Arsene Wenger: Arsenal more stable, but three at the back not final solution

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his tactical switch to three at the back brought more stability to the team in Monday’s 2-1 win at Middlesbrough, but hinted that it won’t be a permanent solution.
Wenger responded to Arsenal’s 3-0 loss at Crystal Palace by switching formations to a 3-4-2-1, playing with a three-man back line for the first time in his 21-year reign as Gunners boss.
It provided the result the Gunners so badly needed, although it wasn’t a particularly convincing performance as Wenger’s team still looked vulnerable defensively at times.
Alvaro Negredo was able to equalise in the second half after Nacho Monreal failed to close down Stewart Downing and Laurent Koscielny couldn’t deal with the cross into the box, and Petr Cech had to pull off a couple of late saves after Mesut Ozil had restored Arsenal’s lead.
But Wenger said the tactical switch had the desired effect.
“I felt that it added a bit more stability on the long balls. We knew we’d face a direct game and recently we’ve been punished on that,” Wenger told Sky Sports. “Of course, the opponents had a bit more of the ball than we’re used to. We lost two games against West Brom and Crystal Palace where we had 70 percent of possession, and today we had a bit less.”
The new formation meant Rob Holding made his first Premier League start since August alongside Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista, with right-back Hector Bellerin dropped to the bench.
Asked if this could be the way forward for Arsenal, Wenger said: “No, we want to have the ball. But sometimes when a team lacks confidence, just to change the system can help to believe in something different.”
In the end it was Arsenal’s two big stars who made the difference, rather than the system. Alexis Sanchez curled in a perfect free kick to give the Gunners the lead in the first half, then helped set up Ozil for the winner.
Sanchez floated a ball over the top into the box that was downed by Aaron Ramsey into the path of Ozil, and the German finished with a right-footed shot past Brad Guzan.

POSTED BY:OPUOMONI PRIYE
DATE:04/22/2017