Arteta's Arsenal keeps evolving

Mikel Arteta has reinvented Arsenal multiple times since taking over in 2019. He won the FA Cup with a defensive back five, then shifted to free-flowing attack before creating a controlled, physically dominant side that…

New freedom brings new risks

Having won the Premier League, Arteta is taking more tactical gambles with personnel and formations. This increased appetite for risk means Arsenal's wins can be greater, but so can their losses.

Brighton exposed the new system

Arsenal lost 3-0 to Brighton before the international break. Fabian Hurzeler masterminded the dominant victory, defiantly opting against a pragmatic approach. The loss left uncertainty despite Arsenal winning every game before it this season.

“Brighton were really good”

Arsenal's new 3-1-6 shape explained

This season Arsenal use a 3-1-6 formation in possession. Declan Rice drops deep to form a back three with Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes. Myles Lewis-Skelly plays as the single pivot, linking defence and attack.

Dynamic defenders create overloads

Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Martin Odegaard drop deep to become a fifth player at Arsenal's base, creating a 3-2 or 4-1 shape.

Rice's strengths maximised in new role

Declan Rice possesses world-class passing and carrying ability. Facing forward with more time and space, using him in the back three maximises his strengths and minimises time spent in small spaces with his back to…

Lewis-Skelly thrives in pivot role

Myles Lewis-Skelly has made the link position his own through calmness under pressure, hold-up strength, one-v-one dribbling ability and willingness to take risks.

Brighton's press exposed the weakness

Arsenal struggled against Brighton partly because Bruno Guimaraes played the holding midfield position instead of Lewis-Skelly.Hurzeler drilled Brighton to play with high intensity both on and off the ball, creating a difficult challenge for Guimaraes.

Brighton's pressure forced poor decisions

Brighton's man-to-man press meant Arsenal hesitated on the ball, forcing decisions they normally would not make.Arteta said: You could see from the first throw-in, it was so clear.

“You could see from the first throw-in, it was so clear. We put ourselves in trouble one, two, three times.”

Arsenal lost the physical battle

After playing looser passes, Arsenal, known for their duelling, were beaten by Brighton who swarmed around the ball. Brighton's right-back made a long sprint to win the second ball with three players converging on it.

Brighton switched between defensive shapes

When pushed deeper, Brighton switched from a zonal defensive shape into a man-to-man press, an effective solution that put Arsenal under pressure throughout the match and prevented them from finding an unmarked player.

Brighton created an unfamiliar game

Brighton prevailed because they created a game that was unfamiliar and unpredictable.Arsenal could not create the conditions they like to play out of.This is how to challenge Arsenal, but Arteta will work to find solutions.

Arteta solved City's FA Cup tactic

In last season's FA Cup final, Pep Guardiola's zonal 4-2-4 shape caught Arsenal out.City's new boss Enzo Maresca redeployed it in the Community Shield this season, but Arsenal had numerous solutions after time to prepare.

Arsenal's asymmetrical right-side play

This season Arsenal encourage more asymmetrical and fluid play down their right. Kai Havertz moves to the right touchline, Ben White arrives high from right-back, Bukayo Saka plays wing or centre, and Rice and Odegaard…

Overloads create space and goals

Arsenal overload one side of the pitch with their right-back, holding midfielder, number ten and right winger supporting Kai Havertz.This fluidity and numerical advantage has given Arsenal new answers to the low-block problem this season.

Reinvention carries risks but is necessary

Arteta is willing to move away from what worked well in previous seasons to pursue new solutions and outrun a league narrowing the gap.

Arsenal host Leeds on Saturday

Arteta's response to Brighton starts when Arsenal host Leeds on Saturday at twelve thirty BST. His track record suggests he will likely find ways to minimise the effectiveness of a man-to-man press against his side.