3 Ways Arsenal can line up against Manchester City

#1 Play with a 4-4-2 diamond

Lacazette and Aubameyang have sparkled together this season

A couple of weeks ago, Emery fielded a 4-4-2 diamond system against Chelsea. A staunch exponent of the 4-3-3 or the 4-2-3-1, the Spaniard’s approach caught everyone off guard but it eventually worked a treat.

Against Chelsea, the 4-4-2 was primarily used to cut off the West Londoners’ supply line, Jorginho. Ramsey was tasked with man-marking the Italian and the Welshman did so expertly.

The 4-4-2 also allowed Lacazette and Aubameyang to play together. With the former’s trait of dropping deep, the latter made the adequate runs to keep Chelsea’s rear-guard on their toes.

In addition, Arsenal looked a real menace on the counter-attack with Ramsey, Aubameyang and Lacazette being joined by at least another midfielder.

For the game against City too, Arsenal’s best option could be going in with the same formation. Though the Cityzens aren’t as dependent on Fernandinho as Chelsea is on Jorginho, a lot of City’s play does go through the Brazilian.

Apart from the said aspect, a 4-4-2 would also allow Arsenal to play their triumvirate of Xhaka, Guendouzi and Torreira. While the trio has been criticised for lacking creativity in home games, they would definitely not be out of place in a big away game.

Moreover, the threat of the opposing full-backs could be contained to an extent with the 4-4-2 boasting of the flexibility to turn into a 4-5-1 without the ball.

Though there is hardly a fool-proof plan of getting the better of City, sitting deep, containing them and hitting them on the counter is probably the closest one can get.

The 4-4-2 diamond would allow Arsenal to implement those tactics and it could just turn out to be the difference-maker.