How effective can 3-5-2 be for Arsenal this season?

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The Premier League certainly returned with a bang, serving up a pulsating match at The Emirates, in which Arsenal ran out 4-3 winners over Leicester City. It had everything you could ask for from an opening game, in a match fans have been anticipating for a long and gruelling ten-weeks without football.

In terms of winning three points, Arsene Wenger would have envisaged it being done in slightly less dramatic fashion. All that matters first and foremost for a club challenging at the top of the table is getting the three points, which the Frenchman’s side did, thanks to a two-minute turnaround, with goals from Aaron Ramsey and then a trademark Olivier Giroud header.

One thing that was clear in the way Arsenal set up was the system clearly trying to be implemented by Wenger – much like Antonio Conte’s title-winning one. Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi, and Alexis Sanchez missed out through injury – three players whom would be in the starting eleven.

Wenger opted for a back-three of Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal and summer-signing Sead Kolasinac, with the sheer pace of Hector Bellerin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain operating the flanks in the wing-back positions.

Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka slotted in in the two defensive midfield roles, in front of the back-three, with Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck and Alexandre Lacazette used as the front-three.

The back-three that played against The Foxes are all players that are comfortable in possession, which is key to being able to set-up in the way Conte did so successfully last season.

It is a formation that requires your wing-backs to have the highest levels of fitness, with Oxlade-Chamberlain and Bellerin constantly up and down the pitch. in defence and attack.

Obviously Arsene Wenger will be delighted to kick off the 2017/18 campaign with a victory, but if he is to succeed with the 3-4-3 moving forward, it is clear a few things will need some work on the training ground to do so.

The wing backs over-committing was a clear issue against Craig Shakespeare’s side. Marc Albrighton, probably not regarded as one of the most dangerous wingers in the league, caused utter mayhem in the first-half with his crosses constantly being whipped in with venom.

Hector Bellerin was often playing far too high up the pitch, causing Rob Holding to have a rather shaky first half, often losing possession, with no real options for him to pass out of defence to.

The pace of Jamie Vardy and the willingness and pressing displayed by Shinji Okazaki caused Arsenal’s back line problems. When Mustafi and Koscielny return it should tighten the defence, but the 3-4-3 will take time for Arsenal to adapt to for sure.

Granit Xhaka made two assists, but gifted Leicester their second goal. The two holding midfield players in such a formation have a great responsibility and it will be the first and last time Wenger will want to concede a goal in such manner.

Although the ever-present question marks over Arsenal’s defence still proceed to exist, the attacking play will have impressed the fans and manager. There was the flow and flair to Arsenal’s play that we have become accustomed to, with Lacazette and Welbeck looking menacingly dangerous.

Mesut Ozil is the brains in the squad, picking out passes in between the lines, this formation is one that should suit a player like the German, giving him freedom to express himself.

One thing that will greatly please Wenger is his marquee signing opening his account in the first game. It was a goal that showed Alexandre Lacazette’s predatory instinct, a bullet header into the bottom corner, one minute forty seconds into his debut.

There were plenty of pros and cons from the opening day and Arsenal are long over-due some league success that the fanatical Emirates faithful so desperately crave.

It doesn’t take a genius to know that Alexis Sanchez must remain at the club for that possibility to remain, with the Chilean so instrumental for The Gunners last season.

A trip to Stoke City is next up, a ground that Arsenal have found an Achilles heal in recent times for sure.