Arsenal Legend Explains Why Emery Started With A 4-4-2 Vs Leicester With Iwobi Deployed As LM

Arsenal suffered their fourth defeat in five matches, losing 3-0 to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and squandered another opportunity to gain ground on their rivals for a Champions League spot.

Gunners coach Unai Emery set up his team in a 4-4-2 formation, with Alex Iwobi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang playing in offensive positions.

On 24 minutes, Arsenal had their first big chance of the game as Iwobi crossed to Lacazette but the Frenchman's volley went wide.

With Ainsley Maitland-Niles sent off in the 36th minute, Leicester City used a man advantage to great advantage, with a goal from Youri Tielemans just before the hour mark and a double from Jamie Vardy in the last four minutes securing a comprehensive win for the Foxes.

In his halftime analysis on Sky Sports, Arsenal legend Ian Wright explained why the Spaniard opted to play a 4-4-2 system with Iwobi deployed as a left midfielder.

''It's the only way they're going to get in, the way they set up today with a 4-4-2 and you can see between Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Lacazette and Aubameyang, four of them were involved,'' said Wright.

''Once they get forward, you can see the four of them go forward there. And then, to be honest, this is a very, very good cutback from Iwobi and good play from Chilwell just putting him off.

''You can see the four of them, Torreira and Xhaka will stay and then the four of them go.

''This is what they got, they have the pace to do this but they've just not been close enough to Leicester to win the ball, to try and put this into effect more frequently.''

With 48 appearances under his belt from a possible 53 in all competitions, Iwobi is the most used Arsenal player this season. He subbed out before the start of the second half vs Leicester City.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com