Arsenal’s man-to-man high press, with Gabriel (LCB) press high Mahrez (RW). Both fullbacks also step up to press aggressively Man City’s progression outlets. (Grealish and KDB), forcing Man City to go long.
While Saliba marks Haaland in the center.
Arsenal managed to limit City’s possession with 36 % only (Pep’s lowest EVER in a league game)
City also record its lowest this season for xT created, build completion percentage, and percentage of sequences that reached the final third.
Arsenal did well with their man-marking high press, but suddenly an error from Tomiyasu cost Arsenal a goal.
One of Man City’s strengths is that their players have good press resistance so sometimes they could still escape from Arsenal’s high press.
Even so, Arsenal's high press was also able to give them a penalty which Saka could convert into a goal.
Man City’s Pressing System vs Arsenal’s Build up
Man City tried to block Arsenal’s central progression, by man-marking Arsenal’s midfield (including Zinchenko), while Rodri was tasked to cover big areas in the center.
City leaves one of Arsenal’s CB and Tomiyasu free. Even though Arsenal had numerical superiority (5v3) in the 1st phase of build-up, it was very hard for them to progress the ball in the center due to Man City’s man-marking.
That’s also why Odegaard and Xhaka were seen holding the width several times, while Jorginho drop to the CB spot to get the ball.
Arsenal tried to progress the ball at wide areas, with Saka as the most progressive passes received.
Video Example :
With Rodri not tasked to man-mark, Arsenal was able to break through the center with Odegaard/Martinelli detached from their marker and emerging from Rodri’s blindside
Arsenal also relied on Nketiah’s hold-up play to progress the ball. Tomiyasu overlaps at certain moments to create the dynamic on the RHS.
Nketiah should've scored.
Man City defended with 4 players (Walker, Dias, Ake, Bernardo), while Arsenal attacked with 5 players. This gives Arsenal numerical superiority against Man City's backline.
Just like Saka before, Xhaka was too hesitant to shoot the ball. Mentally, Arsenal was really tested in this game.
Pep Guardiola’s tactical tweaks in this game is Ake replacing Bernardo to mark Saka, and it worked quite well.
They also replaced Mahrez with Akanji, so Bernardo moved up to the winger position.
That change helped Man City to press more aggressively in the second half, with Akanji at the back.
For the 2nd goal, Man City’s counter-press led to another Arsenal’s individual error. This time with Gabriel Magalhaes.
Leading 2-1, Man City kept its intensity to press Arsenal. Their high press was able to snatch the ball and converted it into another goal.
In a game where the two best teams in England face each other, the one who made the least mistake will win.
Arsenal just concede too many.
Credit : @DatoBHJ
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