The Arsenal team has returned from their warm-weather training camp in the Middle East as preparations begin back at London Colney for the pivotal top-four chasing trip to Wolves on Thursday.
The team were pictured in training with nearly the whole Arsenal squad available to Mikel Arteta after Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey’s suspensions have come to an end.
However, there remains a question mark over Takehiro Tomiyasu. The Japanese international was rushed back to play against Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool, despite carrying an injury. Tomiyasu made it through the game but it quickly became clear his injury had been aggravated and he has not played since.
Mikel Arteta provided an update after the Burnley draw that the 22-year old would not be available for some time.
Speaking in the post-match press conference he said, “Well, Tomiyasu had an injury and we didn’t have anybody to play in that position against Liverpool. He really wanted to push, he tried and he played the 90 minutes, and he felt it again. He will be out for a couple of weeks.”
“He will be out for a few weeks.”
In his stead, Ben White deputised at right-back however there was a clear lack of offensive capacity on this flank and Burnley remained relatively unchallenged despite Bukayo Saka’s best efforts.
With the return of Nicolas Pepe from the AFCON, Mikel Arteta does have further options but could choose to change the system entirely to solve the issues.
Bukayo Saka has featured in wing-back roles, both left and right, in the past and adding Pepe in front of the England international could be a strategy to maximise the attacking potential of the right flank.
Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2020 playing a 3-4-3 system with Pepe in the right-wing role. Saka was an unused substitute in the game but nearly two years on has become an integral part of the side.
Arteta will have White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Rob Holding all available. Saka could play at right wing-back and have Pepe as the right-winger.
If successful, this could form part of a blueprint made successful by both Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea and more recently Antonio Conte in his Spurs side.
Additionally, the return of William Saliba in the summer would present Arteta with even more variety in his team selection which suits the team structure. Saliba has played plenty of matches as part of a back three.
Saliba, White and Gabriel could form a consistent and burgeoning defensive group to provide the Gunners with the foundation for a dominant side that maximises the potential of Arsenal’s wing play.
The likelihood of Arteta returning to the system appears minimal, however, and the expected outcome will be the return of Cedric Soares who has recovered from his own injury.
Arteta does have the choice though, one which should be considered.
Make sure you have subscribed to The Arsenal Way! The Fan Brands team along with plenty of your football.london favourites will be producing daily Arsenal content for you to enjoy including match reactions, podcasts, football fun and interviews. You can follow Tom Canton from the TAW team to keep up to date with his work.
