Arsenal have given themselves the chance to have a well-earned break in February after securing automatic passage into the last-16 of the Champions League.
Arsenal defeated Girona 2-1 with goals from Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri to finish third in the Champions League initial league phase. Mikel Arteta has hinted at a mid-season break for the squad to re-energise.
The victory was somewhat overshadowed by some huge transfer news as Arsenal had a £60m bid rejected for Ollie Watkins.
Arsenal fans are ‘torn’ over the proposed transfer of Watkins but with ten Premier League goals already this season, the England striker could fit perfectly into Arteta’s side.
READ MORE: Arsenal transfer news and rumours as second Ollie Watkins bid prepared and medical booked
How Mikel Arteta could line up with Ollie Watkins as an Arsenal player
Should Arsenal secure the signing of Watkins, it would open up a wealth of options for how Arteta could set up his team.
Arteta likes to the use the 4-3-3 formation but with Watkins in the side, it will be interesting to see which players are used in certain positions. Here are three ways Arsenal could line up with Watkins in the side.
Havertz dropped as Watkins becomes Arsenal’s main striker
Watkins is an out and out goalscorer that Arsenal have been craving for this season. Kai Havertz has worked hard for the side and contributed eight league goals.
However, the England striker has proven he is capable of being clinical when it comes to finishing off chances and Havertz has been guilty of missing big opportunities in recent weeks.
It could be that Arteta is planning to use Havertz from the bench and have a straight swap with Watkins leading the line being supplied by the likes of Martinelli, Nwaneri and Odegaard.
Ollie Watkins signing could affect Thomas Partey
The potential signing of Watkins could be an indication that Arteta is willing to loosen the handbrake on his Gunners side.
So far this season, control has been the order of the day for Arsenal but that has impacted the creativity and fluidity going forward and an over-reliance on set-pieces.
Watkins arrival could mean that Havertz moves back into a deeper midfield role and plays alongside Odegaard as the two creative forces, leaving Rice to hold in midfield as he is more mobile than Partey and better at covering transitions.
Arteta could change formation to accommodate Watkins and Havertz
Whilst it is unlikely that Arteta would revert away from his favoured 4-3-3 formation in different variations, the signing of Watkins does allow the manager to explore a change in formation should a game lend itself.
Arsenal have struggled to break down low blocks, a way to get more players in and around the penalty area could be to have two strikers playing.
With Havertz physicality and intelligence in movement and Watkins having a predatory goalscoring instinct, the duo could be a perfect striking combination.
Should Arsenal sign Watkins, it will be interesting to see how Arteta shapes his team moving forward. What cannot be questioned is that the England striker would bring bundles of energy and goals to this Arsenal team.
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