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‘I think it’s time for a back four. I’ve been saying it since the start of the season’: Arsenal legend Tony Adams urges Mikel Arteta to switch to a back four after the Gunners lose 1-0 to Manchester City
- Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta favours a three at the back formation for his side
- Tony Adams believes three at the back wins you ‘cup games but not league titles’
- Adam’s was unimpressed with Hector Bellerin and Bernd Leno’s performances
- Arsenal’s defeat at Manchester City was their second in the league this season
Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams has urged Mikel Arteta to switch to a back four after the Gunners lost 1-0 to Manchester City on Saturday.
Arteta opted to start with his familiar three at the back with two wing-backs, however the formation left his side lacking creativity in attacking areas.
After a second defeat of the league season, Adams believes now is the time to change the formation.
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates after putting his side 1-0 up against Arsenal
Arsenal legend Tony Adams (left) would like to see his former club revert to a back four
Speaking to Premier League Productions, the ex- Gunners captain said: ‘I think it’s time for a back four. I’ve been saying it since the start of the season.
‘It wins you cup games, it doesn’t win you league titles. If he wants to build for the future.
‘I think he’s got problems with Hector (Bellerin), I think his defending today wasn’t very good at all.
‘But I’d like him to go to a back four. They’ve got Gabriel now, get him a partnership.
‘They’ve been unlucky at the start with (Rob) Holding going down but get them into a back four.
‘They look like they’ve a holding midfielder now who’s got a bit of presence and build for the future.’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has mainly used a back three system during his time at the Emirates
Adams was also critical of Bellerin and Bernd Leno for their part in Raheem Sterling’s winner, with the former allowing Phil Foden to run past him, while the goalkeeper parried the 20-year-old’s strike to Sterling for a simple finish.
He added: ‘Arsenal have pressed them and they’ve played around the press very well.
‘Hector Bellerin again, and the goalkeeper, I always look at it defensively.
‘Man City were too good, they passed it around, he (Phil Foden) steps inside Hector too easy.
‘The goalkeeper is pushing it into the danger zone, you’ve got to push it away out of the danger zone, and he’s (Sterling) had a tap-in, which is disappointing.’
