Mikel Arteta used a tactic vs Mansfield that he now needs to ditch until next season

"Indeed, Arsenal set up in a back three to begin with, and for the opening 35 minutes of the game, Mikel Arteta's side weren't doing much other than huffing and puffing. In fact, for the first half hour or so, you'd argue that Mansfield had the better chances of the two sides."

"However, as we've seen all season, a back four suits Arsenal, and based on what we saw today, the back three needs to be put on the backburner for a while now."

"Now, we're not saying this tactic can never be used again - after all, Arsenal do have the personnel to use this formation effectively. However, we're now into the business-end of the season, literally every single game matters and there's no room for mucking about and trying things that don't work."

Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals but delivered a lackluster performance with an unusual starting lineup featuring a back three formation. For the opening 35 minutes, Arsenal struggled significantly, with Mansfield arguably creating better chances. When Leandro Trossard was injured and replaced by Piero Hincapie, Arsenal shifted to a back four, which proved more natural and effective. The back three experiment failed to produce convincing results. With the season reaching its critical phase where every match matters, tactical experimentation should be abandoned. Arsenal's back four has proven successful throughout the season and offers consistency. The back three formation should be shelved until next season, with future experimentation reserved for early cup games rather than crucial matches.

Read at Arsenal Insider