Mikel Arteta has been granted the opportunity to work with nearly his entire squad over the last two weeks and Arsenal have earned wins in each game.
However, Arsenal didn’t use the same system in both. The Spaniard choosing a 4-2-3-1 against Norwich before switching to a 4-3-3 with the introduction of Emile Smith-Rowe and Thomas Partey in the second half. A move that led to the sole and winning goal.
This continued into the game against Burnley with Smith-Rowe joined by Martin Odegaard. The pair played as number 8s in front of the holding midfielder Partey. The system is clearly something that Arteta wants to work towards and has said as much when asked about it in the past.
Speaking in December of 2020, Arteta was asked about how close his side was then to playing the 4-3-3 system.
“We want to move to a 4-3-3 but for that, you need a lot of specificity in every position but now in five or six positions, we don’t have it," said Arteta.
9 months later and 6 signings through the door, Arteta appears confident to select a side with two number 8s in the 4-3-3 he desired last season.
The issue with the formation and having both Smith-Rowe and Odegaard in the line-up is that the team lacks a like-for-like change from the bench. The natural option would have been Joe Willock, but he was sold to Newcastle in the summer.
The other central midfield options are Granit Xhaka, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Mohamed Elneny. All of which lack the abilities in the final third in comparison to Smith-Rowe and Odegaard.
This is where the opportunity for young gun Charlie Patino emerges. The 17-year-old has lit up the under-23s with his technical ability and passing.
He doesn’t shy away from goal either, and a wonderful run and finish went viral in the 3-1 win over an under-23 Manchester United side which included Phil Jones and Dean Henderson.
Patino, unlike the aforementioned trio of senior central midfield options, does have the ability to influence the game significantly in the offensive third.
Patino played and impressed in a behind-closed-doors 4-0 friendly win over Brentford during the international break.
Should he be a success, there could be a genuine place in the senior squad supporting the starting midfield pair. With Miguel Azeez out on loan, Patino could look to supersede him in the pecking order.
The problem will reveal itself if Patino proves not ready for the senior side. This would mean the 4-3-3 system is at risk of breaking down with a lack of rotational options in the 8 position.
Arteta said he was 5-6 players away, he could continue to be light if the faith in Patino does not pay off.
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