da bet nacional： [ad_pod ]
da blaze casino： Arsenal boss Unai Emery debuted a three-at-the-back set-up versus Bournemouth on Sunday and it proved successful as it gave Sead Kolasinac the license to get into advanced areas to supply crosses – exactly how Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was able to score the winner. However, the Spaniard must resist temptation to stick with that winning formula or his side will get annihilated by Tottenham this weekend.
On the chalkboard
Antonio Conte brought a three-man defence back into fashion when he won the title with Chelsea in the 2016/17 season and, since, many other teams have given it a go, with varying success.
Flexibility and ease of transition between defence and attack is the main appeal of such formations as the wing-backs are free to drop alongside the three central defenders when under pressure, or bomb forward to offer the attackers wide support when given the opportunity to counter.
The 3-4-3 that Emery adopted at the weekend left no room for Mesut Ozil, who was dropped to the bench, and the Gunners proved they were fully capable without the influential German as they ran out 2-1 winners courtesy of a freak Jefferson Lerma own goal and Aubameyang’s tap in.
Spurs’ emphatic 3-1 win the day before should show Emery that he will be unable to stick with this approach going into the north London derby this weekend.
Speedy Son will see Gunners undone
Son Heung-Min ran riot on Saturday as his pace was a constant threat for the Lilywhites – the South Korean could have had a hat-trick but poor finishing meant he settled for just the one.
The Blues were subject to a tactical masterclass from Mauricio Pochettino as Harry Kane and Dele Alli were successful in snuffing out the essential Jorginho, and were able to find Son in behind whenever they picked the Italian’s pocket.
If Arsenal play with three-at-the-back they will most likely be met with a similar drubbing – Spurs would pick them off in their defensive third and, capitalising on the high wing-backs, get Son running at Shkodran Mustafi. The prospect of this dual alone should be enough for Emery to default to a four-at-the-back as the German has been reckless this season.
One assumes that deploying an extra defender would mean the return of Ozil, too – a huge bonus as, at times, the Gunners lacked the cutting edge to slice through the Cherries at the weekend.
Playmaker FC’s Theo Ogden was at the Emirates to witness Arsenal’s qualification for the Europa League last 32. Check out his match diary in the video below…