteta now has Gabriel Jesus back fit so he will naturally return to the starting XI once he is up to full speed. Arsenal have been at their best when the starting XI has been settled and Arteta must find that consistency again.
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