The Arsenal Way: Inverted Fullback to Win Arteta EPl Matches

Arsenal have really thrived under Mikel Arteta and they have shown great flexibility in tactics. One of the key tactic that Arteta has been struggling to use is the inverted fullback and temporary fullback approach.

Arsenal lacked players who could play this tactic and that's the main reason Mikel Arteta signed Oleksandr Zhinchenko. The Ukrainian midfielder-turned fullback can be deployed as an inverted fullback. Let me expound this tactic into detail:

Inverted fullback explained:

An inverted fullback is either right back or left back who plays as a midfielder when the team is in possession.

This tactic is widely used by managers who utilise the total football or tiki taka approach. 

Temporary fullback explained:

This is a midfielder who plays as a either right back or left back when his team is in possession. Most football teams prefer a midfielder to drop and collect the ball deep in their defence but this gives more numerical advantage in the midfield. 

Advantages of this tactic:

The advantage of this tactic is to prevent your midfielder to be highly pressed and marked. By using a fullback in midfield, you will have numbers advantage and will not lack passing options in the midfield. 

Disadvantages:

You will need a good fullback who has a great vision and passing accuracy for you to reap fruits from this tactic or else you will get punished. 

So Arsenal are a great side and have mastered this tactic with Zhinchenko playing as an inverted fullback and Xhaka taking the temporary fullback role, many teams will suffer from this tactic.