How Real Madrid would line up under Mikel Arteta

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 9 Mar 2023 12:29 GMT
• 4 min read

Mikel Arteta has been linked with the Real Madrid manager's job. How would los Blancos line up if the Arsenal man did replace Carlo Ancelotti?

Arteta has steered Arsenal to the top of the Premier League this season, and there is real hope around North London that he can end a title drought stretching back to the 'Invincibles' season in 2004.

Ancelotti is coming under pressure, meanwhile. Real are Spanish and European champions but they trail great rivals Barcelona by nine points at the top of La Liga and the Italian, who is 64 in June, has been linked with the vacant Brazil manager's job.

READ: Five coaches who could replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid

Arteta has dismissed speculation that he could be Ancelotti's successor at the Santiago Bernabeu, but that doesn't mean such a move is impossible. How would Real look under the Spaniard?

Real Madrid under Arteta?

Happily for many of Madrid's players, they are accustomed to playing in a 4-3-3 under Ancelotti, and Arteta shifted to the formation from a 4-2-3-1 last October, but more on that later.

The primary point of departure from this season's Real to next term's is likely to be at the point of their attack. Karim Benzema's injuries are beginning to get the better of him and his former France teammate Kylian Mbappe is the overwhelming favourite to succeed him.

READ: Why Real Madrid cheered PSG going out of Champions League

Mbappe and Real have continued to flirt with each other publicly since the forward U-turned on joining them last May, instead signing a two-year extension in Paris.

Real have Brazilian prodigy Endrick joining from Palmeiras in the summer of 2024, meanwhile, but a one-year interim between him and Benzema is a long time in football…

If Real were to sign one player from Arsenal, meanwhile, it would surely be Bukayo Saka. The England winger has 10 goals and nine assists from 26 Premier League games this season, and has a high enough ceiling to make it at the record European champions.

With Saka on the right wing, Federico Valverde could drop back into midfield, the most attacking of a three at Real in the way that Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is with the Gunners.

One the opposite side, Eduardo Camavinga might take heart from Granit Xhaka's recent experience - the Swiss has gone from a frustrated defensive midfielder to goalscoring box-to-box one.

He might get the chance too, with the futures of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos uncertain and with top transfer target Jude Bellingham reportedly leaning towards a move to Liverpool from Borussia Dortmund.

Further back, there may be little reason for an overhaul, but David alaba could find himself used as a left-back once again. Arteta likes having Oleksandr Zinchenko's ability to take part in play further up the field at Arsenal, and Alaba shares that ability with the Ukrainian in a way that Ferland Mendy does not.