🔎Arsenal 2-0 Man City - a tactical analysis thread: 
The Approaches
•In something that has become more common since lockdown, Pep has gradually been morphing away from his standard 4-3-3 & selected more of a 4-2-3-1 shape with KDB sitting deeper alongside Gündoğan in a double pivot with David Silva in more of a number 10 role.
•In something that has become more common since lockdown, Pep has gradually been morphing away from his standard 4-3-3 & selected more of a 4-2-3-1 shape with KDB sitting deeper alongside Gündoğan in a double pivot with David Silva in more of a number 10 role.
•Arteta went with a 3-4-3 shape for an 8th successive game. A system he has selected ever since the opening two defeats post-lockdown to Man City & Brighton.
1st half
•Pep employed a very high press on Arsenal's 3 CBs
- there were a few occasions where it resulted in City recovering the ball in dangerous areas,mainly when Arsenal's CBs took too long to build play instead of finding a pass into midfield, thus inviting the high press
•Pep employed a very high press on Arsenal's 3 CBs
- there were a few occasions where it resulted in City recovering the ball in dangerous areas,mainly when Arsenal's CBs took too long to build play instead of finding a pass into midfield, thus inviting the high press
- however, when the speed of Arsenal's ball circulation improved, as did their ability to break through Arsenal's press
- this was also particularly helped by Xhaka & Ceballos constantly showing for the ball in tight spaces & being able to turn away from pressure
- this was also particularly helped by Xhaka & Ceballos constantly showing for the ball in tight spaces & being able to turn away from pressure
- direct improvement on the issues we noted with Guendouzi not showing for the ball in these kind of build-up situations, in our tactical analysis thread of Man City 3-0 Arsenal.
- Xhaka was particularly immaculate in possession - completing 28/30 passes
- Xhaka was particularly immaculate in possession - completing 28/30 passes
•This quicker circulation of the ball from the CBs also benefitted Arsenal in transition,from a chance creation POV
- for example for Auba's early one-on-one chance, Luiz wins the ball back & immediately fires the pass into him meaning Auba can breach City's high line
- for example for Auba's early one-on-one chance, Luiz wins the ball back & immediately fires the pass into him meaning Auba can breach City's high line
• When Arsenal's build-up was patient, it was vital to have a link from their deeper build-up to the attack
- it now seems Arteta prefers Lacazette's superior link-up play to Nketiah's energy
- he played a big part in the first goal, dropping deep to receive the ball off Tierney
- it now seems Arteta prefers Lacazette's superior link-up play to Nketiah's energy
- he played a big part in the first goal, dropping deep to receive the ball off Tierney
•This first goal also showed where Man City sometimes miss the presence of a ball-winner like Fernandinho in midfield
- the pass from Tierney easily bypasses KDB & Gündoğan
- Fernandinho often either blocks the passing lane or would be very tight to Lacazette in such scenarios
- the pass from Tierney easily bypasses KDB & Gündoğan
- Fernandinho often either blocks the passing lane or would be very tight to Lacazette in such scenarios
• In the 3-0 loss to City, it was Nketiah leading a high press on City's CBs but the selection of Laca altered this into a successful mid-press
- it was Pepe & Auba who pressed higher but in a controlled manner
- they ensured the pass to Mendy/Walker was cut off whilst doing so
- it was Pepe & Auba who pressed higher but in a controlled manner
- they ensured the pass to Mendy/Walker was cut off whilst doing so
- Lacazette would drop deeper and apply pressure to Gündoğan - thus cutting off one of Laporte & Garcia's passing option. This also suits Lacazette's physical capacity more than pressing high
• This meant Laporte & Garcia often looked to play a more advanced pass into either KDB or Silva
-but this is where the superb tracking of Ceballos & Xhaka was crucial
-they regularly denied passes into them
-which then forced City to go long
-Mustafi & Luiz won 6/7 aerial duels
-but this is where the superb tracking of Ceballos & Xhaka was crucial
-they regularly denied passes into them
-which then forced City to go long
-Mustafi & Luiz won 6/7 aerial duels
• Even when KDB dropped deeper alongside Gündoğan to receive the ball, Xhaka was happy to apply pressure in more advanced areas. This wouldn't be possible about the overall disciplined defensive structure that Arteta has implemented, which we will talk about more later
•A solution for City may have been Sterling using his pace to make runs in-behind Arsenal's defence for Laporte/Garcia to find with long passes - there was just one pass of this type in the first half
• Or for Jesus to get more involved in City's build-up in between the lines, behind Xhaka and Ceballos - Jesus made just 4 passes in those areas in the first half
2nd half
•Pep decided to find a solution by changing the attacking shape of his team with a 4-3-1-2 type of shape
- Sterling moving off his wing into a deeper inside left position just ahead of the midfield 3 & behind Mahrez staying wide right & Jesus up front
•Pep decided to find a solution by changing the attacking shape of his team with a 4-3-1-2 type of shape
- Sterling moving off his wing into a deeper inside left position just ahead of the midfield 3 & behind Mahrez staying wide right & Jesus up front
- this meant that City's CBs now had an additional passing option to find. And with Mendy overlapping quite aggressively, Bellerin was detracted from coming inside and getting very tight to Sterling
- Sterling then used his dribbling ability to turn & run at Arsenal's defence
- Sterling then used his dribbling ability to turn & run at Arsenal's defence
- Sterling touched the ball 16 times in an inside left position in the second half!
• With Sterling taking a more central build-up responsibility, KDB was then allowed to create overloads out wide and find dangerous crossing positions in some of City's build-up. He made 6 key passes in the 2nd half and you can see his wider positioning in his 2nd half touch-map
• It was only Arsenal's brilliant defensive organisation that meant they held firm against this system change
- here even Pepe has dropped into the deep defensive block to block the pass into Sterling in this inside left position, to cover for Bellerin who has to track Mendy
- here even Pepe has dropped into the deep defensive block to block the pass into Sterling in this inside left position, to cover for Bellerin who has to track Mendy
•You can see the work Arteta has done to make Arsenal more organised in this move:
- initially his side have pushed up into a mid-press
- however, Ederson soon breaches this, but Arsenal filter back very well into a 5-4-1
- initially his side have pushed up into a mid-press
- however, Ederson soon breaches this, but Arsenal filter back very well into a 5-4-1
1.Auba tracks back to ensure Walker isn't free
2.Willock blocks the pass into Mendy while applying pressure to Gundogan
3. Man City now have 3 players in between the lines but Arsenal are very compact centrally - Torreira cuts off the pass to Silva, Ceballos-Sterling, Xhaka-Foden
2.Willock blocks the pass into Mendy while applying pressure to Gundogan
3. Man City now have 3 players in between the lines but Arsenal are very compact centrally - Torreira cuts off the pass to Silva, Ceballos-Sterling, Xhaka-Foden
4. Jesus attempts to create a 4th option but Tierney has come out of the back 3 to track him
5. meanwhile Bellerin is in the perfect position to cover Mendy wide left, but not leave a huge gap between him & Mustafi
5. meanwhile Bellerin is in the perfect position to cover Mendy wide left, but not leave a huge gap between him & Mustafi
6. Eventually the ball goes out to KDB but AMN's positioning is as good as Bellerin's was earlier and he gives KDB a tough cross to make
7. Arsenal's CBs & Bellerin (who has smartly tucked in now the ball is on the opposite) are also marking City's attackers well *
7. Arsenal's CBs & Bellerin (who has smartly tucked in now the ball is on the opposite) are also marking City's attackers well *
- So instead, KDB decides to loft the ball to the edge of the box
8. A heavy touch from Laporte means the ball goes loose and because Aubameyang earlier tracked back into the block, he can recover the ball for Arsenal
A huge team defensive effort!
8. A heavy touch from Laporte means the ball goes loose and because Aubameyang earlier tracked back into the block, he can recover the ball for Arsenal
A huge team defensive effort!
•With Arsenal so compact centrally, the emphasis was on Man City's wing play - however this was disappointing
- they often resorted to swinging in crosses from disadvantageous positions
- in the 2nd half alone, City made 29 crosses!!! Just 9 were accurate.
- they often resorted to swinging in crosses from disadvantageous positions
- in the 2nd half alone, City made 29 crosses!!! Just 9 were accurate.
- here Bellerin is in a good position to block the cross from Mendy - Mendy does not attempt to dribble to the byline to get a yard of space. Instead he decides to swing the cross in from this disadvantageous position. The cross is predictably blocked
- this is a recurrent theme throughout ManCity's season as you can see by the total number of crosses increasing season-by-season under Pep (left picture is this season, middle is 2018/19, right is 2017/18)
• Man City miss the additional wide threat of:
1. Leroy Sane either a) running in-behind his full-back off-the-ball to then be supplied by a Silva/KDB thru ball in a good crossing position. b) his 1v1 threat to beat a full-back and get in a good crossing position
1. Leroy Sane either a) running in-behind his full-back off-the-ball to then be supplied by a Silva/KDB thru ball in a good crossing position. b) his 1v1 threat to beat a full-back and get in a good crossing position
2. Even Mendy previously (before his injuries) had the explosiveness to run at full-backs to find half a yard of space and either cut the ball back or swing a cross in.
Pep needs to consider targeting a quick, left-footed winger in the summer
Pep needs to consider targeting a quick, left-footed winger in the summer
• As we said in our tactical analysis thread of the City Arsenal match a few weeks ago, Auba made many intelligent runs in-behind City's high defensive line, but they simply weren't supplied. However, Tierney certainly learnt from this for the 2nd goal!
Summary
•Ceballos & Xhaka✅
•Quick ball circulation was key to attack City
•Capitalised on lapses in City's high line
•Brilliant Arsenal defensive organisation in 2nd half
•Tactic of using Sterling as a link worked well
•But City need to buy an additional quick wide threat
•Ceballos & Xhaka✅
•Quick ball circulation was key to attack City
•Capitalised on lapses in City's high line
•Brilliant Arsenal defensive organisation in 2nd half
•Tactic of using Sterling as a link worked well
•But City need to buy an additional quick wide threat
Retweets of the original post in the thread much appreciated if you enjoyed reading it. And any feedback always welcome. Thanks 👊
