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Arsenal's tactical shift could ease pain over Sanchez loss

Clive Mason / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The conversation early on revolved around Crystal Palace's inability to defend against a potent attack, but it was Arsenal's shift back to a familiar tactical approach that produced a decisive win and possibly help spawn a revival in north London.

The demolition of Palace in the opening 34 minutes of Saturday's 4-1 win offered Arsenal supporters something to boost their spirits as the club edges closer to selling Alexis Sanchez to Premier League rival Manchester United.

The pending arrival of Henrikh Mkhitaryan in return for the Chilean - as well as possibly Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund - will help offset Arsenal's perceived shortcomings in attack. Still, it may be a return to a conventional defensive alignment that could offer the best solution for an at times uninspiring Arsenal side that's struggled to adapt to the growing three-back movement within the Premier League.

There is perhaps no better example of the trend failing Arsenal than when Manchester United ran riot in December against a backline comprised of Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, and Nacho Monreal, bagging two goals in the opening 11 minutes. An injury to Mustafi was the blessing in disguise that Arsenal needed to avoid an embarrassing thrashing at home as Arsene Wenger's decision to revert to a back-four helped to steady the ship in a fixture that ultimately ended in defeat for the Gunners.

"It (four at the back) is my preferred system," Wenger later said, per The Telegraph. "But I adjust always what suits the players, the quality of the players, the balance of the team.

"I went to a back-four (against Manchester United) as we were 2-0 down and I put on an offensive player as we had to come back."

Along with providing increased protection in defence, a return to a four-man system has appeared to generate a positive ripple effect throughout the team. The brand of football that's become associated with Wenger was on full display Saturday as Arsenal dominated possession and carved through Crystal Palace with the type of passing performance that may have been disrupted had Sanchez been included in the matchday squad.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

For all his positive influences on the pitch, Sanchez often bites off more than he could chew when he overlooks teammates in favour of risky take-ons that regularly result in lost possessions. It's an aspect of his game that sporadically produces positive results but also frustrates those around him, as Sanchez is one of the Premier League's worst offenders at losing the ball this season, being dispossessed 48 times.

It appeared as though the shackles were off for a majority of Saturday's contest which featured the type of one-touch football that disrupts the opposition's defensive schemes and has historically benefited Wenger's teams since he took charge over 20 years ago.

It remains to be seen whether Wenger will permanently ditch the back-three, but Arsenal's latest performance offers reason for optimism that the club can overcome the departure of a player with such undeniable ability.

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