Are Arsenal Actually Better This Season?

Arsenal’s tactical evolution: risk, control and the search for a higher ceiling

Arsenal fans have spent the early stages of this Premier League season asking a pointed question: are Arsenal actually better this season, or simply different? On the surface, they appear to take more risks in possession, play fewer long balls and lean less on set pieces. The deeper reality is that Mikel Arteta has reshaped Arsenal’s tactical identity to build a side capable of dominating the biggest games in Europe as well as a domestic title race.

PedTalks research indicates this evolution followed a period of reflection after last season’s Champions League final and title run. Arsenal had proved they could accumulate points and compete until the final weeks. The challenge for Arteta was to create a team that not only won consistently but also controlled the highest level contests through the middle of the pitch.

How Arsenal changed tactically this season

Arsenal’s shift started with the ball. Previously, they were known for structured patterns to progress play but were still willing to use long diagonals to wingers and lean heavily on set piece routines. This season, Arteta’s team place far greater emphasis on short combinations in central zones, riskier passing between defenders and midfielders, and more aggressive full back positioning.

The first notable change came in the build up phase. Instead of defaulting to a goalkeeper or centre back launching longer passes into the channels, Arsenal invite pressure and keep the ball on the floor. One pivot midfielder often drops very close to the centre backs while the other occupies pockets just beyond the first line of pressure. Full backs step into narrow central lanes to overload the middle, allowing wingers to stay higher and wider.

This geometry creates a more fluid central structure. Arsenal try to draw opponents in, then play vertical passes between the lines. The risk is clear: any technical mistake in the first or second pass can lead to turnovers in dangerous areas. The reward is access to central progressions and combinations that top Champions League sides rely on.

Out of possession, Arsenal push the defensive line higher and compress the pitch, trusting centre backs and the holding midfielder in more space. The aim is to keep opponents penned in and recycle attacks rather than retreating into a deeper block.

Why Arsenal felt they needed to change

Reports suggest last season convinced Arteta that Arsenal had reached the limit of a slightly more pragmatic model. The team had become extremely good at forcing set pieces, pressing high and capitalising on broken play, but there were moments in Europe and against direct rivals where they lacked variety in open play.

The Champions League final was a turning point. Arsenal defended well for long spells but struggled to exert lasting control in midfield. Against the very best clubs, transitions matter, but control through the middle is often decisive. The lesson for Arteta: to win those matches consistently, Arsenal needed greater comfort in possession under pressure, less reliance on restarts and more ability to dictate rhythm.

Another factor was predictability. Opponents had begun preparing specifically for Arsenal’s wide overloads and set piece strength. By shifting the emphasis to central progression and more varied rotations, Arsenal aimed to make it harder for rivals to game plan against them over a long season.

The role of risk and the Brighton example

The increased risk in possession naturally produced some uneven performances. The Brighton match early in the campaign became a reference point in the debate around whether Arsenal were actually better. Full backs pushed extremely high and Arsenal passed through the middle repeatedly. At times this suffocated Brighton; at others it offered them space to counter quickly when possession was lost.

PedTalks team sources confirm that the coaching staff accepted this volatility as part of a larger strategic bet. The idea was that over a season, improved central control and higher quality chances from open play would outweigh the occasional costly turnover. From a data perspective, Arsenal aimed to increase open play expected goals while accepting a small rise in expected goals conceded from counterattacks.

The Brighton performance also showed Arsenal were not simply chasing aesthetics. When game state demanded it, they still leaned on pressing traps and structured wide attacks. The tactical evolution was about adding layers, not discarding previous strengths.

Are Arsenal actually better this season

Structurally, Arsenal are a more complete team. They have added a higher risk, higher reward possession model on top of an already strong pressing and set piece platform. Their midfield structure is more adaptable, their full backs contribute more centrally and their wingers receive the ball in more dangerous areas closer to goal.

There are trade offs. The new approach can leave Arsenal slightly more open in defensive transition, particularly if counter pressing timing is off. It also places a heavier technical burden on centre backs and the goalkeeper, who must execute difficult passes under pressure. Early in the season, this led to nervous moments and isolated errors.

The key strategic question is whether this style raises their ceiling enough to justify the added risk. Evidence leans towards yes. Against high level opponents, Arsenal now have multiple routes to progress the ball, can collapse central blocks with combinations and do not rely as heavily on dead balls to create their biggest chances.

Whether this translates into silverware depends on consistency, squad fitness and recruitment. Judged on a tactical and strategic level, though, Arsenal are better positioned to compete at the very top. They are less one dimensional, more assertive in central areas and more aligned with the modern standard set by Europe’s most dominant sides.

The shift does not guarantee perfection, and growing pains were inevitable. But in terms of underlying performance and potential, Arteta’s bolder Arsenal now look more like a team built to win the biggest matches, not just compete in them.