Brighton’s Tactical Revolution: How the 3-5-1-1 Formation Led to Victories Over Arsenal and Tottenham
Brighton & Hove Albion have enjoyed an impressive resurgence, overcoming a challenging start to the year by outsmarting two of London’s top clubs on consecutive weekends. Under Graham Potter’s guidance, the Seagulls displayed remarkable tactical flexibility, using an inventive 3-5-1-1 formation to claim back-to-back victories over Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur—two sides vying for Champions League places. Let’s break down how Brighton’s unusual setup and key adjustments fueled their recent successes.
Brighton’s Strategic Approach: The Fundamentals of the 3-5-1-1
Central to Brighton’s recent run has been Potter’s willingness to adapt both personnel and tactics. Against Arsenal and Spurs, the manager selected lineups without a traditional striker, instead using attacking midfielders and mobile wing-backs to create overloads and disrupt the opposition’s rhythm. This structure not only masked any weaknesses in attack but also maximized Brighton’s strength in midfield depth and defensive versatility.
The 3-5-1-1 featured:
– Three central defenders for defensive stability
– Dynamic wing-backs pushing forward during attack and retreating to form a back five in defense
– A packed midfield to control possession and limit opposition creativity
– A roaming central playmaker operating “between the lines,” providing both creativity and defensive cover
How Brighton Outplayed Arsenal: Formations and Attacking Strategies
Brighton’s away win at Arsenal highlighted the effectiveness of their flexible formation. With Moises Caicedo making his debut and Enock Mwepu and Alexis Mac Allister deployed as advanced midfielders, the team controlled the half-spaces and exploited Arsenal’s numerical inferiority in the center.
Key tactics included:
– High pressing from the wing-backs, who pushed up when out of possession to disrupt Arsenal’s build-up
– Midfield overloads, making it difficult for Arsenal’s lone pivot, Albert Sambi Lokonga, to dictate play
– Quick, direct passes into the flanks, allowing Trossard and Mwepu to exploit wide areas and stretch the defense
– Utilization of cut-backs from the edge of the area, with late-arriving midfielders targeting prime shooting positions
Brighton’s first goal came as Mwepu advanced into the channel and delivered a perfect pass for Trossard to finish. The second was the product of a well-timed run by Mwepu, guided by Caicedo’s awareness, to slot home from a clever pull-back.
Defensively, Brighton frequently morphed into a 3-2-4-1 shape, with midfielders stepping up to limit access for Arsenal playmakers Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe. The compactness across all lines forced Arsenal wide and cut off supply routes to their forwards.
Late in the contest, as Arsenal pressed for an equalizer, Brighton shifted to a 4-5-1, bringing on Tariq Lamptey to provide additional coverage and secure the result.
Neutralizing Tottenham: Defensive Solidity and Pressing Triggers
A week later, Brighton faced Tottenham Hotspur using the same base formation but with nuanced adjustments tailored to Spurs’ threats. The Seagulls key defensive plan involved going man-to-man against Tottenham’s front three—Dejan Kulusevski, Harry Kane, and Heung-Min Son.
Key adaptations included:
– Each center-back assigning themselves to one Tottenham attacker, denying them time and space
– Wing-backs sitting deeper, forming a resolute back five to obstruct wide attacks and overlap attempts
– Midfielders Mwepu and Caicedo pressing Tottenham’s outside center-backs on their first touch
– Yves Bissouma shifting horizontally to break up Son’s angled runs
During high pressing phases, Brighton transitioned into a 5-1-3-1, with Pascal Groß anchoring midfield and McAllister exerting pressure on the first line. The tactical discipline prevented Tottenham from building central attacks or finding runners in behind, especially given the aerial prowess of Lewis Dunk and the sweeping of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Offensively, Brighton’s shape adapted into a 3-4-2-1, with Groß and Bissouma sitting deep and Mwepu supporting McAllister in advanced spaces. On the left, Marc Cucurella and Trossard combined frequently, helping Brighton overload that flank. Persistence paid off, as Trossard scored late to seal another impressive win.
Conclusion: Tactical Ingenuity and Brighton’s Climb Up the Table
With these consecutive victories against Arsenal and Tottenham, Brighton climbed into the Premier League’s top ten. Potter’s tactical flexibility, intelligent player roles, and focus on both defensive resilience and attacking width have been central to this turnaround.
Looking ahead, it remains to be seen if Brighton will stick with the 3-5-1-1 against their next opponents, but Potter’s record suggests further innovations are likely. For now, Brighton’s willingness to embrace tactical variety is helping them punch above their weight and earn deserved success at the highest level.
