Over the past week it has become painfully clear how precarious Arsenal's good form really was. Between December and April Mikel Arteta managed to find a system that maximised the undoubted potential of his thin squad and deserves credit for that. In the space of a week though it has become evident that this was Goldilocks football. For it to work everything had to be just right .
Among other things the Gunners needed a 'number six' capable of elite press resistance and progressive distribution. They needed a set of full backs capable of finding the perfect balance between supporting the attack and providing defensive cover. They needed a central striker capable of linking play in deeper areas to create space for their wide forwards.
Through long-term injuries for Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney, and a loss of form for Alexandre Lacazette, Arteta had lost the "specificity" that was by his own admission crucial to play his style of 4-3-3. So having lost the tenuous balance required to guide Arsenal across the tight rope that led to Champions League football, how exactly would the Spaniard cope? On Saturday we found out.
