The key insights which will see Arsenal return to Europe next season
What a victory! Exhilarating! Powerful! Exciting! Well not quite….. But the Arsenal got their first win of the Premier League season, and while it wasn’t all free flowing excitement there is plenty to be happy about. Just like it’s important to reflect and critique on the losses, it’s important to celebrate the wins, no matter how big or small; and whilst beating Norwich is by no means huge, it is certainly important in the way our season is shaping up.
Let’s get the elephant out of the room. This win gives Arteta some breathing space. Not much, but enough. The fact that there were several exciting new faces like Tomi, Ramsdale and returns for Ben White and Gabriel certainly helps. Arteta has to keep winning, but he has made that important first step. The nerves can now relax and the lads can play and take to the task that Arteta has put out. The monkey is now off the back! Even Max Aarons (who was talking to Rio Ferdinand on his youtube channel) said you could feel the tension and nerves of the Arsenal players. They simply had to win. There was no other option.
SO job done. It wasn’t absolutely plain sailing but there were a few key areas which can provide the fans with some excitement and hope that if they continue we can make a return to Europe for next season.
The build up play
The big concern of the start to the season and last season was the slow build up play, which caused opposing teams to either press high and win the ball back too easily or recover to get 10 players behind the ball leaving us to cross aimlessly.
There were multiple instances in this game where the defenders or central midfielders got the ball, moved it forward quickly and we were attacking against only a half set up defence. This ultimately leads to higher quality chances being created and in turn should lead to more goals and wins.
Ben White and Thomas Partey were key to this. In one instance Ben White received the ball inside his own half opened up and sprayed out to Nicolas Pepe on the right wing, who cut inside and fired at goal. There were only 5 Norwich players behind the ball by the time he got his shot away. The goal is another great example. Thomas Partey picking the ball up in midfield and splitting the Norwich midfield with a thread the needle pass into Bukayo Saka who was then able to run at the Norwich defence before Pepe and ultimately Aubameyang got shots in and the deserved goal.
Quick forward passing is absolutely key to Mikel Arteta’s game plan and with the likes of Ben White, Tomiyasu, Partey and Lokongo we will certainly see more of this than what the likes of Holding, Chambers, Mari and Xhaka contribute.
Now this makes me very excited. Not only more goals are on the horizon but a more attacking brand of exciting football! As Arsene Wenger used to say…
“The only way to score is, of course to play with the handbrake off”
Arsene Wenger
Speed at the back
Again I’m going to point to the personnel at the back. Bringing in the likes of Tomi, White, Gabriel etc gives Mikel Arteta infinitely more pace at the back allowing the team to press higher and not be so concerned about being done in behind. With Tomi’s positioning slightly deeper and more defensive also I’m expecting Arsenal to be far better equipped at dealing with the defensive transition.
When you compare to the Chelsea and Tottenham games in preseason and see how many times the ball goes between or in behind the RCB and RB it is absolutely criminal. You simply can’t win games like that.
Even when we think about our back up at RB and LB in Ainsley Maitland Niles and Nuno Taveres, they are both blessed with the pace and similar traits to come in and be a like for like swap. This means we can continue with the shape and tactical play that Arteta is bringing to the side without having too many weaknesses.
The only issue Arteta might have is at CB where Mari, Holding and Chambers struggle in this area. In saying that however, one solution to this problem could be using Tomi at either RCB or LCB as needed (a position he has played regularly before) and use AMN at RB.
This speed at the back crucially gives the forward players more comfort to press high knowing that the back four behind them will also be stepping onwards rather than dropping off (fearful of being beaten in behind). This key component will lead to less gaps in midfield should the high press be broken, thus forcing our opponents into long balls or a big cross field pass to get free. This press can turn into a weapon and allow us to win the ball back quickly and once again create high quality chances with small numbers of defenders behind the ball as we attack.
The Emile Smith Rowe chance in the second half which the keeper saved highlight this brilliantly.
Mikel Arteta is banking on his players ability to cope with these demands and play accordingly. This is big reason why our first three games were so poor with all the key personnel unavailable. In saying that it begs the question, with so many players out should Arteta have set up differently? But that’s another debate that has been and gone… Let’s not live in the past yeah.. (I say this as I watch Barcelona vs Bayern Munich and reminisce on how much better the Champions League is when you are involved. The sad times of an Arsenal fan….)
The 433 formation
In the second half we changed shape to play with a single holder and two advanced 8s. The key to this is Thomas Partey. It requires a DM who can both cover ground and provide a high quality screen but also distribute the ball effectively. At this stage Thomas is the only Arsenal player equipped to fill this role, although I have high hopes Sambi Lokongo will grow into this role as he gains experience. Sambi ranks highly over the last year or so in possession stats and also in ground duel percentage, so it will be really interesting to see how that progresses into the Premier League. Given the start he has made I can see a really high ceiling.
Having two 8s allows Smith Rowe and Odegaard to get on the ball more and crucially gives them 3 forward players and Tierney to feed into. More players around the box will again allow us to be more creative and gain more chances. It also gets our best ball players into the right areas super quickly and efficiently.
This formation is an absolute work in progress at this stage. But with no European action at all this season you can bet your life that Mikel Artetais drilling this regularly, and working on positioning, movement, ball speed etc without the interruption of regular travel and mid week match play.
So plenty of positives from the weekend. A lot of glimpses that provide so much insight into what Arsenal are undoubtedly going to become this season. The slow start means there is absolutely no expectation on getting a top 4 spot. Whilst I think at this stage that is too far a stretch, I have a good feeling. We will certainly surprise a lot of people as this squad begins to feel comfortable and if Arteta gets them playing nicely and a European finish comes into the equation I will be a happy man.
Most importantly watch this space and see how this all grows coming into our match against Burnley at the weekend. Expect more and more of this as we grow and grow!
COYG!
