2. Playing a 4-2-3-1
Arsenal have thrived all season with a lone six, but a major reason for that is down to Zinchenko popping up in that inverted role to give Thomas Partey, Saliba and Gabriel passing options.
Without Saliba and Zinchenko, Arsenal have been destabilised, resulting in Arteta playing a double pivot against Newcastle, and Granit Xhaka dropping in to protect Jorginho and the back four, which worked a treat.
In Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, Brighton have two contrasting midfielders that have a lot of energy and move the ball quickly through the middle before going wide to their wingers and full-backs in the final third.
Without Zinchenko to cover that space in the middle, Arsenal need a body, and Xhaka has proven his worth there, with Tierney then adding a much more solid option as a one-on-one defender.
Continued on the next slide…
Mikel Arteta</a> refused to rule the Ukrainian out for the remainder of the campaign.</p>
<p>This season, Zinchenko has been one of Arsenal’s most important players and system changes will have to take place if the team is going to adjust effectively.</p>
<h2><em><strong>3 tactical tweaks Arsenal must make without Oleksandr Zinchenko</strong></em></h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Arteta goes on to say Zinchenko being out for the season is not confirmed</p>
<p>— Kaya Kaynak (@kayakaynak97) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://twitter.com/kayakaynak97/status/1657000931374841856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 12, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2>1. Play to Tierney’s strengths</h2>
<p>Zinchenko’s unique technical strengths allow him to step forward for Arsenal into midfield, in what is essentially a free role to give greater control.</p>
<p>Kieran Tierney does not have those abilities. He has made a huge effort to learn what Arteta wants from the position, coming inside, trying to dictate play and helping with the build-up, but the reality is KT doesn’t have those skills.</p>
<p>He has very different attributes, many of which Zinchenko lacks, and they should be embraced, after all those skills made him one of the best left-backs in the Premier League, and are the reason that <a title="3 potential destinations for Kieran Tierney this summer" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/26/3-potential-destinations-arsenal-kieran-tierney/" rel="">high-flying Newcastle want him this summer.</a></p>
<p>Asking Tierney to operate like Zinchenko weakens Arsenal, but by playing to his strengths Arsenal will have a pacey full-back who can overlap Gabriel Martinelli, stretch the defence and allow him to cut inside, which could cause a lot of problems for Brighton with Tariq Lamptey and Solly March out.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 Playing a 4-2-3-1 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-134139 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1707,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1487149153-scaled.jpeg" alt="3 tactical tweaks Arsenal must make without Zinchenko" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1487149153-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1487149153-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1487149153-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1487149153-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"></p>
<h2><strong>2. Playing a 4-2-3-1</strong></h2>
<p>Arsenal have thrived all season with a lone six, but a major reason for that is down to Zinchenko popping up in that inverted role to give Thomas Partey, Saliba and Gabriel passing options.</p>
<p>Without Saliba and Zinchenko, Arsenal have been destabilised, resulting in Arteta playing a double pivot against Newcastle, and Granit Xhaka dropping in to protect Jorginho and the back four, which worked a treat.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 INTERVIEW: Thomas Partey relishes battle for starting position with Jorginho</p>
<p>🗣️ Partey on competition: “For me, it is something that always happened. I have always had competition, which is good for me. I enjoy it.”</p>
<p>🗣️ On Jorginho’s performance: “I am really happy for him… <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://t.co/zqJ4BRxT40">pic.twitter.com/zqJ4BRxT40
<p>— Arsenal Informer (@ars_informer) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://twitter.com/ars_informer/status/1656940139623448577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 12, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>In Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/12/3-threats-brighton-pose-arsenal/">Brighton have two contrasting midfielders that have a lot of energy and move the ball quickly through the middle before going wide to their wingers and full-backs in the final third.</p>
<p>Without Zinchenko to cover that space in the middle, Arsenal need a body, and Xhaka has proven his worth there, with Tierney then adding a much more solid option as a one-on-one defender.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 Build up from the back </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133911" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2157,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1482636009.jpeg" alt="3 tactical tweaks Arsenal must make without Zinchenko" width="3200" height="2157" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1482636009.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1482636009-768x518.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"></p>
<h2>3. Build up from the back</h2>
<p>Arsenal’s high-risk, high-reward system has worked all season, but it cost them against Southampton when Aaron Ramsdale’s sloppy pass went straight to Carlos Alcaraz, who clinically picked his spot and slotted home.</p>
<p>With Tierney on the pitch, Arsenal need to be careful of playing such high-risk football. He does not have the light feet, composure and technical ability that Zinchenko does, and will be punished by Brighton’s press if put in this position.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Aaron Ramsdale wins the PL Save of the Month Award 🧤❤️ <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://t.co/oiutwRufFH">pic.twitter.com/oiutwRufFH
<p>— Le African Gooner (@leafricangooner) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://twitter.com/leafricangooner/status/1657008822236446721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 12, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>With a double pivot, Arsenal need to utilise the width of the pitch, the two in midfield, and allow the play to build more slowly with fewer options ahead of the ball should Xhaka drop into a deeper position.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="oJINcAV1rE"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/12/3-threats-brighton-pose-arsenal/">3 threats Brighton will pose to Arsenal on Sunday</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“3 threats Brighton will pose to Arsenal on Sunday” — Pain in the Arsenal" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/12/3-threats-brighton-pose-arsenal/embed/#?secret=2r0MaiPGEQ#?secret=oJINcAV1rE" data-secret="oJINcAV1rE" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>However, this could draw Brighton out more, give Martin Odegaard more space to operate as a #10, as well as Bukayo Saka, Martinelli and Gabriel <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/13/3-tactical-tweaks-arsenal-must-make-without-zinchenko/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/10/gabriel-jesus-important-arsenal/">Jesus more room to roam, as we saw against Newcastle.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
