Three at the back is our formation on paper but we only use it when we don’t have the ball. For the majority of the game Arsenal does not play three at the back. We normally switch between formations during games from build up to attack. Players get back into their positions quickly when we lose the ball and they do the same as soon as we win it back. Its something that Arteta and his team have been working on for a while and is process that will take time for the players to get used to.

There’s no surprise that our defensive structure has improve since we start playing this way. This is part of Arteta’s defensive revolution at Arsenal. As things stand, we conceded the least goals in the Premier League and kept 5/12 clean sheets in all competition.

In defense: 3-4-3

Gabriel move centrally and Tierney drops back. Saka defend as a wing-back.

Build up: 4-3-3

Saka tucks in as a inverted left midfielder and Aubameyang stay ahead of him to make run ins as the second striker.

In possession/attack: 4-4-2/4-4-1-1

Aubameyang joins Lacazette up front. Saka plays as a winger and Tierney as a full-back. Lacazette also drops deeper allowing Aubameyang to play as a central striker ahead of him.

Switching between these positions is mainly the job of the left side players. The right side players and the midfield don’t have much license to switch around positions, unless they are covering for one another. This allow the team to have a balance on one side and creating overloads on the other. This is one of the reasons why we create more chances on the left. Oppositions find it hard to track us and is also the reason Arteta continues to play Aubameyang wide left so that he act as a second striker when we attack.