Clrnc In theory yes, but again highlights Arteta's failings in that we don't then attack the space. Perhaps if you have an on form Saka and Martinelli you'll see the benefits of the space opening up, but with the likes of Vieira, Havertz and Trossard, having more possession at the back is creating a situation which causes more risk for us without a corresponding increase in threatening possession. I like Trossard, but he's a player for tight spaces, not open ones. If we're playing with players like him, Vieira and Odegaard we should be playing to their strengths and squeezing the life out of defences, not opening up the pitch and giving ourselves more ground to cover with players who don't naturally play that game.
Arteta either needs to adapt to the players he has at his disposal from game to game, and in game, or have more Plan A type players in his squad, because at the moment he's doing neither and it's killing us.
