Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has urged Mikel Arteta to use a 4-2-1-3 formation in the Premier League after its success in Europe.
The Gunners have failed to win in their last three Premier League matches and find themselves in 14th place in the table.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored 22 Premier League goals last term, has only managed to bag two this campaign – but Keown thinks a change of formation could provide the solution.
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“Last week against Wolves — who after three years of using a back three have now abandoned that system — Arsenal lost 2-1,” Keown wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“They came up against an opponent who used, in the shape of Daniel Podence, a deep-lying No 10 with three players in front of him in a 4-2-1-3 formation.
“Arsenal found that so much of a problem that it looks like Arteta copied that system in their 4-1 defeat of Rapid Vienna on Thursday, playing Alexandre Lacazette in the very same role Podence played.
“In the opening exchanges Lacazette scored a wonder goal from distance and was feeding willing runners either side of him in Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson, with Eddie Nketiah in front. It made them much more dangerous.
“I am confident this system would make Arsenal more creative against Premier League opponents too. With three up top and one supporting, that will create more chances for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has found himself starved of service.
“A change of system could revitalise Aubameyang. He and Lacazette love playing together and the Frenchman being deployed from deep could rejuvenate that partnership.
“It’s well-known now that Harry Kane drops deep and makes life difficult for opponents. He operates between the defence and midfield, making himself hard to pick up. Lacazette in that deep role could work well.”