From press-resistors to tempo dictators: Unai Emery’s five possible midfield combos for Arsenal

A new Premier League season has started and, for Arsenal, it brings the dawning of a new era at the club.

New head coach Unai Emery has to deal with arguably the toughest start to the Premier League, alongside Huddersfield Town, kicking off the new season with a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City before taking on Chelsea in their second game.

Arsenal’s summer transfer business saw them strengthen their defensive midfield options by bringing in Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, but also saw the likes of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla leave.

As usual, a new manager brings fresh systems which will take time to settle into but some Arsenal fans may hope for a more immediate impact given the competitive race for the top four.

With all of that in mind, here are five ways Emery can line up his midfield this season.

1. The Unai Special

How it works: There are many ways Arsenal could set up their team this season, but this may be the more balanced of all the options.

Lucas Torreira will be a certainty to start once fully accustomed to his new team, and alongside him Granit Xhaka provides the best partner defensively.

Arsenal’s new signing, Torreira, will be the worker of the two having averaged 2.9 tackles per 90 minutes for Sampdoria last season. Xhaka can do the same, while also moving the ball around with his 91.2% pass accuracy.

But ahead of them will be where the attacking magic happens with Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Henrikh Mhkitaryan causing opposition defences problems.

Ozil is Arsenal’s key attacking player and, when he can be given the space, especially from a wider berth, he can dictate how the Gunners move about the pitch setting off the runs of his teammates.

On the other wing, Mkhitaryan will provide a similar threat but with the ability to move inside and make the runs in the same way Alexis Sanchez did last season. Meanwhile, Ramsey will be required to both provide for and support the striker.

Best against: Top six opponents

Emery more or less tried this formation in the opening game at home to Manchester City, but came up against a superior team. But that doesn’t mean it cannot be a success against other similarly ranked sides.

Ramsey can be a danger in attacking midfield, triggering the press as he did against City, but this time with more impact.

2. Lucas Torreira anchor man

How it works: Another favoured formation of Emery at his former clubs was a 4-3-3, with the three-man central midfield.

In this formation, Torreira will be the anchor; the holding man whose defensive abilities will be vital to whether Arsenal make it or break it using this trio.

Playing slightly ahead of him in the trio, the pairing of Ramsey and Ozil offer an alternative aspect on either side.

Ramsey will be required to do a lot of the running in this midfield, pushing forward to join in the attack and latch onto the balls provided by Ozil, but he can also help run the show from a deeper position.

And the German will also have more freedom in the trio, able to drop deep and get a better view of the pitch for his game-changing balls while also moving up as the game dictates.

Both will be able to do this safe in the knowledge that Torreira will be there to cover the space left by either.

Best against: Liverpool

Liverpool will be a horrible team to come up against this season and no formation would truly be able to stop their attacking and midfield talent.

But this may be Arsenal’s best hope of matching up against the Reds, with Torreira holding firm in his position and Ramsey providing cover at times without fully restricting his creativity.

3. Flowing football

How it works: In their opening game against Manchester City, Guendouzi played the full 90 minutes in the absence of Torreira. And while the Frenchman may not start ahead of him again, he could play alongside the former Sampdoria man to improve both Arsenal and himself.

Guendouzi can sit back at times but also be the man to occasionally move up the pitch when the game allows it, adding to the attack with his defensive midfield partner providing the cover.

Ahead of them, Ozil will be at his peak in a central attacking role able to get a full view of the pitch around him, finding the best destination for his passes, whether forward to the striker or out wide to his fellow midfielders.

Though Ramsey is not a wide player by nature, in a 4-2-3-1 formation the Welshman will not be expected to act as a winger and can move about the pitch with freedom, while Aubameyang is more active on the other side.

Before making a name for himself as a striker at Borussia Dortmund, Aubameyang was a fine winger and still has all the attributes to cause problems from out wide. But he can also join the striker when Arsenal’s build up play dictates, moving the Gunners into a narrow 4-2-2-2 at times with Ramsey and Ozil tucking in.

Best against: Everton, Burnley, Leicester City

While Guendouzi will not be called upon to start against the bigger Premier League sides, the French midfielder has shown promise and should not be forgotten about completely.

He may get his best opportunities to learn alongside Torreira against those sides in the top half of the table, who will test Arsenal and apply pressure but not to a level where the Gunners are pinned under like they were against Man City.

4. Diamonds are forever

How it works: Torreira is likely to be the holding midfielder for most of the season for Emery, but Xhaka can provide an alternative with the Uruguayan still on the pitch.

In a more narrow formation, Xhaka will be the last shield for Arsenal’s back four, using his game-stopping ability to cut balls out before they can cause trouble, but also being the first passing option for both centre-backs.

A midfield two follows, of Torreira and Ramsey, playing in a similar style to how they would in Emery’s favourite XI, with the Welshman pushing further forward and having more influence on the attack while Torreira helps sweep up balls and frustrate opponents to provide back-up for Xhaka.

Ahead of them, the talisman that is Ozil can have the creative freedom he requires to dictate play high up the pitch, playing slightly behind the strikers who will gladly convert the numerous chances he will provide for them.

Best against: Mid-table sides

Granit Xhaka is not a bad player, but he will not be trusted to hold the fort for Arsenal when the Gunners take on the Premier League’s top six.

But against sides more likely to sit deep, Arsenal will need the creativity and pressure of Ozil, Ramsey and Torreira to break down and push the Gunners through without leaving them open to counter-attacks.

5. Tempo dictators

How it works: When all players are available, this may be the go-to formation for Emery to use.

A 4-2-3-1 will allow Arsenal balance in defence and attack with two holding midfielders who can contribute equally.

Once again, Torreira will be the guaranteed starter but this time Ramsey will play alongside him in his more natural role. This would allow the Welshman to attack from deep as he has so often during his Arsenal career, while Torreira provides the cover.

Ahead of them, a mixture of pace and creativity in Mkhitaryan, Ozil and Aubameyang will provide perfect support to the striker, which would likely be Lacazette in his formation.

In his central role, Ozil can be the creative spark without having to exert himself physically – with others doing the running he will be able to preserve his energy to maximise how effective he can be until the end of a match.

While on either wing, Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang threaten the opposing defences with their pace and more direct style of play, getting into attacking positions to link up with both Ozil and the striker.

Best against: Chelsea

When Arsenal take on Chelsea on Saturday, the Blues will still in be transition and this may be the best way to get at them.

Ramsey and Torreira will be needed to help their defence against Chelsea’s growing attacking play, especially given N’Golo Kante’s newfound fondness for getting forward. Meanwhile, the attacking trio and striker will put pressure on a Blues defence still re-finding their feet as a back four.

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