New-look Swansea team took to the field against Arsenal - is the diamond here to stay?
It's not very often that, as a Swansea fan, you watch your team starting a game without knowing exactly where each player fits into the formation. Spoiled with continuity since Martinez took over in 2007, we've become completely indoctrinated in the 4-2-3-1 formation which has served us so well, and that's why the team that was picked against Arsenal raised eyebrows. Quite simply, until the team took the field it was almost impossible to predict how we were going to line up.
As it turned out, we witnessed the debut of Garry Monk's midfield diamond. Leon played at the base of the midfield, Routledge & De Guzman were just ahead and a little wider, and Shelvey sat in front of them at the head of the four. Michu then linked between our midfield and Bony, and for seventy minutes it worked a charm, frustrating Arsenal and forcing them to cut inside into a very congested area where, quite simply, they struggled to create anything meaningful.
Is this something we could use in future? I think a degree of flexibility could definitely be a massive positive for the Swans, and Arsenal were clearly confused as to how to deal with us. Every Premiership team would expect us to set up as we have over the last few years, so springing a surprise like that every now and again means that, for twenty minutes or so at least, the opposition are going to have to adjust on the job and find a way to counteract a very different Swansea shape.
There are other options too. The increasing use of a three-man defence by possession based teams has lots of Swansea fans (myself included) wondering whether that's something we could also utilise. Davies, Taylor and Rangel are all essentially wing-backs anyway, and if we're being painfully honest I'd say our wide defenders are probably of a slightly higher standard than our wingers, relative to the rest of the Premier League. It'd also mean we're able to operate with Michu and Bony in the first team, whilst still maintaining a three man midfield - it's definitely something we can look at, especially given Jordi Amat's continued rise to prominence.
Changing the Swans' system so dramatically away at Arsenal shows that Garry Monk isn't afraid to make big changes if he feels them necessary, and what's more he did so in a way which made us very competitive against an excellent side. A great bit of tactical decision-making, and Monk can't be blamed for the defence turning off for a couple of minutes - which ultimately cost us our two goals conceded.
On the whole we played well against Arsenal, apart from a relatively small period of the game which cost us dearly. In that sense, the Arsenal game could sum up how Monk has fared since taking charge - plenty to be positive about if the team could just maintain their performance levels for the entirety of the ninety minutes.
With Norwich rolling into town on the weekend, it remains to be seen how we set up or if Monk springs any more selection surprises. One thing's for sure though - if he feels a change is necessary he'll have no qualms about mixing things up. Too right too.