Arsenal’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday evening highlighted the need to move away from the 4-4-2 system in big games, but it should not be abandoned completely.
Liverpool bossed proceedings at Anfield as the Gunners' midfield looked overrun and became tired in the second half.
The formation has been very successful for Arteta, but only in the games where Arsenal are expected to dominate.
Playing a 4-4-2 system in a game against a top-quality side is rare in elite football nowadays, and Diego Simeone is one of only a few coaches to have utilised it successfully.
Despite using two strikers for the match against Liverpool, Arsenal still looked as though they lacked options upfront and Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip had a pretty comfortable evening.
With the lack of presence up front with two players, it meant that Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga were tasked with having to cover extra areas of the pitch in a two-man pivot against a top-quality side which is why they got pulled apart.
Whilst it was evident that the formation will not work against top sides such as Liverpool, it should be the primary formation in matches Arsenal are expected to dominate. Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette had been thriving in the 4-4-2 formation.
Before the defeat to Liverpool, Arsenal went on a 10-match unbeaten run and most of these were completed due to the successful 4-4-2 formation.
And in recent weeks the attacking phase of play for the Gunners has improved a lot since the change in formation.
The new formation has also unlocked Emile Smith Rowe’s potential on the left-hand side and his goal contributions have been crucial to Arsenal’s victories over the last few matchdays.
Arteta can look at the Liverpool game as a test and a big wake-up call that Arsenal do not yet have the quality required to only have two players in the central midfield role against big teams.
There is still a long way to go in the rebuild, and the formation will have to be altered numerous times along the way until the right system works against the bigger sides.
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