Arsenal’s form across all competitions is something to marvel at. The Gunners have reached the EFL Cup final and continue to lead the Premier League table as well. Arsenal also finished the UEFA Champions League league phase at the top of the table, having maintained a perfect record.
However, Arsenal’s form has been made possible by their keeping things simple. They have not, or it is better to say that they have not had the need of tinkering much with their formation. They have stuck to a 4-2-3-1 formation and played to their strengths to make it possible.
Other Teams Have Often Tinkered With Their Formations
Liverpool have switched to a 4-3-3 at times from their usual 4-2-3-1, Manchester United have gone from a 3-4-2-1 under Ruben Amorim to a 4-2-3-1 under Michael Carrick, and Manchester City have also experimented with a 4-3-3 with central midfielders playing on the flanks at times. The Cityzens do not use an inverted full-back often these days, but Rico Lewis has played as one at times, which forced them to switch to a 3-2-4-1 formation.
However, Arsenal have picked the best possible players in all the positions from their squad and gone about their job in a straightforward manner. They have been direct on most of the occasions and used their firepower really well to breach the opposition’s defence. Not to mention that their squad depth has really helped in boosting Arsenal’s form.
The current Arsenal form has yet again proven the age-old formula of employing the best possible players in respective positions instead of experimenting too much with formations and giving more emphasis than what is necessary on playing style.
With the help of assertive players like Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, the Gunners have been able to put pressure on the opposition defenders repeatedly.
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Arsenal Form Has Resulted From Doing the Basics Really Well
Having complimented the Gunners for sticking to their formation, we must also add here that they have been doing the basics really well. Mikel Arteta’s men have elevated scoring from corner-kicks and crosses from the flanks to the level of an art.
Their aerial deliveries are wonderful, with the set-piece coach really working on them, and they have enough big men in their line-up to take advantage of them. The likes of Gabriel, Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres have scored with headers often to keep the opposition defenders under pressure.
No other team has been even remotely as successful from set-pieces as the Gunners have been from set-pieces. Manchester City have enough big men in their squad, but they still have to rely on their passing game a lot to breach opposition defences and then score from open plays.
The same goes for Liverpool, too, and hence, it is no wonder that both the Reds and the Cityzens find themselves falling below the Gunners. Devising a strategy or changing the tactics are all fine, but if they are not implemented in the end by doing the basics right on the pitch, they are of little use.
This is not to suggest that Arteta is not a good tactician and will not improvise when the need arises. He is definitely capable of it, but, as of now, is happily allowing his wards to do what they do best on the field. Arsenal’s form suggests that he’s sticking to a simple plan if yielding dividends, too.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Colorsport
Recording Date: 03.02.2026
