I wrote about this a few weeks ago [here https://arseblog.com/2020/10/pinch-of-pepe-bag-of-saka/] but I have concerns about the super precise way in which Arsenal try to attack under Arteta. I think many of us are assuming that he is making the team solid as a first priority and he'll get to the attack later.

I don't think the evidence supports that assumption [so far, there is plenty of time for things to change]. So far we are still playing Auba on the left, Saka is still playing as a wing-back and Willian is broadly preferred to Pepe while the CF is there for structure over goals.

All of these are the cautious choice and the evidence so far points to this just being the way that Arteta sees his attack, as a series of eye of the needle, intensely choreographed processes that require the ball to perfectly travel from GK to forwards.

Remember Ibrahimovic's critique of playing for a Guardiola team as like being a schoolboy, where there is no room for improvisation or instinct? I sense something similar going on here.

Arteta prefers the structure guys who do exactly what they're told at the expense of guys that take risks and ultimately, take shots. [Remember how he struggled to integrate an instinctive, high volume action attacker like Martinelli prior to his injury too].

Ultimately, this is something I am worried about long-term. Arteta has taken care of part 1- making Arsenal more solid. It's still early in his reign and plenty can change, but part 2- turning Arsenal into a side that can dominate teams in an attacking sense? Let's see!