When Mikel Arteta first arrived at Arsenal, he deployed a back-five system and it was very successful as a short-term option, winning him the 2020 FA Cup. But you feel Arteta's long-term vision has always been something closer to the formation and style that his mentor Pep Guardiola uses at Manchester City.
It isn't exactly the same as City's system but it is similar and it was on show in their 3-2 win at Watford last weekend.
Thomas Partey acts as their deepest midfielder — the nightwatchman who patrols and protects the back four. Either side of Partey and pushing up high in midfield and into pockets of space are Granit Xhaka on the left and the increasingly influential Martin Odegaard on the right.
The eye-catching Odegaard moves intelligently between the opposition's defence and midfield and links up perfectly with Bukayo Saka.
There's a blossoming relationship developing between those two as Odegaard releases Saka so he can raid forward down that right wing, or he can also look inside to link up with Alexandre Lacazette instead.
Right back Cedric is also getting up in support by making underlapping runs and outnumbering the opposition on that side of the pitch.
One of those runs was essential in the build-up to the team's third goal at Watford as Saka's quick throw-in found the marauding Cedric. Arsenal's left-hand side is different to the right as there's a carousel in play.
Often you'll see Kieran Tierney fly down the left flank, Gabriel Martinelli move into midfield and Xhaka drop to left back to receive the ball. In that motion, it is very difficult for the opposition to pick up all three of those players.
Meanwhile, Lacazette isn't an out-and-out No 9 who religiously stays at the top of the team — he is mobile
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