Arsenal tactical tweaks needed if Arteta is to get a result at Newcastle
Let’s consider this quickly: If we had won against both Southampton and West Ham, we would still be in second place.
Manchester City have won all 10 of their recent games, which is an impressive feat.
During those 10 games, we have earned 21 points, which is equivalent to a season with 80 points.
Our chances of winning the title always relied on Manchester City losing points. However, they don’t seem to be dropping any. It’s possible that they could end the season with 16 wins out of the last 17 games.
Today’s match is significant, but it’s not exactly breaking news.
Newcastle have only lost once at home this season, to Liverpool. However, due to their many draws at St. James’ Park, they only have the fifth-best home record in the league.
After losing points against Southampton and West Ham, we can’t afford to settle for a draw today. This means we will have to be the aggressors and push hard for a win, which could play into Newcastle’s hands.
When Newcastle adopts a defensive stance and looks to counterattack, they are a formidable team.
They possess a fast, direct, and dynamic attack, featuring players such as Alexander Isak, Joe Willock, Miguel Almiron, Joelinton, and Allan Saint-Maximin.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Saint-Maximin, who is returning from injury, starts the game. He has the ability to exploit the space left by Olexsandr Zinchenko when he drops into the midfield, and cause problems for Manchester City.
While it’s important to be aggressive and aim for an early goal, we must also ensure that we don’t leave ourselves vulnerable at the back.
One of Arteta’s shortcomings this season has been his failure to adapt his tactics to suit the players he has available.
When Saliba sustained his injury, Arteta persisted with the hybrid back four, which left us vulnerable defensively. Gabriel was forced to cover for Holding’s lack of pace on the right, leaving a significant gap on his left, which Zinchenko exploited by continuing his inverted full-back role.
In retrospect, we should have switched to a more conventional flat back four when Saliba was ruled out. This is especially crucial for the upcoming game against Newcastle, given Saliba’s absence and Gabriel’s uncertain availability.
In a traditional back four, Zinchenko could play as a standard full-back alongside White, Holding, and Kiwor.
It remains to be seen whether Thomas Partey will return or if Arteta will persist with Jorginho in midfield. This is something to keep an eye on.
Jorginho performed well in the match against his former club, Chelsea, and he may be better suited for the upcoming game against Newcastle.
If our strategy involves sitting a bit deeper to safeguard the back four, Jorginho’s passing range and composure could prove to be valuable assets. Additionally, with a deeper defence, his lack of pace is less likely to be exposed.
If we fail to secure a win today, our chances of winning the title are effectively over. Nonetheless, we can still take pride in our achievements this season.
Arsenal tactical tweaks needed if Arteta is to get a result at Newcastle
