Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged Mikel Arteta to tweak his formation ahead of the upcoming north London derby and believes reintroducing a No.10 could help end Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s recent struggles.
The Gunners take on top-of-the-table Tottenham on Sunday having failed to win their last three Premier League outings, while captain Aubameyang has not scored from open play since the opening day of the season.
On Thursday night in the Europa League, Arteta gave Alexandre Lacazette a run out playing in the No.10 role and Keown believes it should be trialled in the league too in an effort to reignite Aubameyang’s form.
‘Last week against Wolves — who after three years of using a back three have now abandoned that system — Arsenal lost 2-1,’ explained Keown in his column for the Daily Mail.
‘They came up against an opponent who used, in the shape of Daniel Podence, a deep-lying No 10 with three players in front of him in a 4-2-1-3 formation.
‘Arsenal found that so much of a problem that it looks like Arteta copied that system in their 4-1 defeat of Rapid Vienna on Thursday, playing Alexandre Lacazette in the very same role Podence played.
‘In the opening exchanges Lacazette scored a wonder goal from distance and was feeding willing runners either side of him in Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson, with Eddie Nketiah in front. It made them much more dangerous.
‘I am confident this system would make Arsenal more creative against Premier League opponents too. With three up top and one supporting, that will create more chances for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has found himself starved of service.
‘A change of system could revitalise Aubameyang. He and Lacazette love playing together and the Frenchman being deployed from deep could rejuvenate that partnership.
‘It’s well-known now that Harry Kane drops deep and makes life difficult for opponents. He operates between the defence and midfield, making himself hard to pick up. Lacazette in that deep role could work well.’
MORE : Arsenal star Granit Xhaka’s defending mocked by Wolves with savage TikTok video
Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
0 Commentaires