Mikel Arteta Updated Tactic with Arsenal | 4-3-3 Version FM24

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In this post, I will discuss Mikel Arteta Updated Tactic with Arsenal. Arsenal are still in the Premier League and Champions League title races. They are on fire in the Premier League this year, winning all their 2024 league matches so far, plus being the highest-scoring team too.

In terms of the tactic, Mikel Arteta uses a classic 4-3-3 tactic, unlike the weird back-3 tactic, they started this season with. This change came about, after the long-term injuries of Thomas Partey and new signee, Timber. With no further ado, let’s get into the details of the tactic, to understand the setup of the tactic.

Mikel Arteta Updated Tactic with Arsenal | Tactical Setups

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In Possession

Arsenal starts the play mainly from behind. While they are building up plays, the two central defenders, Gabriel and Saliba will give the goalkeeper width in the box, Zinchenko will either stay wider or tuck inside at the left and Ben White will spread wide at the right flank. Kiwior will form a back-3 with Gabriel and Saliba Declan Rice/Jorginho will form a pivot just outside the box, with Odegaard and Havertz/Declan Rice just staying above them.

Arteta still prefers his men to focus their plays through the sides of the pitch, than the middle of the pitch. Arsenal still uses a shorter passing directness but at lower tempo ball movements this time, due to their being a vertical tiki-taka team. Furthermore, the Spanish boss gives his men room to be expressive rather than disciplined. Finally, they look for underlaps on both sides of the pitch, as they approach the opposition’s box, like the previous version.

In Transition

While in transition, the attacking width is fairly wide. During attacks, Gabriel and Saliba will step at the halfway line, sometimes they move above the halfway line into the opposition’s half. Zinchenko will join the holding midfielder whether if it is Declan Rice or Jorginho, but he will make overlapping or underlapping runs in the final third. Kiwior will also tuck inside as the extra midfielder but occasionally makes underlapping or overlapping runs in the final third. Ben White as the right will stay wide at the right flanks, sometimes he also inverts to the midfield. The wingers, Martinelli and Saka will stay wider on both flanks. Odegaard will operate in half-spaces as a mezzala staying closer to Saka at the right flank, Haverts will get forward centrally. Gabriel Jesus or Trossard will drop often to help build attacking transition or spread wide to support the wingers, especially at the left flank. Nketiah as the striker won’t drop often rather he stays up front to lead the attacking lines.

Furthermore, The gunners always go for counterattacks on the break and their counterattacks are fluid. In the final third, Arteta’s men work the ball into the box often. Lastly, when the London Red and white lose possession of the ball, they mostly apply frontline pressures by counter-pressing to win the ball back in the opponent’s half.

Out of Possession

In the pressing strategy, Arteta employs a higher line of engagement and a much higher defensive line. Furthermore, the pressing intensity is at a much more often intensity – plus they prevent the goalkeeper’s distribution.

In the defensive phase, Arsenal defend in a 4-5-1, or 4-4-2 shape. In the 4-4-2, Odegaard will lead the pressing line with the No.9. They equally protected their central areas by sitting compact with their trapping outside strategy, which eventually forces the opponents outside. Furthermore, the defenders do step up the defensive line to compress the opponent’s half, leaving little room to play. Lastly, the full-backs, Zinchenko/Kiwior and Ben White try to close down crosses rather than inviting them.

Mikel Arteta Updated Tactic with Arsenal | Formation Line Up

Mikel Arteta Updated Tactic with Arsenal | Role Selections

Since this is a back-4 system, some players retain their roles from the previous version, but the roles I will focus on in this post are the players with different roles or instructions. To see the rest of the roles click here.

GK

The preferred goalkeeper is David Raya, he is a sweeper keeper on support duty.

CDs

Gabriel is a ball-playing defender on stopper duty. He will step above the defensive line to close down opposition attackers and win the ball. While Saliba who is on defence duty, will stay within the defensive line, to break up attacks and win the ball. They will also influence the attacks of the team, by taking diagonal passes to support the offensive teammates.

FBs

Zinchenko is still an inverted wing-back on support duty just like the previous version. Kiwior in the left fullback position, is an inverted fullback on support duty. He would form back-3 with the CDs, move to the midfield to hold his position and sometimes make overlapping runs in the final third.

Here Ben White is now a traditional fullback on support duty. He can either tuck inside at the midfield or stay wider at the right flank, during attacks. When he gets forward he does that from the flank and crosses the ball often.

DM

Declan Rice as the defensive midfielder is a defensive midfielder on support duty. He is the deepest midfielder but will drive forward to support the attacks increasing the number of Arsenal’s attacking players. He will take risky passes and take shots from a distance often. Jorginho here, is a deep-lying playmaker on defence duty.

CMs

Havertz is a central midfielder on attacking duty. Due to his height, he will win aerial duels at the midfield and lay off to teammates. Haverts will often surge into the box in the final third to find scoring chances and support forwards. Odegaard is still a mezzala on support duty like the previous version, while Rice is a box-to-box midfielder in this position. Smith-Rowe and Trossard are mezzalas on attacking duty here.

W

Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are still inverted wingers on support duty and attacking respectively. In this version, Martinelli doesn’t shoot often.

CFs

Gabriel Jesus is still a complete forward on support duty. He shoots more often in this version, unlike the previous version. Trossard is a false-9 in this position. He will drop off to the midfield to help set up attacks with the midfielders and then get forward to attack the box. When he drops, Trossards drive a defender with them, thereby opening space for the teammate to exploit.

Haverts as the striker is a target forward on support duty, as he will win aerial duels due to his height advantage and also drops from his position. Nketiah is still an advanced forward.