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How Arteta's response to Brighton loss may shape Arsenal's next chapter

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are undergoing another tactical evolution, this time with a bold new approach that has delivered mixed results. The team’s recent 3-0 loss to Brighton—managed by Fabian Hurzeler—exposed vulnerabilities in a system that has otherwise thrived on control and adaptability.

Before the defeat, Arsenal had won every Premier League match this season, but the heavy defeat raised questions about whether Arteta’s latest gambles in personnel and formation could backfire. Last season’s title-winning side relied on a deep-lying Declan Rice alongside Martin Zubimendi, but this term, Rice has shifted into a back-three alongside Gabriel Magalhaes and Ezri Konsa, with Myles Lewis-Skelly anchoring a single-pivot midfield.

The 20-year-old’s influence has been pivotal, reviving momentum late last season and now forming the core of a 3-1-6 structure in possession. Dynamic movements from players like Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, and Martin Odegaard further complicate defenses, creating numerical advantages that have been Arsenal’s trademark.

Yet, the Brighton result suggests Arteta’s willingness to experiment—whether in tactics or squad selection—may now demand even greater precision to sustain success.

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