Arsenal legend loves what Mikel Arteta has done to his Gunners line-up for Molde clash

Former Arsenal centre-back Martin Keown believes the Gunners will "do really well" if they stick with a formation that boasts a back-four.

In recent months, Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal chief, has adopted a five at the back system, with the likes of Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney being expected to bomb forward down either flank as the wing-backs.

However, this evening's Europa League clash with Molde has seen the Gunners switch to a back-four, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Shkodran Mustafi, David Luiz and Cedric Soares making up the back-four from right to left.

It has signalled a completely fresh approach from Arteta, with him opting to line-up in a 4-2-3-1 system.

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“This is the way forward," Keown told BT Sport. "The back-four gives us some sort of template of how he wants to play his football, Arteta.

"This is a team I expect to do really well.”

Though Arsenal have experienced some difficult moments in recent weeks, including the 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa and Nicolas Pepe's red card in last Sunday's 0-0 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road, Keown believes the Gunners are in excellent hands under Arteta, insisting he has been "very successful" in the early stages of his managerial career.

Keown added: “I think the brand of Arsenal football is changing.

"When you think of 22 years under Arsene Wenger, so much creativity, expression, belief from the manager that anything was possible.

"Here we are with a brand new manager, one who I think is going to be outstanding. But maybe there is too much instruction.

"Players going backwards, under Arsene Wenger, no, no, that ball has to go forward. Arteta played very well under Wenger, so he will know.

"I think he wants them to express themselves and play, but I think that comes with trust and you stop with the information, and rely on the individual to go and create the play.

"Maybe it’s just a little bit of balance. He’s still a young manager, but very successful already - it’s still early days - but at the moment, he doesn’t have quite the right balance between attacking and defending.”