Emery's tactics board hints at system Arsenal will play ahead of new Premier League campaign

Unai Emery's tactics appear to show his team will play an exciting brand of football [Photo: Courtesy]

Unai Emery’s tactics appear to show his Arsenal team will play a brand of football very similar to the one he utilised at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Spaniard was always expected to introduce a modern pressing style to this Gunners side, after he spoke out about his philosophy upon being appointed.

"I am very demanding myself and I want here people who are demanding also, the players demanding also," said Emery. "My idea is to be the protagonist all of the match. The history here is one thing - they love to play in possession of the ball. I like this personality."

It looks as if Arsenal will play a version of Emery's 4-1-4-1 system [Photo: Courtesy]

"I like this personality and when we don't have the ball I want a squad to play with intensive pressure. Two important things are position of the ball and pressing when you haven't got it."

Emery recently showed off his tactics board on the Arsenal training ground, and it appears he has drawn up a rather interesting formation.

At Paris Saint-Germain the Spaniard often played a 4-1-4-1 system that enabled his side to attack with numbers, but also overcrowd the midfield when defending.

Emery talks tactics with his assistant coach at Arsenal Steve Bould [Photo: Courtesy]

It doesn't look as if Arsenal will copy this exactly, but it does appear as if they will play a version of it - a 4-1-2-2-1, or perhaps more recognisable as a 4-3-3.

Across the back Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal will likely run the flanks with new boy Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi protecting keeper Bernd Leno.

This summer's £22million signing Lucas Torreira will then work as the anchor man in front of the centre-back pairing, which is where the parallels to the 4-1-4-1 begin.

In front of him Emery has a selection of players to choose from; Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka to Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and even Emile Smith Rowe.

Arsenal's front three will then likely consist of either Ozil or Mkhitaryan on the right flank, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the left and Alexandre Lacazette up top.

Arsenal travelled to Asia for their pre-season training camp [Photo: Courtesy]

Explaining his fondness for the system at Paris Saint-Germain, Emery previously said: "For me, the 4-1-4-1 is the system which facilitates that type of pressing."

"The 4-4-2 is designed more and more for zonal positioning. It's less aggressive, but is more difficult to get past. That's the case with Marcelino's teams, Quique Sanchez Flores' teams, Saint-Etienne when we last played them.

"I am not ruling out the possibility of a 4-4-2. That's not the idea that I privilege, but if it allows me to be more competitive, then I'll go towards it without hesitating.

"We sometimes used it in Sevilla. I would put [Ever] Banega in a playmaker position, and have him move to the second striker position without the ball."