Monday 24 April 2017 11:28, UK
Arsene Wenger's switch to a three-man defence is an encouraging sign he can alter his methods at Arsenal, according to Alan Smith.
Wenger used the system for the first time since 1997 at Middlesbrough last week, and an unchanged line-up beat Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday to reach the eighth FA Cup final of the Frenchman's era.
The Arsenal boss again batted away questions on his future in the aftermath of the 2-1 win, and a split fanbase still does not know whether Wenger will be in charge next season.
Smith, who scored 115 goals for the club and twice won the league title, said back in February Wenger should make way for "a different voice and new methods" when his deal is up in the summer.
But the Sky Sports pundit told Premier League Daily Wenger's new formation could be a sign he is listening to his coaches as he heads into a week ending with Super Sunday's north London derby.
"He was talking about reinventing himself the other week," Smith said. "Maybe this is all a part of it.
"It would be interesting to know if maybe Steve Bould had some input there, if the coaches around him said 'listen, we've got to do something here'.
"From a physical aspect they were getting bullied with direct long balls into the box they couldn't handle, so he's put another man in there.
"He played it at Middlesbrough, I'm sure, with a view to the weekend. We did that in 1989 coming up to the [title-deciding] game at Anfield. We played a back three against Manchester United just to sort things out, because George Graham wanted to play that in the game at Anfield.
"At times Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - in a different role for him as right wing-back - was coming back next to his centre-half, Nacho Monreal the same, and it was a back five.
"Man City had the ball and you looked at all the red-and-white shirts, and all of a sudden you felt a bit more secure with all the bodies in between the ball and the goal. That hasn't always been the case.
"It's worked. Whether it's going to be something more long-term, I don't know, but it's nice to see because it's that tactical innovation, that willingness to change things - at the start of a game or halfway through - to change shape, personnel [that has been questioned].
"He very rarely makes substitutions before 70 minutes - that's another criticism from fans - but it was good to see him try something different."
Sunday's win is "not a magic wand", according to Smith, but he said: "You can't turn your nose up at the result and the fact they're in another final.
"There are only so many trophies on offer, so if they manage to win one it's been a decent season."
