Mikel Arteta’s nearly won the Premier League title twice over the past two campaigns. Last season, Arsenal managed an incredible 89 points. The fact that this was not enough to secure first place would’ve been an anomaly even 10-15 years ago. Now, Arteta has slightly altered his tactics and policies.
The good news for fans of The Gunners is that there doesn’t seem to be any slowing down in the Arsenal camp. Today, I am analysing the tactics that Mikel Arteta is employing for the 2024/25 season in a bid to win the elusive EPL crown.
Mikel Arteta’s Career So Far
Mikel Arteta has proven to be an extraordinary specialist on and off the pitch. But little has come easy for the Spaniard.
Arteta dealt with health issues early in his life. But he overcame those and became one of the most lauded young players of his generation in FC Barcelona’s youth system.
Arteta also dealt with injuries in his playing career. But this did not stop him from playing as a technically proficient and hard-working midfielder for important clubs. His career saw him make a name for himself at Paris Saint-Germain, Real Sociedad, Glasgow Rangers and, of course, Arsenal.
This reputation of overcoming adversity ultimately landed Arteta a job as an assistant manager for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. It was also this reputation that helped him get the Arsenal job. Many believe this fighting spirit will soon lead the club to a Premier League title.
What is Different for Arsenal this Season?
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is a team that is always changing. This was the manager’s promise when he took over. And, in many ways, this is his greatest triumph.
The overall impression is that Arsenal is more ruthless. The team can switch from a 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1. Pressing intensity is greater. The confidence of the starting players and impact subs is as well. And the goals can come from the impact subs.
Results in the early stages of his tenure were mixed. But they have improved greatly recently. This does not mean that Arsenal does not need to get even better if it is to defeat rivals Manchester City, the perennial winners of the Premier League trophy in recent years.
The first way to do this is through transfers, of course. Riccardo Calafiori cut an interesting figure at Euro 2024 despite Italiy’s results. He arrives to improve the defensive line for $54m. This is a player who can also help Arsenal better build-up from the back.
After many discussions, Arsenal has also come to an agreement with Real Sociedad for the transfer of Mikel Merino. The midfielder was a great impact sub for champions Spain in the same Euro 2024.
Merino and Calafiori play different roles but have similar qualities. They both are really good passers, make important tackles, and are in the prime of their careers.
Sadly, it’s also meant that great homegrown talent has had to be allowed to leave. Emile Smith Rowe, a favourite of supporters, and Chido Obi-Martin have departed for new pastures.
There have been other players allowed to leave (Mohamed Elneny, Arthur Okonkwo and Cedric Soares), and some are loaned out for another year (Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Karl Hein).
This tells us two fundamental things:
- Arteta is no longer willing to take chances on players who are not quite up to a near world-class standard
- Arsenal has, once again, become a popular transfer destination, and the club is willing to invest in proven talent
Football Philosophy
Mikel Arteta learnt his trade at La Masia, Barcelona’s youth academy. He was later assistant manager of Pep Guardiola, perhaps FC Barcelona’s greatest-ever manager. It’s easy to guess what his football philosophy is.
Like Guardiola, Artata tries to employ Johan Cruyff‘s principles in total football. The Spaniard has not strayed either. This is what Arteta tried to do as far back as the 2019/20 season. It’s just that now he has better players to implement these ideas.
In a nutshell, Arsenal play a quick, possession-based football that prioritizes individual skill and creativity over grit and determination.
But this is not to say that Arteta’s players aren’t hard-working. The manager likes his players to win the ball seconds after losing it. In the 2023/24 season, Arsenal won posession ball back in 8.7 seconds on average after losing it. That’s the time to beat.
By comparisons, it took Arsenal more than 11 seconds to win back possession in the 2019/20 season. And, then, this pressing often left the team exposed.
Arteta also likes his players to use half-spaces, switch roles and formations, use inside forwards and inverted full-backs, and press high up the pitch.
Formations
This is the best squad Mikel Arsenal has had so far. The greatest improvement over the past 12 months has been in terms of defensive players. With players like Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, it should be easy for Arsenal to switch between formations.
Of course, the team’s preferred approach is to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. This can easily change into a 4-3-2-1, in which Thomas Partey and Declan Rice act as defensive midfielders.
The central midfielder position is the one that Arteta has cared the most about last season. It’s the one where he most often changed players. A total of eight players were active in this position and in link-up role. Usually, that player needed to play alongside Rice and Martin Odegaard who both had more than 35 appearances each.
This season, things are clearer. Routines have been drilled in for far longer. Arsenal can make formation changes easier.
The only danger, naturally, is that if Arteta does not modify some of his tactics, opponents will have an easier time figuring them out. However, if the team is strong enough, this may not be important.
Arsenal can also go to a 3-2-2-3 shape in the buildup, one that has been used by other important EPL clubs recently. This is, essentially, a box midfield formation.
Unlike other teams, Arteta also likes to use player rotation when employing this structure. Oleksandr Zinchenko may play on the left wing or in the centre, while Odegaard can drop deeper when cover is needed.
Arsenal in Attack
It’s been said that Arsenal needs one truly great attacker, a natural goalscorer like Erling Haaland, in the 2024/2025 season.
But Mikel Arteta seems happy with his options for now. Arsenal has plenty of attacking depth. Only Bukayo Saka played 30+ games last season as a right inside-forward. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Edward Nketiah and Leandro Trossard took turns playing as the central forward.
Gabriel Martinelli often played on the left but was replaced by the same players listed previously on nearly half of the occasions.
This season, Arsenal is playing slightly more direct football. The goal is to get the ball near the opponent’s goal faster.
Bukayo Saka is integral to the entire approach. Using his skill and speed, he is the player that allows Havertz and Martinelli to attempt shots.
The English forward averaged 1.4 dribbles per game, 3.1 shots on goal and had a passing success rate of 86.8% last season. Saka, in the 2024/25 season, dribbles less but makes more key passes and has improved on his passing success rate.
Meanwhile, Kai Havertz is not a traditional central forward. In fact, he played in numerous attacking positions while at Bayer Leverkusen. Using his skill on the ball, the German is able to drop deeper, to link up play with the midfield and to find creative solutions to attacking problems.
Havertz better resembles an attacking midfielder or even a false nine. He is not a player with similar attributes to Romelu Lukaku or Haaland. But Arteta likes this and turned Havertz into one of Arsenal’s best players last season.
Finally, Arsenal has continuously optimized the team’s set-piece routine. Arsenal scored 20 goals from set pieces in the 2023/2024 season. The team is looking to make good use of them this season as well.
Arsenal in Defense
Arsenal has added depth to its defence, and routines have been further drilled into the players.
Arsenal nearly always starts the games with a four-man defence. However, this nearly always switches to three defenders when in possession. This is done principally to allow Zinchecnko, the defender with the best passing skill, to move into a more central midfield area.
It’s also frequent that Zinchenko will move into midfield to create pressure. Arsenal likes to press from the front with seven players, making buildup difficult for their opponents.
This means that the central defenders must also be strong in winning aerial duels. New addition, Calafiori, is 1.88m in height. William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White are similarly tall players that are quite capable in the air.
Furthermore, Arsenal’s defence is compact. It’s true both from when defending from the back or being pushed back into their oww box. This kills half-spaces that the opposition can utilize.
Mikel Merino’s arrival also further helps Arsenal’s defensive efforts. With him in the squad, Declan Rice should be freed to play more often behind the attackers. Additionally, he can substitute Rice in a busy season, or could play him in a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1.
Finally, I cannot end this without mentioning squad depth yet again. Arsenal has plenty of this. Arteta has built the squad patiently. Besides their starting players, Arsenal can also depend on the likes of Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior, and, in a few months, Takehiro Tomiyasu. All of these are young players capable of great things and looking to make a name for themselves.
What Next for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta?
Mikel Arteta has shown himself to be a great manager capable of working with a team that’s at the very top. Winning the Premier League title would be the icing on the cake, but it would not change this.
Arsenal look in excellent form this season. On paper, the only thing that could derail their efforts is Manchester City’s incredible consistency. There is a general feeling, however, that after being dominant for so long, even Pep Guardiola’s men will be less aggressive in their pursuit.
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