Arsenal Column
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Former personal zipper(er) to Arsène Wenger therefore privy to certain inside tactical information.
London, England
Joined April 2009
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Encouraging to see Arteta use Xhaka as a no.8 pushing up between-the-lines v Brentford. Always thought the move would open Arsenal's game more, because as we know, the aim with positional play is to overload on one side, then switch to the free man other.. 1/3
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Odegaard has such a tremendous feel for the tempo of the game. Each pass is so well weighted, with a message. Smith Rowe by comparison, is more about sudden changes of speed, but mostly favouring safe, one-touch passing. So currently, wide seems to suit him (team) more.
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I think I've accepted Calum Chambers will be Arsenal's first choice right-back (in the back of the mind, I think we fear another "Montero", but those games happen sometimes). He's powerful, tall, good under pressure and whips a great ball.
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The 44-pass passage of play that leads to (the corner for) Arsenal's first goal in the FA Cup final
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The best thing about that Ozil pass is the weight of it. Had to take the pace off it as there wasn’t enough room left on the pitch, yet fast enough to meet Kolasinac’s run
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Really good breakdown of Arsenal's approach from Luton coach, Rob Edwards, about changing the formation from 3-5-2 (which I wrote recently Arsenal have been very good against) to 4-5-1 to counter the wide triangles, and the different ways Arsenal build-up
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Xavi was a genius. The delay on this pass - “𝑙𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑎” - is incredible.
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If Arsenal win this tie, it might swing on Emery bringing on Coquelin for a striker at half-time to protect a 2-0 lead, with 3 halves still left to play.
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It’s hard to convince others how good Koscielny was because he would then go and do something stupid. But on song, especially during the 13/14 season, he was a aesthetically a dream to watch because he was so independent and daring, a risk-taker, like this
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Really liking what I've seen of Eddie Nketiah in preseason. Looks to have added more devil to his play, turns and shoots really quickly. His determination, something that many can't see, will get him to a higher level
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Xhaka generally wasn't tempted to come deep for the ball (it also meant Tierney could play more on the cover, less reliant to make the width). Instead, as Arsenal knew Brentford would leave space behind and to the side of the 3 CMs, Xhaka kept on breaking forward. 2/3
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In recent weeks, Arteta has shown he's getting closer to the style that he wants, but as this game shows, the system really only works with his first 11. To make your philosophy effective, you essentially sign like-for-like players so they can continue playing with the same ideas
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Arsenal not convincingly replicating the inverted full-back role, and all the rotations that come with it, with Tierney. Without Zinchenko's technical quality, Arsenal look more functional. If Tierney has to play, I'd argue use Zinchenko at LCM instead of Xhaka.
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Mourinho has basically got Sissoko or Hojberg, depending on which side the ball is, to play as 2nd full-backs, dropping in between the CB and FB, and stopping City's no.10s from running into that space
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These two Valencia games have been the best Aubameyang and Lacazette have played together. I feel like Auba prefers not to have the physical confrontation, but instead moves wide, into spaces, whilst Laca holds off defenders, lays it off. Both worked so hard.
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Now that the 2020/21 season is over, and we've had the opportunity to watch all 380 Premier League matches, here is a thread of my favourite/defining moments
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Surprised by the change of tune of some people on Matteo Guendouzi. The guy’s got so much personality with the ball and he will become great in the final third. I think Arsenal fans as a whole have become a bit cautious, and are a little bit frightened by Guendouzi’s arrogance
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Sat next to a fan describe Ozil to her friend at Emirates last night "..He’s Arsenal's best player, sort of totters around the pitch like a cat," then did proceeded to do a cat impression with one hand turned down: “purrrr”. Hard-pressed to find a more accurate description tbh.
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Really hope we can sign Odeegard permanently. Initially, my fear was that he was quite classical, that he wants the game played at his (albeit probing, inventive) pace. But he's contributing now in all phases, coming deep to make extra CM, scoring, and a real leader mentality
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Arsenal have taken too long to make Pepe an important first-team player, both under Emery and Arteta. He's so good at getting to the corner of the opposition box and scoring, and under Arteta, timing his runs for the cut-back.
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In the end, really disappointed with Ceballos' spell at Arsenal. He was an exciting signing initially, as he was the type of player the club frequently signed less of, and thought might help bring Arsène back to Arsenal, but essentially, was still under-developed as a footballer
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Convinced Emile Smith-Rowe knows exactly what's going to happen when he gets the ball. Has a quick, few glances towards Lacazette before he plays the pass round the corner. Impressed so far by the timing and selection of his passes.
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Arteta's approach, based on positional play, reduces the game to 1v1s. For that reason, we need to move on from Xhaka - he forces the team to play behind the ball. R Martinez once said "a possession based game is less about passing, more about creating 1v1s all over the pitch"
Lokonga has a nice skillet and physical profile. But going from Xhaka to Lokonga is a massive downgrade in year one, there’s really no debating that.
Very hard to see what the strategy of Arsenal is.
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Gabriel Martinelli technique is so much cleaner, and that's allowing to enjoy his game more - demanding the ball all time, controlling it in tight areas, and delivering the ball from the left side. Helps also that he has mucho more support (than last season) on his flank.
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The target man is back, except they're not one-dimensional or Plan B options - they're freaks, they can do everything; press, run behind, turn quickly etc. Players like Nunez, Sesko, Haaland etc
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build-up not perfect - a little bit jerky - but a feeling of moving towards some sort of purpose again.
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Granit Xhaka 💪. Kieran Tierney telling him exactly who started the goal
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Such a good pass from Ben White. Difficult technique to keep it down, not to mention through the gap
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“Maybe the dinosaur I became was the last symbol of times that have changed. We are today in a society which is so quick to reject. There is no time to build, to construct, always this demand for results immediately.”
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Klopp: "The biggest strength of Manchester City is their tactical discipline. What they do, they do fantastic.
"But the good thing is that it's not completely unpredictable. The positions are clear. The only problem is they have world class players in each of those positions!"
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The switch, bringing Pepe (and Nketiah) on made the difference. I don't think it gave Arsenal balance - if anything, it opened the game up a bit more, made it more end-to-end, and as such, we had a bit more space to create better shooting chances.
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Arsenal doing that collapsing-onto-the-edge-of-their-own-box-after-going-1-0-up-and-inviting-unnecessary-pressure thing.
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That first 30mins in particular from Thomas Partey was amazing. Everything seemingly slowed down around him when he got the ball, but that's because the opposition didn't know where he will pass it. His disguise is immense.
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More encouraging words from Arteta which suggests taking Arsenal's game to another level. I previously mentioned that I feel they're still a step below controlling games - which is linked to domination - rather, they're very good at staying in the games, waiting for moments.. 3/3
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Confounds me how Arteta set Arsenal up to defend Manchester City, with again, no idea who picks up who when the first press is beaten. As with v Chelsea and R.James, Bernardo/Gundogan were able to creep between-lines unmarked because it was the job of the wide CBs to get tight...
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It was an incoherent and jumbled mess initially, but thankfully, the tactic, 'give Mesut Ozil the ball' came to the fore in the second-half.
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Martinelli has been superb. Involved in all of the goals,and the main outlet for Arsenal tonight.
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Emery has found a midfield balance much closer here, than he has with the seniors. He’s using a staggered three in the centre, with Ceballos, to the left of the holder Torreira, coming to the ball more, whilst to the right, Willock is pushing up as the no.10 with and without ball
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Was just reading this passage on the type of player Edu was looking for in his time as Sporting Director at Corinthians (in Invincible by
@amylawrence71
). Needless to say Arsenal don’t have those “leaders” currently
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Arsenal fans love to cry afoul. We're so ready to accept our roles as beautiful matyrs - and this is a culture that was set post-invicibles, to some degree justified - unwilling to blame ourselves. As Arteta said last night, we should have killed Leicester off in first-half
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Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea: Arteta goes back-to-basics with win
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107 passes for Martin Odegaard v Burnley. At the start of the season, he was averaging only 45 passes per game. Arteta has recast the side, after initially recovering from Partey/Timber's injuries, to getting the captain on the ball more. Arsenal are really suffocating teams now.
Martin Ødegaard vs. West Ham
Successful Passes: 107
Expected Threat: 0.41
Progression via pass: 10.37
Progression via carry: 3.72
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Joe Willock is so good on transitions. The loan really suited him because Newcastle play a lot on the counter, and he gets to attack the empty spaces that he probably wouldn't get at Arsenal.
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Full build up to 2nd goal (or at least what the camera's showed). Was around 32 passes leading up to the penalty
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Arsenal's 1st goal v Lazio. At 12s, I think this explains what Xhaka was telling Nelson after the goal, instructing him to open the middle of the pitch. On one hand, you can see how comfortable Xhaka is coming to ball, but also, how trained he is in the Wenger way...
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Koscielny was amazing, one of the best centre-back performance I've seen recently, especially against that sort of pace.
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When Smith Rowe and Saka put Arsène back into Arsenal
Convinced Emile Smith-Rowe knows exactly what's going to happen when he gets the ball. Has a quick, few glances towards Lacazette before he plays the pass round the corner. Impressed so far by the timing and selection of his passes.
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The gulf in class is so large, and is made more apparent by when Arsenal try to go toe-to-toe - to do things that they are not good enough to do, or rather, good enough to do consistently. But then, what can you do but topolish your approach by keep doing it again?..
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Was thinking Arsenal needed to find another way to get Saka in the game, as he was getting tripled-up on. For the 1st goal, Martinelli found himself with the ball on the right-hand side, Zinchenko slid across, and suddenly, Saka was able to find space centrally by having men over
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A few things on Arsenal 2-1 Wolves:
1. Arteta said AFC build-up differently "depending what the opponent does." As such, I think we have found it more beneficial playing in the last three games (Brentford, Lens, Wolves), against 3-5-2. The patterns feel more natural, automatic.
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Talking about tremendous feel: Patino! Already so clear his spatial awareness is excellent
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What a moment this was. Was at the ground and felt it was distasteful to “cheer” him off. Fully respect his right to react this way - fans can’t act in this way and expect the player to acquiesce. Definitely feels like a watershed
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Zinchenko is such a champion. Looked at his heatmap - a big chunk of his passes in the left no8/10 zone - even popping up on the right-side at times. Most passes in the game (68), collapsed on the floor with cramp at the end due to the determination and effort he showed.
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That was great courage from Thomas Partey on the edge of our box to start the goal. A fake, then a one-two. Brilliant.
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I think there a few grumbles from Arsenal fans because it's evident we have one high-class skill - playing out the back - that allows us to compete against these teams, but apart from the goal, Liverpool nullified it. We need to show other traits now - to counter, dribble etc
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What a scrappy but intense way for England to win the World Cup. There were two big moments before the super over, the two sixes from Ben Stokes, one because the fielder stepped on the boundary and this iconic moment
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Don’t wanna be overly presumptuous or harsh, but Emery hasn’t managed the two big stars, “egos” Ozil and Ramsey well. As he said once, “convincing is the most fundamental thing to coaching: the players have to believe in you.. in big teams, players expect coach to not to mess up”
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Some early patterns of play being established by Arteta - quick, short combination play towards the left side, with Xhaka mainly moving there (Torreira nominally the pivot), before the switch to the right halfspace for Ozil. Full-backs also sometimes stepping inside.
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Arsenal's first goal v Sheff United was an example of how/why Arsenal are building-up more this season playing around the block. It allows Arsenal to exploit the space behind the line of pressure - if they can play it through - or go wide and settle possession back inside.. 1/
▶️ Now playing: All the goals from our 5-0 win over Sheffield United
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Lots of good bits in this interview with Ceballos: "“I’m a player who tries to get at the opposition and make the difference, that offers desequilibrio (to unbalance a game)…and "Lacazette, for me, is the best player: he understands the game perfectly"
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I liked the shape Arsenal used in possession v Man United, morphing to a 3-2-5 at times, Xhaka and Elneny fairly close to each other, ESR drifting in as a left-sided 10, Tavares high up. (This is the build-up to the 2nd goal).
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When Jorginho-Rice play together, it has usually been in a sort of double-pivot, with Jorginho left-sided. Here, Rice was traditional LCM, and Jorginho as the sole pivot. He set the tempo for Arsenal with quick bounce passes when receiving from the back that got team up the pitch
Jorginho vs. Newcastle
Successful Passes: 91
Expected Threat: 0.22
Progression via pass: 5.91
Progression via carry: 2.0
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Xhaka slowly has recasted himself as a defensive midfielder. He's still very good at coming to the ball, often our player with the most passes, but his attitude is more selfless, focused.
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Wrote a little something about what has been my favourite topic this season; how Mesut Ozil's positioning changed the game, this time against Stoke City
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R. Martinez: I've never lost a game on the tactics board. Its about execution. When you say to someone we're going to play a certain way, as a player you have have to be brave to accept it. In 2 days they accepted the disposition, approach; that's not down to tactics..it's desire
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Why we can't give up on Wilshere: he knows the Arsenal way.
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Nketiah's substitute cameos are becoming like a high-class Christopher Wreh
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Love the reaction shown from Arteta, his teammates to AMN
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"What Arsenal's talent spotters noticed, on top of Tierney's competitiveness, technical soundness and pace, was that every time he released the ball - even when having to make a clearance - there was intelligence behind where he put it"
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Tomiyasu is so good with both feet. Almost like an extra midfielder on the touch line the way he is able to get out of pressure.
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Part of it is game-state, having taken an early led in this game, but a big bug-bear of Arteta's Arsenal is that they play in phases, giving opponents large periods of the game where they keep inviting them at them - and they can't get out.
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Debuchy sweeping behind the last defender. He's *so* good at this.
http://t.co/qW45xAlteS
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Arsenal dominated the 2nd-half, but there was never any sense that we had the personnel to change things, to capitalise on the momentum. Saka on for Pepe was a conservative move from Arteta, a change-for-change sake even ,when better would have been to put the youngster at WB.
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Arsenal have lost Ramsey, Iwobi, Mhki and replaced them with nobody that can play between-lines.
If Arteta's style is meant to mirror Pep's then its as he says: “you can win with good defenders, strikers, but to play good, you need midfield players.”
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Arsenal didn't really click into gear in the second-half. Possession went up from 60% to 68%, but pass accuracy went down from 86% to 81%. They seemed to play somewhere between the edges of nervous and confident, and then conceded some sloppy goals.
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I have become somewhat neutralised to wins and losses of Arsenal in recent years, so Arsene Wenger's departure hasn't hit me with an overwhelming sadness. However, I am filled with immense respect for him for the way he changed the club, how I think about football, his sacrifice
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Saka, for me, seems best suited to play as the type of winger the Arteta likes (judging by his Man City days) - one-twos, cut-backs, can drop off and actually good back-to-play. Interesting he's been proposed as a LCM (can dovetail with Auba) but hasn't really played there for us
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Nacho Monreal, our malnourished looking full-back, has become such a battle-hardened player. Superb defensively tonight and scored too.
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Arteta's been in charge of 50+ matches, and he's had two purple periods, but aside from that, you never really feel what he does is optimal. He can't seem to land on a consistent, robust system/formation, or it's too specific that a loss of one player can drastically affect it
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This was Arteta two weeks ago on using Saka right wing to find out more about him, because sometimes you just want to see how he adapts - and just because he is good enough
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This is what I'm talking about. Here, Xhaka is making it a flat back four. Get out!
I'd like to see Xhaka leave the ball for the centre-backs a bit more to start attacks. Arsenal already have Tomiyasu as an extra man to build play. We need more players between-the-lines so we can sustain attacks, and have something to get the team higher.
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Glad this was highlighted. Team a bit below par but Ozil tried to drive them on, his positioning, movement was always superb, crucial
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At 12 seconds Xhaka tells Nelson to move away from the ball to open up space in middle. 20+ seconds scores and Xhaka proceeds to tell him why he scored.
Arsenal's 1st goal v Lazio. At 12s, I think this explains what Xhaka was telling Nelson after the goal, instructing him to open the middle of the pitch. On one hand, you can see how comfortable Xhaka is coming to ball, but also, how trained he is in the Wenger way...
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