Arsenal’s Transformation Under Mikel Arteta: A Tactical Breakdown of the 2021-22 Season
Arsenal began the 2021-22 Premier League season with severe setbacks, struggling through early losses and conceding heavily. With morale at a low and doubts swirling about Mikel Arteta’s leadership, the team managed a significant turnaround. A dominant win in the North London Derby against Tottenham was the catalyst for a dramatic resurgence, and Arsenal soon emerged as genuine contenders for a top-four finish. This analysis explores the tactical evolution Arteta has guided, focusing on formation, personnel changes, and shifts in playing style that have rejuvenated the Gunners this season.
Reimagining Arsenal’s Setup: Commitment to the 4-2-3-1 Formation
Arteta’s commitment to a 4-2-3-1 formation has become the backbone of Arsenal’s tactical identity. Having moved away from the less effective 3-4-2-1 system, the new structure offers flexibility for the midfield and attacking units. One of its key features is a versatile midfield three, often including Emile Smith Rowe, whose scoring contributions (seven goals, two assists in 16 appearances) and adaptability allow for tactical adjustments between the central and wide attacking areas.
Other players have been instrumental in making this system thrive:
– Alexandre Lacazette persists in a supporting striker role, excelling in hold-up play and counter-pressing, even if his goal output has waned.
– Bukayo Saka, a fixture in every Premier League match so far, delivers pace and creativity as an inverted right winger. His presence as a leading player at just 20 years old highlights Arsenal’s investment in youth.
– Gabriel Martinelli provides an explosive option from the left, enabling the club to field an attacking trio consisting exclusively of players aged 21 or younger.
The transformation is not limited to the attacking half. Arsenal’s defensive solidity owes much to smart recruitment:
– Ben White, signed for £50 million, is now a regular starter in central defense.
– Kieran Tierney, when fit, continues to impress but has faced competition from Nuno Tavares, whose performances at left-back highlighted the increased squad depth.
– Takehiro Tomiyasu has solidified the right-back position, bringing consistency and reliability previously lacking.
– Gabriel Magalhaes has continued to grow as a cornerstone in defense.
Perhaps the most pivotal addition is goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. With an 81% save rate and a commanding presence, Ramsdale has kept eight clean sheets in his first fourteen games. Behind Ramsdale and this revamped defense, Arsenal have become tougher, more cohesive, and more determined—a shift best embodied by the accountability and work ethic seen throughout the squad.
Ball Progression: Arsenal’s Refined Build-Up Play
Arsenal’s build-up approach has noticeably matured, balancing complexity with efficiency. Typically, they initiate play through Ramsdale, their two central defenders (Gabriel and White), and Thomas Partey forming a diamond. Full-backs Tomiyasu and Tierney often start in slightly higher positions but remain involved in deeper phases, facilitating smooth transitions from defense to midfield.
Key aspects of Arsenal’s build-up include:
– Frequent utilization of one-touch passing, even under pressure in their defensive third.
– Granit Xhaka’s tactical awareness, as he often drops into a left-sided defensive role, enabling Tierney to push forward and creating new angles for progressive passing.
– A strategic focus on finding Saka and the wide players, capitalizing on spatial advantages created by central ball carriers and underlapping full-backs.
– Tomiyasu often assumes a deeper position, essentially morphing Arsenal’s structure into a 4-1-4-1 during build-up, which draws opponents up the field and opens channels in midfield.
Thomas Partey’s vision and passing range are crucial, especially when connecting play between the deep midfield and the attacking line—vital when Arsenal need to bypass congested central areas or launch quick counters. Ramsdale’s composure and accurate long distribution have also relieved pressure and enabled Arsenal to exploit transitions rapidly.
Dynamic Attack: Adapting to Opponents and Match Situations
With 27 goals in their first 18 matches, Arsenal’s attack reflects increased tactical flexibility. Unlike the possession-dominated days under Arsène Wenger, Arteta’s side balances structured buildup with sharp counter-attacking prowess.
Notable features of Arsenal’s attacking evolution:
– The Gunners have recorded more counter-attacking goals than any other Premier League club (five so far).
– Arsenal relies on the mobility and skill of Saka, Smith Rowe, and Martinelli, all adept at carrying the ball forward with pace or executing intricate passing sequences.
– Players have mastered the art of positioning themselves on the ‘half-turn,’ which enhances quick progression and decision-making during transitions.
– Tactically, Arsenal often keep at least one player high to stretch the opposition defense and immediately transition into attack—a role sometimes occupied by Martinelli, Lacazette, or Aubameyang.
– Rather than traditional crossing, Arsenal now favor lower, driven passes or combinations in the final third, adapting to the lack of a traditional target man.
While Arsenal’s attack has improved, the need remains for a prolific striker who combines Lacazette’s link-up ability with more consistent finishing. Gabriel Martinelli’s continued form could offer a solution from within, but a long-term answer must be found to consistently challenge the league’s elite.
Defensive Structure and Intensity: Laying the Foundations
Defensively, Arsenal’s progress is as remarkable as their attacking advancements. Ranked among the league’s best for pressing intensity (sixth in pressures in the attacking third) and blocks, Arsenal’s defensive record is anchored by their collective effort and structure.
Core principles of their defense include:
– Pressing in a 4-2-3-1 formation, often converted into a diamond to force play wide and set pressing traps.
– Compactness in the midfield, morphing into 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 shapes to deny access between the lines and block vertical passes.
– Tomiyasu and Saka’s coordinated efforts on the right facilitate both aggressive ball pressure and robust cover for overlapping opponents.
– The central pairing of Gabriel and White boasts a header win rate above 64%, while Tomiyasu leads the team in aerial duels won.
– Ramsdale has also ranked high in stopping crosses, contributing to improved defending on set-pieces (scoring eight and conceding only three from dead-ball situations).
This new defensive mindset, marked by bravery and an all-in-work rate, has helped shed the fragile reputation of previous seasons and underlines Arsenal’s growth under Arteta.
Conclusion: Arsenal’s Road to the Top Four
Arsenal’s 2021-22 season represents a new chapter under Mikel Arteta’s leadership. After a shaky start, strategic recruitment and a clear tactical vision have revived the squad, blending youth and experience into a unit capable of adapting to in-game challenges. The uncanny impact of Aaron Ramsdale, combined with defensive resilience and an evolving attack, sets Arsenal on course for their most promising campaign in years. The battle for Champions League qualification is still far from over, but Arsenal’s transformation has positioned them as credible contenders for a return to European elite competition.
This comprehensive tactical evolution demonstrates that, under Arteta, Arsenal is building not just for the present, but for sustainable success in the seasons to come.
