With the North London Derby coming up, and Spurs looking stronger than ever it’s looking likely that Arteta’s side are in for a seriously tough game.
This thread will take a look at what Arteta can do to stifle their closest rivals and pick up all three points.
This thread will take a look at what Arteta can do to stifle their closest rivals and pick up all three points.
Specifically, this thread will look over:
• Overview of Spurs’ tactics
• Stopping Kane and Son
• What systems will work vs Spurs
• How to press Spurs high
• Creating in the final third
• Hitting them in transition
• Bringing it all together
• Overview of Spurs’ tactics
• Stopping Kane and Son
• What systems will work vs Spurs
• How to press Spurs high
• Creating in the final third
• Hitting them in transition
• Bringing it all together
1. Overview of Spurs’ tactics
This season, Spurs have adopted a Mourinho style of an aggressive counter-attacking side.
Lining up in a 4231, they look to defend deep and break into the space, transitioning up the pitch using quick interchanges and movement in behind.
This season, Spurs have adopted a Mourinho style of an aggressive counter-attacking side.
Lining up in a 4231, they look to defend deep and break into the space, transitioning up the pitch using quick interchanges and movement in behind.
When attacking, we see the Fullbacks push up wide, the wingers move to the channels and Kane drops into No.10 and Ndombele looks to link play.
Even in attack, Mourinho’s side are still pragmatic as we see the midfield pivot cover the lateral areas abandoned by the full backs.
Even in attack, Mourinho’s side are still pragmatic as we see the midfield pivot cover the lateral areas abandoned by the full backs.
In the defensive phase, they like to defend extremely deep.
From a zones perspective, they don’t leave anyone forwards and instead purely box out zones 18,17,16 and 14. In doing so, they force their opposition to swing in low percentage crosses from zones 13/15.
From a zones perspective, they don’t leave anyone forwards and instead purely box out zones 18,17,16 and 14. In doing so, they force their opposition to swing in low percentage crosses from zones 13/15.
2.Stopping Kane and Son
No combination has been more effective this season than Son and Kane, who’ve combined a startling 9 times already this season.
Their linkup is very simple, when Kane drops off he creates space for Son, who looks to run into the space created.
No combination has been more effective this season than Son and Kane, who’ve combined a startling 9 times already this season.
Their linkup is very simple, when Kane drops off he creates space for Son, who looks to run into the space created.
Son’s versatility is also key for Mourinho’s side.
Son will be fielded in response to the opposition lineup. If a weak RB/RCB is fielded he’ll play on the left and vice-versa. This targets players with poor positional awareness, which is something Arteta will have to consider.
Son will be fielded in response to the opposition lineup. If a weak RB/RCB is fielded he’ll play on the left and vice-versa. This targets players with poor positional awareness, which is something Arteta will have to consider.
The only way to stop this is to man-mark Harry Kane, similar to a Herrera on Hazard or Dele Alli on Jorginho.
However, this is easier said than done. We saw City attempt this to disastrous effect as you will need to alter your approach to do this.
However, this is easier said than done. We saw City attempt this to disastrous effect as you will need to alter your approach to do this.
Against City, whenever Kane dropped off, Laporte would follow, but all that happened was Kane dragged Laporte out of position. This space was then exploited by Ndombele so the problem was still there.
So, to track Kane without creating space there have to be some adaptations.
So, to track Kane without creating space there have to be some adaptations.
There are a couple systems, specific to Arsenal, that I believe that could facilitate this.
One of which would be the 523 we’ve seen Arteta shift away from recently, or a 433 with a single DM which we saw him co-manage at City.
One of which would be the 523 we’ve seen Arteta shift away from recently, or a 433 with a single DM which we saw him co-manage at City.
3. What Systems will work vs Spurs
Firstly, although Arteta’s fallen out of love with it recently, the 523 could work reasonably well in regard to stopping Kane. In this the middle CB is tasked with Kane and the other CB’s cover so there isn’t any space for Son.
Firstly, although Arteta’s fallen out of love with it recently, the 523 could work reasonably well in regard to stopping Kane. In this the middle CB is tasked with Kane and the other CB’s cover so there isn’t any space for Son.
Playing a 5Back also addresses another of Mourinho’s tactics, which revolves around the positioning of Bergwijn.
Looking at the image below, Walker is forced wide to track Bergwijn. This prevents Walker from covering the run of Son, so Arsenal playing an extra CB prevents this.
Looking at the image below, Walker is forced wide to track Bergwijn. This prevents Walker from covering the run of Son, so Arsenal playing an extra CB prevents this.
The more favourable option would be to play a 433, with a lone DM.
This lone DM would have the single task of marking Kane, which removes the issue where the CB’s become stretched out of position. This system also benefits Arsenal in terms that it buffs out the midfield.
This lone DM would have the single task of marking Kane, which removes the issue where the CB’s become stretched out of position. This system also benefits Arsenal in terms that it buffs out the midfield.
4. How to press Spurs high
As discussed earlier, you can mark the outball to Kane to disrupt Spurs’s ball progression but you’ll also need to pay attention to the Spurs fullbacks, who look to find space out wide.
The image below is taken just before Kane’s offside goal.
As discussed earlier, you can mark the outball to Kane to disrupt Spurs’s ball progression but you’ll also need to pay attention to the Spurs fullbacks, who look to find space out wide.
The image below is taken just before Kane’s offside goal.
Mourinho sides are always efficient at bypassing the press and as City showed, you can’t be overzealous.
You need to be measured, perhaps focusing more on interceptions over winning tackles. They aren’t too creative when you sit off them, and this is what I expect Arteta to do.
You need to be measured, perhaps focusing more on interceptions over winning tackles. They aren’t too creative when you sit off them, and this is what I expect Arteta to do.
5. Creating in the final third
In the attacking phase, Arsenal’s chance creation tends to come from crossing, with them attempting 130 already this season.
However, at lot of these are from poor areas and against an organised Spurs defence, this won’t work.
In the attacking phase, Arsenal’s chance creation tends to come from crossing, with them attempting 130 already this season.
However, at lot of these are from poor areas and against an organised Spurs defence, this won’t work.
This season, Spurs have faced 93 crosses from open play and are yet to concede from one.
Looking at how wide Arsenal’s passing network is below I do fear that Arsenal may end up just endlessly swinging in crosses.
Looking at how wide Arsenal’s passing network is below I do fear that Arsenal may end up just endlessly swinging in crosses.
With this in mind, one tweak I think Arteta should make is to go from crossing deep to a less direct style.
Spurs defend very rigidly, if you cross against them they’ll always be in the right position, but if you pass and move, one-twos in behind e.t.c they can come undone.
Spurs defend very rigidly, if you cross against them they’ll always be in the right position, but if you pass and move, one-twos in behind e.t.c they can come undone.
They do also have a vulnerability in their mid-block.
Their CB’s are quite slow, and the fullbacks don’t provide adequate cover in these situations. Southampton went direct over their mid-block on a couple of occasions, so we could see the Tierney to Auba linkup return.
Their CB’s are quite slow, and the fullbacks don’t provide adequate cover in these situations. Southampton went direct over their mid-block on a couple of occasions, so we could see the Tierney to Auba linkup return.
6. Hitting them in Transition
When Spurs are transitioning from attack to defence, they do leave a fairly large gap between the midfield and defence.
We saw Southampton exploit this, with Ings and Adams coming off the line and from here they’re in a 2v2
When Spurs are transitioning from attack to defence, they do leave a fairly large gap between the midfield and defence.
We saw Southampton exploit this, with Ings and Adams coming off the line and from here they’re in a 2v2
This is a change we could easily see Arsenal make.
We could see Arteta drop his side into his usual 541 when defending and leave Aubameyang in the hole to pick up the ball and run at the Spurs defenders from deep, with Pepe and the LW joining to support.
We could see Arteta drop his side into his usual 541 when defending and leave Aubameyang in the hole to pick up the ball and run at the Spurs defenders from deep, with Pepe and the LW joining to support.
7. Bringing it all together
Overall, Arteta has to set out a very strict gameplan to beat this Spurs side and it'll just be a matter of discipline as for whether it comes off. This Spurs side are beatable, but you have to make it a really scruffy game like Everton did.
Overall, Arteta has to set out a very strict gameplan to beat this Spurs side and it'll just be a matter of discipline as for whether it comes off. This Spurs side are beatable, but you have to make it a really scruffy game like Everton did.
If you stop Kane, you will seriously hinder their attacking threat. From here Arsenal have to be smart with their chance creation and take the ones they get.
END OF THREAD
Likes and RT’s Appreciated, I’m looking to do one of these every gameweek, so follow if you enjoyed!
Likes and RT’s Appreciated, I’m looking to do one of these every gameweek, so follow if you enjoyed!
@AFCMax9 @afcevan @SemperFiArsenal @EduardoHagn @WorldwideAFC @afcjxmes If any of you lads could have a read through or leave any feedback or support that’d be really appreciated thanks
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