Opinion: Arteta Unveils Double Pivot in Arsenal’s 3-0 Win Over Athletic Club

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·10 August 2025

Opinion: Arteta Unveils Double Pivot in Arsenal’s 3-0 Win Over Athletic Club

In their most recent friendly against Athletic Club, Arsenal welcomed the return of key players to the starting eleven, but a tactical adjustment particularly caught the eye during the game. The Gunners ran out comfortable 3-0 winners on Saturday 9th August, thanks to goals from Viktor Gyökeres, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.

Arsenal were back to their best in front of their home support as they asserted themselves on their opponents. All the players, from David Raya right down to Gyökeres up top, were far more energetic and urgent with their play compared to Villarreal in midweek. They moved the ball with far more intensity and urgency, producing a display that surely warranted the scoreline.

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Arguably the best player on the pitch was Martin Zubimendi, with the Spaniard producing an exceptional, all-round display in midfield.

Tactical tweak sees Rice and Zubimendi combine

Ahead of the encounter, most would have expected Zubimendi to play as the lone pivot, just as he did in his previous appearances during pre-season; however, that was not the case. Almost immediately from kick-off, a tactical adjustment was noticeable – the positioning of Declan Rice.

The England international did not feature in the left eight position, instead drifting into the base of midfield and closer to Zubimendi. Rice was then spotted dictating play in midfield, taking turns with the Spaniard to build from the back. At times, Rice even played deeper than Zubimendi, dropping in between William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães to dictate the tempo and launch attacks from deep.

This allowed us to see his excellent passing range as he often picked out the wide players with long, raking balls. We also saw a more front-footed performance from Zubimendi, who covered the midfield tirelessly. Martin Ødegaard was often centrally biased as a result, even though he stayed close to Bukayo Saka for much of the game.

Due to the double pivot, Riccardo Calafiori did not invert or tuck into midfield, instead advancing into dangerous areas in attack. The structure of the midfield provided a solid platform to build from, leading to a commanding performance and eventual victory.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Could the double pivot return next season?

The double pivot was utilised by Mikel Arteta during his early days in charge. He ditched it in the 2022-23 season, but could we see it make a return for next season? Its effectiveness against Athletic Club suggests it could prove beneficial, and it is likely we will see it more often.

It is important to note that Zubimendi became the lone pivot when Mikel Merino came on, with Myles Lewis-Skelly – who had also come on – inverting into the midfield. The ability to play with two players at the base of midfield will no doubt add another dimension to Arsenal’s game, and switching seamlessly between both midfield structures will be an incredible asset to have.

What are your thoughts? Was it really that effective? Could it provide a viable solution to our slow build-up? Your thoughts are much appreciated in the comments.

Benjamin Kenneth

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