Paul Merson thinks he’s found Arsenal’s kryptonite, it’ll worry Mikel Arteta

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Paul Merson is convinced that he knows how teams can overcome Arsenal and Mikel Arteta this season.

The Gunners have enjoyed an outstanding start to the new campaign, winning 14 of their 16 matches across all competitions, conceding just three goals in the process.

Arteta’s side are now being tipped to win the Premier League title, with many pundits believing that the North Londoners’ imperious defensive record will be enough to see them triumph.

However, Merson thinks there is a potential way to stop Arsenal which more teams should explore.

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Paul Merson says 5-4-1 ‘works best’ against Arsenal

Arsenal lost 1-0 away at Liverpool in August, courtesy of a stunning long-range free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai.

This was the Gunners’ only defeat so far this season, as they’ve since been on an almost immaculate run, easing past teams without conceding goals.

Arteta’s side limit the opposition to very little, entirely stifling their attack while creating enough from set-pieces and open-play to ensure that this defensive stability isn’t for nothing.

Ahead of a trip to Sunderland on Saturday, Merson claimed that there is a specific formation that can be used against Arsenal which inhibits them.

The pundit argued that the 5-4-1 works best against the Gunners, a system that the Black Cats regularly use and Manchester United deployed at Old Trafford that worked relatively effectively against Arteta’s outfit.

“So what is the best way to play against this Arsenal team?” Merson asked on Sportskeeda.

“I think 5-4-1 works best against them, and if I were a manager, I would definitely stick to that formation. Arsenal are a well-oiled machine with a lot of unbelievable talent.

“It’s not just players working hard for them, it’s also the incredible quality all of them have.”

Do Arsenal actually struggle against teams that play 5-4-1?

While Merson’s theory might have some legs to it, it doesn’t stand up to the data.

Arsenal have played against the 5-4-1 formation twice this season, winning both games. These actually both came recently, in wins over Brighton in the Carabao Cup and Burnley in the league last weekend.

The 5-4-1 is ostensibly the same as 3-4-3 and even 3-5-2, with all three formations variations on having three centre-backs and two wing-backs.

Yet Arsenal have still had joy against all of these systems, winning six games out of six against teams that play with three centre-backs.

That said, the Gunners have beaten almost everyone that they’ve played this season, so Merson’s point is clearly not that Arteta’s team lose these matches, but that they struggle slightly more against these formations.

Indeed, games against the likes of Crystal Palace and Manchester United, both of whom played three at the back formations, were a struggle for Arsenal.