Arteta hints at tactical shift

February 17, 2026 Oliver Obel

By the time Bukayo Saka drifted into midfield against Wigan, it felt less like an emergency adjustment and more like a trial run for something bigger.

Arsenal’s season has been shaped by fine margins tight matches, rotating lineups, and a steady list of absentees. Sunday’s FA Cup tie added another complication when Riccardo Calafiori withdrew before kick-off. But instead of replacing him directly, Mikel Arteta altered the geometry of his attack.

Saka moved inside.

A Tactical Pivot, Not Just a Patch

As reported by BBC Sport, the reshuffle saw Myles Lewis-Skelly fill in at left-back while Saka operated centrally as a number 10. With Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino unavailable, Arsenal lack their usual interior creators. Arteta’s solution was to redeploy his most reliable wide threat.

That choice carried intent.

Rather than stationing Saka on the touchline — where he typically isolates defenders and cuts onto his left foot Arsenal positioned him between the lines. From there, he could receive on either turn, combine quickly, or drift laterally to overload a flank.

Early on, the Emirates crowd responded audibly each time he found space in tight central pockets. The experiment was noticeable.

Different Spaces, Different Demands

Central play presents a sharper test. Possession lost in those areas can trigger immediate counter-attacks, which is one reason Arsenal often build around the edges. Arteta’s teams traditionally value control over chaos.

Yet Saka’s strengths translate well inside. He protects the ball instinctively, absorbs contact, and accelerates away from pressure. Those traits allowed him to rotate seamlessly with Noni Madueke, who maintained width when Saka vacated the right channel.

One such interchange preceded Arsenal’s third goal, with Saka delivering from a shifted position after drawing defenders inward. The movement disrupted Wigan’s structure more than a static setup would have.

Arteta later hinted the adjustment could reappear.

“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.”

He added that operating centrally makes it “more difficult for the opponent to get his reference constantly.”

Beyond the Immediate Fix

This was not Saka’s first experience in midfield he featured there briefly during the 2020 campaign but the context now is different. Arsenal are competing across competitions, and squad depth will likely determine how far they go.

His season tally of seven goals and seven assists in 33 appearances is steady, though slightly below the explosive standards he has set in recent years. Playing closer to goal and in more varied shooting lanes could help lift those numbers.

More broadly, the shift suggests Arsenal are preparing for flexibility rather than waiting for injured midfielders to return. In a congested calendar, unpredictability can be as valuable as personnel.

Whether Saka’s central role becomes regular or remains situational may depend on who returns to fitness first. But Sunday offered a glimpse of an attack less tied to fixed positions and a manager willing to rewire his system midstream.

Sources: BBC Sport