Time constraints of life meant I was never able to give this document as much attention as I wanted to.
Throughout the season (and primarily through the first half of the season) I wrote reflections on Arteta’s Arsenal — a wonderful team, looking to find the smallest of gaps in their game.
From the limited time I spent doing this the observations went as follows. Given that the season’s twilight is upon us and with the worry of having all of this analysis become redundant by time, I thought I’d share them regardless of whether or not they were as fleshed out or formatted in a way I’d be perfectly satisfied with.
Reflections:
• Look to play through press on Saka’s side. After this, possibly look to switch to underloaded/free Zinchenko side before attacking him 1v1 (supplementary: Q0)
Q0: (via Arteta): “demand more [of Saka], especially in defensive moments that we allowed their left full-back to progress the play & break our press too easily.”
• It is important to waste time and halt rhythm appropriately but if delays are too substantial Arteta’s regrouping and ‘timeout’ coaching can be a negative for opposition. With a younger squad, a constant managerial voice and a physical regrouping prevents a team becoming ‘stranded at sea’. Gets across tactical tweaks clearly too.
• Xhaka and Jesus are leaders within the side. In pre-match huddles and talks, both Xhaka and Jesus are primarily vocal (see: Q1, Q2).
I am suprised teams have not attempted to antagonise both players more than they have, given their emotional temperament. Xhaka has undoubtedly improved in this regard this season but there have been occasions this season where he has had to be reeled in by say, Arteta.
In cricket, sledging aids in getting batters dismissed particularly in high pressure situations. I don’t know why this, alongside clever, sly, physical provocation has not been used to attempt to destablise the leaders of this side. Ben White possibly another in this mould. Excellent on-field leaders, with the possibility of being provoked. This would work best too, in conjunction with a fiery home (non-Arsenal) crowd.
Q1: (via Martinell): “What I say, I don’t remember!” says Martinelli, laughing. “But Granit always says very positive things: to keep going, to keep the ball and try to attack in behind. These kinds of things. He’s the guy who always leads us on the pitch.”
Q2: (via report): ‘In recent games, it has been Xhaka who has called the team together after every goal to reiterate key messages.’
• Thomas Partey is susceptible to being pressed from the right hand side of his body particularly if you’re running from behind (blind spot). This can probably be best done by the #9 running back to pick Partey’s pocket.
• In the Crystal Palace game earlier this season, there was a nice build-up scheme vs Arsenal:
Andersen played a diagonal pass to the LB after he’d made a movement in behind Saka who pressed up on Crystal Palace. If Saka doesn’t press, Arsenal as a collective shift deeper. If he does, the LB can be found in this 4-1 first phase shape. To counter this, Ben White (or other RB) may back up the press but Palace (iirc) had a wide player moving inside pinning White narrow, and a second player on Saliba. It was nice. The 4-1 buildup in general was nice. I think Southampton, and possibly Leeds had some joy with it. This is from memory though, not any notes so forgive me if I’m misremembering. Brighton’s 4-2 was nice as well. Southampton found success with the 4-2 shape too, finding their LB behind Saka.
• When playing a long pass into the channel, there may be more joy in going long to Arsenal’s right flank (if Ben White). Zinchenko’s aerial duel % (and on eye test) seem to be good. Xhaka and Martinelli tend to convene with more urgency too. Ben White vs LW and winning that second ball possibly a more viable option.
• Is there a question to be posed about letting Gabriel have the ball in possession (first/second phase?) whilst covering other options?
• Arteta is reported to ‘explain to his players how they will play through an opponent based on how they will defend’, perhaps novel defensive set-ups could combat that. Arsenal have developed chemistry within subunits that may allow them to combat that more intuitively but it is worth exploring.
• Arsenal utilise long shots well, and more than other ‘elite possession’ sides of the post-xG/shot model era, who try to manufacture ‘guaranteed looks’. For this reason, it should be pretty obvious to be wary of this threat and close down readily in dangerous zones. Against others, this would go less punished but Arsenal are great, see: Saka, Odegaard, Vieira, ESR.
• Arsenal overload and crowd the ball-side from opposition throw-ins. This is an incredibly underutilised part of the game for Arsenal’s opponents. I think there's potential to exploit Arsenal’s crowding of one side of the field at throw-ins via choreographed throw-in routines that work to manufacture quick cross-field switches to the free-side.
Throw-ins with intention to switch play is a suggestion I first identified watching peak Klopp’s Liverpool, who eventually lost the Champions League via a Vinicius goal that was initiated first by a Madrid throw-in that worked to move the ball to the opposite side (whether intentional or not, I’m unsure).
• Looping crosses against Arsenal (see: Everton game) were great to see. Looping crossed as opposed to whipped/driven crosses, are in general, under-utilised.
• Odegaard’s late arrivals are brilliant. Again, be aware of them. I’ve spoken about the value of pushing stubborn, low set defences back by playinig to the byline and (or) having attackers make deep runs (eg. into the six yard box) not to be found themselves but to open up space behind them for scorers to exploit.
I’ve previously noted that certain areas of the pitch have ‘zone gravity’ and players (both sides) are drawn to them inately. There is also ‘player gravity’ — such as the gravity that draws defenders towards most top box 9s (see: Erling Haaland).
Against Arsenal, gravity of zone and attackers leaves space deeper for late arrivals. Team have to pay close attention to it vs Arsenal. Immense pressure, crowding the box and speed means opposition defenders move towards their own goal instinctively. The six yard box has gravity, as do dangerous forwards.
Typically it’s been an Odegaard movement (followed by a, usually, first time shot) to arrive in the box late between the penalty spot and the semi-circle of the box. This deliberate seeking out of the ‘edge of the box cutback’ also unlocks the longer shot from a DM too, with many of the opposition defenders drawn towards their own goal.
Its instructional, naturally. Push teams back, then shoot from the space that opens up in front of them, given the challenge of accessing space in behind. Xhaka has attempted passes in this way from the half space that are not typical ones from him or in general, so it looks like a deliberate thing.
Ultimately, it is important for teams to pay attention to Zone 3 vs Arsenal (see Q3). It is also important for teams to readily close down edge of the box/outside of the box shooters (as previously mentioned).
[Extra] A formation hypothesis:
A shape I have pondered on, against Arsenal is the uncommon 4132 defensive shape. Having not seen it enacted and with few examples to go off of, it is hard to be sure but theoretically there are benefits to this shape a team may be able to use against Arsenal.
The rationale here stems from a few things. The (1) would be tasked with working to laterally shuttle the space between defence and midfield, in which Arsenal get joy. This (1) — we’ll call him #6, would pay attention and marshall the F9 of Arsenal, rather than having a CB from the back line follow Jesus/Trossard out.
The two strikers would look to prevent the pass into and influence of Thomas Partey. With two players, one of them could be tasked with looking to pick the pockets of Partey (from the right side of his body as above) too. With two players, you have the option for one player to apply pressure on the ball/Arsenal’s CB with the option of the second focusing on the Arsenal #6.
Another possible advantage of having two in there is that it looks to tackle the tactical flexibility Arsenal have shown with the inversion of FBs, namely Zinchenko. It is a more proactive approach that initially, looks to stifle Arsenal’s immediate progression into sustained possession.
The midfield line of three ensure a minimum of two, and ideally three (depending on the #6s position and whether or not one of the two ‘CFs’ works back to defend their side) players in each flank.
This matches up/out numbers Arsenal’s flank subunits (Saka and Odegaard +/- White, Martinelli and Xhaka +/- Zinchenko). Ideally I’d want to double up on Saka too.
That could leave you a little bit stretched and requires lots of leg lateral leg work to remain compact centrally whilst ensuring the flanks (given the narrow formation) are covered.
The second CF dropping back into the midfield line (to form a 4141, rather than a 4132) once Arsenal have progressed the ball out of the first phase could be a solution here. This resembles Dyche’s Everton hybrid 451/442 shape depending on where Doucoure moved and and when.
Like Everton’s game, whether intentional or not, a drier pitch can work to prevent quick passes/switches to the underloaded flank, which would give time for the narrower midfield 3 or (less narrow) midfield 4 (given one of the two CFs drops back) to shuffle across.
Again, more of a thought experiment than anything that I’ve seen expressed this season but with sensible, reasoned justification nonetheless.
Concluding words:
These are analyses and observations I’m pleased with but naturally I would’ve liked to explore them in further detail. I don’t love the atypical formatting of this piece but I suppose it makes more an easier read? Let me know. The conversational tone is born from it being formatted atypically.
With this work being primarily from the first part of the season, I would’ve loved to have had the time to look at the quirks someone like Trossard possesses within the side given his remarkable contribution since transferring. I am sure there are other intelligent Arteta-isms that have been imprinted upon this side in the meantime too.
Regardless, I hope there is novel content in these reflections that stand out from the traditional conversations about Arsenal’s season this year. I hope there is value within this piece that extends from the casual fan to the experienced coach, illustrated by my (hopefully) accessible language.
If there are any concepts or language within the piece that blurs comprehension, I’d be happy to clarify and explain further. Again, let me know.
Loved this. Found the tone to be a perfect fit for this type of work
Would you make any changes to the suggested 4132 in the case of Jorginho being in for Partey?