gunnerthoughts

06-Nov-2025

A daily Arsenal recap

November 06, 2025

Tactics! 🧠 Arteta's flexing: Saliba 🚘 in midfield, Saka šŸŒ¶ļø wing swap, new warrior Hincapie, and Trossard šŸ‘“ and Merino stepping up! #Arsenal āš½ļø

Tactical Tweaks I: Saliba moves to midfield

Alright, Gooners, let's talk tactics! Mikel Arteta's been tinkering, and one of the most intriguing moves we've seen is from the Slavia Prague match: William Saliba's frequent forays into midfield. Did you catch that? It wasn't just a one-off; he was consistently stepping up, and it wasn't by accident.

As Arteta explained, this was a tactical adjustment to counter Slavia's man-marking press. The goal? To create space and overloads, giving us more control in build-up play. It's a testament to Arteta's tactical flexibility, isn't it? We're not just sticking to a rigid plan; we're adapting and evolving, which is exactly what we need to do to compete at the highest level.

Related reads:

William Saliba's midfield role
The reasons why William Saliba was stepping into midfield against Slavia Prague
https://open.substack.com/pub/rohanjivanafc/p/william-salibas-midfield-role
Arsenal Make It Eight Straight Clean Sheets with 3-0 Win in Prague | Three Things We Learned
Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague marked their record eighth straight clean sheet. We break down how structure, control, and Merino’s brace powered another dominant Champions League win.
https://youaremyarsenal.com/arsenal-eight-straight-clean-sheets-prague/

Tactical Tweaks II: Saka's Wing Swap

And what about shifting Bukayo Saka to the left wing during matches? This has been talked about since we signed Madueke during the summer considering how both can easily play from either wing. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Why mess with perfection?" And I get it! Saka's been our main man on the right, but hear me out.

Arteta's aiming to make our attack more unpredictable, and this wing swap is a clever way to do it. Imagine the chaos it causes for the opposition! Defenders are so used to Saka on the right, and suddenly, he's popping up on the left, cutting inside, and creating new angles. It's a tactical twist that could be especially effective late in games when defenses are tired.

We saw a glimpse of this in the Champions League, where Saka moved to the left and scored a crucial goal. Arteta values versatility, and this flexibility could be a game-changer as we push for the title. What do you think, fellow Gunners? Is this a masterstroke in the making? Let me know your thoughts!

Related reads:

Arteta's new move to make Arsenal more unpredictable
Arteta trials tactical switch that could have huge benefit in title race
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-fc-arteta-change-saka-b1256816.html

Hincapie: The Versatile Warrior Impresses

And what did you make of Piero Hincapie so far? The reports are in, and it seems like Arteta has brought in a player who can slot in seamlessly at both left-back and center-back.

What's really exciting is his versatility. He's got the speed and stamina to contribute offensively, overlapping and providing width, but he's also a defensive rock. The article mentions his duel success rate being the highest of any Arsenal player this season already! Talk about making an impact.

Arteta's already calling him a "warrior," and with his ability to adapt and his South American grit, I can't wait to see more of him in action. I'm especially keen to see how he links up with the attack from the left-back position.

Related reads:

Piero Hincapie: Arsenal defender is a physical 'beast' who 'broke the GPS' at former club and can win starting spot
Piero Hincapie joined Arsenal on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with a view to a £45m move and has been backed to win a place in Mikel Artetas defence; watch Sunderland vs Arsenal live on Sky Sports Premier League from 5pm on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13464803/piero-hincapie-arsenal-defender-is-a-physical-beast-who-broke-the-gps-at-former-club-and-can-win-starting-spot
New signing profile: Piero Hincapie
Following some late left-sided departures, Arsenal managed to squeeze in one more deal to make Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie their eighth summer signing. But who is the Ecuadorian, what will he bring to the side and is he worth (up to) Ā£45 million? Phil Costa reports. — Arsene Wenger once spoke about the best […]
https://arseblog.com/2025/09/new-signing-profile-piero-hincapie/
Why Arteta is so excited to unleash Arsenal ā€˜warrior’ Hincapie
Left-sided defender will bring ā€˜intensity, physicality and emotion’ to the team following his return to fitness
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-why-arteta-is-excited-about-hincapie-b1255391.html

Testing our squad depth!

Solid, dependable, versatile, not a starter, not exactly in their prime. Most of us would use that to describe Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard. Remember during the summer transfer window, when they were seen as dispensable? Well, fast forward to now, and they are not just in the team, they are crucial.

Due to some unfortunate injuries, especially in the attacking front, Arteta has depended on Merino and Trossard to make valuable contributions and both have answered his calls by putting in the work, scoring vital goals, and assisting like a boss!

They are proving their worth in this title chase, and honestly, I couldn't be happier to see them thriving in the Arsenal shirt!

Related reads:

Mikel Merino: Through the Looking Glass
I started writing this column in February 2011, the week before Arsenal lost the Carling Cup Final to Birmingham City. The loss of the Carling Cup Final led to a summer that saw Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leave the club (Gale Clichy also departed the club that summer in far quieter circumstances). In April […]
https://arseblog.com/2025/11/mikel-merino-through-the-looking-glass/
How Merino has become Arsenal's 'glue' after Arteta 'invention'
Spaniard has stepped up in absence of star striker
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/merino-arteta-arsenal-fc-b1256573.html
Arsenal’s Mr Reliable: How Leandro Trossard Became a Key Man for Mikel Arteta | Opta Analyst
Only a couple of months ago, Leandro Trossard appeared to be fourth in the pecking order on Arsenal’s left, but his importance has grown as the season has gone on.
https://theanalyst.com/articles/leandro-trossard-arsenal-reliable-stats
Trossard on mindset and loving life at Arsenal
Leandro Trossard previews our trip to Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League
https://www.arsenal.com/news/trossard-mindset-and-loving-life-arsenal

Have a good day. COYG!

Stu's avatar
Stu
3mo

And that’s 0-2. Merino with an easy finish right after HT. Not even marked. #Arsenal #COYG #merino

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