By Martin Graham
Mikel Arteta has become accustomed to late changes this season, with players withdrawing during the warm-up before kickoff.
When Riccardo Calafiori was forced out ahead of Arsenal’s meeting with Wigan on Sunday, it marked the third occasion in this campaign that the Gunners had to reshuffle plans at the last moment.
Unlike previous instances against Brighton and Leeds, when Arteta opted for direct replacements in the same positions, this time he reorganised the structure of his side.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, initially set to begin in midfield, shifted to left-back, while Bukayo Saka — continuing his return from a hip problem — was deployed centrally in a number 10 role.
The adjustment was influenced by a shortage of midfielders. Captain Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Mikel Merino are sidelined through injury, and Ethan Nwaneri is currently on loan at Marseille.
Saka’s central influence
This was not unfamiliar territory for Saka under Arteta. During the 2020 lockdown campaign, he featured in midfield against Brighton in a 2-1 defeat, striking the crossbar from a distance and setting up a goal for Nicolas Pepe.
Widely regarded as one of the leading wide players in the game, the 24-year-old has seen a dip in output compared to expectations this season, yet he still has seven goals and seven assists in 33 appearances across all competitions.
Operating through the middle against Wigan, Saka demonstrated his ability to manoeuvre in congested areas, retaining possession despite close attention from opponents.
He frequently dropped deeper to collect the ball and rotated positions with Noni Madueke on the right flank. Arsenal’s third goal originated from Saka’s delivery following effective interplay between the pair.
Options for the run-in
Using Saka centrally could also create space for 16-year-old Max Dowman to feature, allowing Arteta to include both players in the same starting XI.
Madueke’s recent displays have strengthened the case for tactical flexibility. He has registered three goals and one assist in his past five outings.
With Wolves next on Wednesday and midfield resources stretched, there is a possibility that Saka continues in the advanced central position.
Arteta has indicated that the experiment may not be a one-off. “That’s something that’s a possibility, and I wanted to try it, and we might use it in the future,” he said.
“There are still so many games, competitions, and different scenarios to play in this season, and that’s a possibility that we have.”