In this article I will describe Gunners’ trend, team that had particular focus because it was the analysis that I had to do in the exam for the Match Analyst certification.
Assumption: This report was made viewing Wolves – Arsenal and Watford – Arsenal
Basic System: 4-2-3-1
Defensive System: 4-1-4/1
Offensive System: 2/3-5-0
Short Description:
Arsenal is an individually very technically skilled team, with a strong propensity to control the game in the middle of the opposing field and patient in the search for the successful passage in the halfspace and/or in the finishing side space.
Thanks to this strong technical and psychological propensity, Arsenal has strong points in the strait, in the dribbling and places extreme confidence in a form of construction conducted by the central defenders, which have full freedom to conduct and search for a key passage if not pressed.
It presents a very fluid tactical solution, able to modulate its composition according to the dynamics of the game, finding various solutions thanks to the excellent functional interchange in the offensive department: it is no coincidence that the basic system is presented with a 4-2-3-1 but offensively loves to play with a 2/3-5-0, avoiding any reference in attack and asking for a lot of mobility to the inner midfield, the attack wings and the central point.
Otherwise, in the defensive phase they have a lot of practicality in shorten the spaces between the departments (action favored by the aggressive positioning of the defensive line) and close any central maneuvering space to opponents, settling with a 4-1-4/1 with the possibility (not constantly repeated) that the point is also lowered in the line of 4 and screens additional spaces in finishing.
The key players are:
Gabriel (number 6), powerful central Brazilian very strong in the air game and under construction;
Odegaard (number 8), three-quarter shorthand skilled in the tight and in the timing of insertion;
Saka (Number 7), very fast and strong attack wing in one on one and in depth attack.
Offensive Phase
Off phase: In the offensive phase the team plays very calmly, showing full confidence with the demands of the coach and awareness of their means. Sometimes it is wrong to be polite, by wrong postural support and positioning, errors probably due to the young age. In prominence there are three constructors (No. 4-6-5), two multipurpose full backs, able to take the center of the field and overlap with the right timing (No. 17-3), two finishers of excellent quality (No. 34-8), two wings invaders (No. 35-7) and a mobile striker, able to finish and finalize (No. 9). The two wings are to be kept an eye as strong in the dribbling and fast on the short and on the long space.
BUILD UP (zone 1): Build up 4+1 with the Play always available to maneuver the ball, remaining mainly static in the central area of the field and rarely lowering between the central defenders; often receives the ball behind the opponent’s goal because of the lack of ability to play the ball with the weak foot, the left. The full-backs remain connected to the defense to offer a further choice of passage.
MIDFIELD PLAY (zone 2) The movement of the midfielders is very dynamic, having the N has 34 and the N has 8 in constant search of a space in the half-spaces in which to offer an option of vertical or diagonal passage, in the latter case when you tend to conquer the finishing area. They tend to make a few movements out of line but often seek a demarcation in amplitude, favoring the centralization of the wings and the centralization of the full backs.
WIDE PLAY In the side game, the reading ability of the two full-backs is very important, who can often find the bottom of the field through multiple external and internal overlaps. However, it is also their habit to look for the center of the field and act as interior builders, action that occurs when creating the opening in amplitude of the inner midfield. They can therefore be defined both as builders and finishers, very rarely invade the area.
ASSIST ZONE (zone between the lines) The finishing area is the most sought after by Arsenal. Whether under construction, or in central and/or lateral development, Arteta’s men constantly try to gain dominance behind the opposing midfield line, lowering the striker and raising the two internals, creating a 3-way line that often favors a diagonal pass from the builders and/or wings, from which a potential scoring opportunity develops. Very good at finding the space is the No.8, from which several dangerous actions were born.
ATTACK THE DEFENSIVE LINE (zone 3) The attack to the Arsenal line is carried by the wings, equipped with an excellent run and strong insertion: these, thanks to the above characteristics, can take the time to the reference markers with a cut behind them, starting very wide. All the most dangerous actions are born from this movement, especially on the right out where No. 7, also doubled, acrobatically manages to earn the bottom.
Focus on the movement of the striker, which is very dynamic and loves to start far from the door and then get to garrison the area of the penalty kick with excellent timing. From both side assist and central assist, he tends to move in advance to the defender, with very dangerous cuts. Thanks to this positioning skill and to an excellent individual technique, it also manages to make itself available for any triangulations.
Offensive Constants:
– Construction 4+1 with online play and always in support of the power plants, connected full backs;
– Systematic internal and external overlaps by full-backs;
– Spasmodic search of the domain of the finishing area with positions of the interior tactical and postural that favor a diagonal passage;
– Attachment to the line carried by the wings that depart wide and converge in the center;
– Great game security and ability to match;
Defensive Phase
In the defensive phase Arsenal remains consistent with the positive approach of the offensive phase, demonstrating stubbornness and lucidity in positioning and re-firing. The goal is to overcome any potential opponent maneuver, looking for an immediate regain of possession and a very short defensive transition period.
FIRST PRESSURE The first pressure is based on the man-to-man marking supported by all the departments, trying to direct the opposing building towards the side of the field or forcing them to a long throw by the goalkeeper. However, if the construction does not come from a goalkeeper referral but from a game development, the interiors and tip often delay the aggression on the competence reference and leave possibility of maneuvering.
MIDFIELD DEFENSE (zone between lines) Thanks to a tactical deployment mainly set to 4-1-4/1, the opponent’s finishing area is easily shielded by the excellent sense of position of the interior and play, able to keep attention on the ball and on the opponent’s movements. The latter is also able to climb on the exits of the teammates of the department or on the defensive breakages of the power plants in marking.
FLANKS DEFENSE laterally the Arsenal demonstrates some difficulty in covering the overlaps, given the lack in terms of concentration of the wings, tendentially not caring of movements without ball external and internal opponents and attracted a little too much by the ball, although they often preside over the last 30 meters of their own half of the field, demonstrating great tactical self-sacrifice and excellent athletic preparation.
DEFENSIVE LINE The defensive line has a very high positioning, aspect favored by the physical performance of the central and the ease of running of the same and the full backs, in addition to the play that remains in support and screen in front of the defense, so as to ensure further coverage. In open ball situations are many good at covering the depth and seek the approach with the carrier so as to cover the ball, often breaking the line. In the lateral area, the cover line makes a short diagonal with the full-back in rupture, while in the central area the companions of the department tighten building a defensive pyramid of effective cover. However, in preventive situations, the centers are not always concentrated and mark the opponent, especially when the development of the opposing offensive transition takes place behind the overlapping fullback.
In offside situations the line tends to follow the attacker and leave him when he is in an irregular position.
Defensive Constants:
– Short team and very tight departments;
– Screen in front of the line brought by the play and the interior of midfield;
– Man-on-man pressure from offensive players;
– Single line of coverage and short diagonal;
– Attempt to break the line to delay the opponent’s offensive maneuver.
Offensive transition and preventive demarcations
The positive transitions are a strong point of the Arsenal as it can count on the ease of running wings and also on their excellent ability to conduct the ball. There are no constant pre-emptive demarcations, however it is to emphasize the tactical intelligence of the No. 8 and No. 7, often able to immediately take the space left by an opponent on the offensive.
Defensive transition and preventive closures
Arsenal’s confident and positive approach calls for a strong propensity for preventative markings and re-firing once lost, especially in nerve areas of the field, such as those adjacent to the penalty area or the side areas. The team is on average able on the preventative: very good in the central position and in the garrison of the area, a little lacking when the opposing offensive transition begins in the space left by the fullback.
Qualities
– Very strong technically and skillful team in tight spaces;
– Players capable of reversing the action in a short time;
– Considerable awareness of their technical and physical means;
– Fluid, Dynamic and Coordinate offensive phase. Hard to cover;
– Intense and organized defensive phase both tactically and physically;
– Dangerous in side area duels.
Defects
– They have difficulties with side overlays by the fluidifying opponents;
– Simple individual play mistakes due to high self-esteem;
– They fail to bring effective pressure when construction takes place by dynamic and non-stationary play;
– The Play uses only the strong foot, when pressed it goes into trouble;
– Too firm in marking, tend to lose opponents due to too static posture.
Software:
– VideoMatch by SICS Sport
Copyright: Sebastiano Cipollone
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