The Premier League has evolved, says Arsenal boss Wenger

Oct 10, 2012 1:40:00 PM

The Gunners manager has discussed the changes in tactical flexibility and formations which have taken place since he took charge at Highbury in 1996

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has spoken out about the "evolution" of the Premier League since his arrival in England over 16 years ago.

The Frenchman believes teams nowadays are more tactically flexible, insisting that the majority of sides simply stuck to 4-4-2 in the past.

"When I arrived in England I would say there was one rigid formation, 4-4-2," Wenger told Arsenal Magazine.

"Today teams are more versatile, they can go to three defenders, five defenders, they can go to 4-4-1, 4-3-3, 4-5-1, all kinds of variants.

"I think the formations teams use are much more flexible than 15 years ago, more adaptable."

However, the 62-year-old insisted the modern emphasis on controlling the midfield has come at the expense of attacking play.

"So yes, evolution has happened, aided by a lot of European games and the influence of foreign players," he added.

"You can call it evolution, but to reduce it to an overall point you would say the midfield has been strengthened and attack has been weakened."

Meanwhile, the Gunners have announced that English youth player Chuba Akpom has signed professional terms with the club on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old from Newham is a regular in the Arsenal Under-21s and has scored twice in three NextGen appearances this term.

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history
'Mario, you will never redeem yourself'
Mario Gotze's injury means the playmaker has now played his final game for Borussia Dortmund. In an open letter, a fan tells of his emotion at his controversial switch to Bayern
BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders
BVB have recovered from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy to take their place on Europe's grandest stage, humbling their opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, along the way
Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants Isco at Chelsea
Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements
Top 10 Champions League Final Moments
As Europe braces itself for an all German classic at Wembley on Saturday, Goal.com takes a look back at some of the iconic moments in the history of Uefa's showpiece event since its rebranding in 1992.