Paul Merson says Mikel Arteta has made one tactical change that’s really hurting Arsenal

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal aren’t where they would like to be in the Premier League table.

The Gunners are challenging for the title again, and after a fairly impressive summer window, the hope was to see them have a great start to the season.

Arsenal have only lost one game in all competitions so far, but they have drawn four times – thrice in the Premier League and once in the Champions League.

That is not ideal at all, and Paul Merson thinks he knows where Arsenal are going wrong.

Paul Merson highlights Mikel Arteta’s tactical mistake at Arsenal

For the most part, Arsenal have tactically outclassed every team they have faced this season, but circumstances have forced them to deviate from their usual plans.

The Gunners have had to play with 10 men on three different occasions this term, while multiple key players have been unavailable due to injuries as well.

That has led to Mikel Arteta’s men sitting deeper than they otherwise would in some games, especially after they have taken the lead.

That has cost them this season – most recently against Liverpool, when they took the lead twice but still ended up drawing the game.

Merson feels that tactical change is a mistake and if Arsenal continue to do that, they will get ‘found out’ very soon.

He wrote on Sportskeeda: “Arsenal are sitting back too much in games now.

“I know they have key players missing out due to injuries, but they should’ve attacked more against Liverpool last weekend. Even if a draw is still a fair result for them, Arsenal weren’t as free-flowing as they were before and that’s a problem.

“The old Arsenal were entertaining, now they’re just sitting back and counter-attacking. If you do that every week in this league, you will get found out soon. I hope this change in strategy is only due to the players they are missing at the moment.”

Things are about to change at Arsenal

Arteta has been forced to make a few tactical tweaks this season due to injuries, suspensions and other factors during a game.

We’re sure the Arsenal boss wouldn’t have wanted to do what he has done, but he didn’t have much choice in most games that the Gunners have dropped points in.

Things, however, will be very different soon.

Martin Odegaard is closing in on a return from his injury, while the likes of Riccardo Calafiori shouldn’t be out for too long either.

Arsenal will have most of their players back available very soon. Once that happens, we expect Arteta to give his side a lot more freedom to attack than he has done in recent weeks.