Ricky1985 wrote:
I think it's a consequence of setting out to dominate the game and get the defensiive line high up the pitch, but not being good enough and players not being confident enough to do it. I actually think that's the root cause of a nearly all of our problems, at both ends of the pitch.
I don't think that's it. We regularly drop Xhaka to LCB to cover Tierney on a regular basis and end up with an odd, lopsided shape.
Then you had that Leicester game where we played a 3 man midfield but with Xhaka and Ceballas in some weird half back roles out on the wing.
Then you had the set up towards the end of last season when Xhaka started at left back, this time he would stay in that LCB position, but Ceballos who was starting in midfield would drift up the left wing.
What ever the tactic, a constant theme has been to isolate Partey in the middle and overload the flanks and it's 100% intentional. There's been a few exceptions and they've generally been our better performances. The biggest favour Arteta could do for himself is to stop trying to reinvent the wheel.