Thread by @vybhavbadri

#ARSMUN
ARSENAL ATTACKING CORNERS VS MANCHESTER UNITED:
A SHORT ANALYSIS
Match: Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal

in the match up vs United on Thursday, Arsenal proved to be threatening from corner situations.
ive analysed why👇

(apologies for any picture quality issue)

arsenal have been prolific from set pieces, particularly corners in 21/22

https://twitter.com/Orbinho/status/1460684343521673219?s=20

in this short thread, I take a look at arsenal's corner routines and thus, the work of newly appointed set piece coach Nicolas Jover in their match vs the Red Devils

LINE UPS:
match ups are important as physical advantages matter + players who switch off can be targeted.

Utd: DDG's tendency to stay on his line + Mctom/CR7's tendency to switch off.

Arsenal: Gabriel, White, Tomiyasu, Partey as options in the box.
ESR, Ode taking corners

Arsenal Set up:
Inswinging corners aimed at the 6 yard box from ESR (left) & Ode (Right).
Partey, Elneny around DDG, creating traffic
White & Auba made various, random(IMP) moves to disorientate+win flick ons.
Gabriel & martinelli from the pen spot.
ESR & Elneny second phase

UTD set up:
Rashford marking Partey,

Fred -> White (IMP)

Telles -> Tomiyasu

Dalot -> Gabriel

Bruno, Ronaldo, Mctominay zonal at the near post.

Maguire zonal in the middle

Lindelof -> covering far post

Sancho for second phase

Random moves of Auba, Gabriel & White:

They'd go for near flick-ons or stay around DDG creating blocks (Auba/White), or go to the back post(Gabriel)

Randomness is crucial: it prevented Utd from adjusting.

Similarly, Ode & ESR's delivery was across 6-yrd box: not 1 spot

3 Early Corners:
here, we can see the setups.
Arsenal had 3 players around DDG which drew Utd players across & created traffic, opening near post flick ons/back post crosses.

Gabriel ran from deep with momentum with Martinelli (left free by Utd to gamble)

https://twitter.com/Vybhav_Videos/status/1467584786050945031?s=20

Goal from SetUP:
In the set up, I mentioned that Fred marking White+random movements of White were Important.
In the Goal, White doesnt stay or spin to the near post.
He spins towards DDG, drawing Fred across to mark him which results in the collision.

https://twitter.com/Vybhav_Videos/status/1467584963729969152?s=20

Arsenal's 2 man Second phase set up also a plus as it allows Elneny to deal with Sancho
& ESR picks up the pieces, shooting first time into an open net.
Huge Value as with Gabriel across the front for a flick on, even if a collision doesnt happen, ddg is disorientated by bodies.

Mid-Game tweak:
Perhaps the one con of the first set up of Arsenal was the unclear role of Martinelli, who was trying to Gamble from deep but rarely was close to involvement.

Arsenal changed this Mid-Game, with Martinelli starting in the 6 yard box and spinning across the front

Auba would meanwhile stay in the traffic and Partey would look to peel of the back/block Maguire.

Here: White & Martinelli across the front, while Partey blocks Maguire allowing Gabriel to isolate himself vs Lindelof after beating Dalot (he did all game)

https://twitter.com/Vybhav_Videos/status/1467584635425026048?s=20

Clear-Cut chance from Tweak:
Gabriel this time attacked the front of Maguire, getting a flick on.
White, again in a new position, was at the spot and peeled away, bringing fred and thus creating confusion b/w him and Dalot, allowing Gabriel to get free

https://twitter.com/Vybhav_Videos/status/1467585109419192321?s=20

If u notice Martinelli, he spins across Mctominay from behind Maguire.
Through this
1. he attracts Maguire's attention who thus isnt sharp enough to affect Gabriel's flick on
2. his run across Mctominay prevents Scott from pushing up and covering the top of the 6 yard box.

CONCLUSION:
Arsenal created huge chaos from attacking corners in this match and it led to the 1st goal+ 2 of their most dangerous moments (White & Gabriel flick ons)
Nicolas Jover deserves massive credit, as he has maximised Arsenal's aerial talent, which isnt extensive.

IF u look at the significance of his work, Gabriel is arsenal's biggest aerial threat and by
1. making him attack fast 6 yrd box crosses from the spot
2. loading up the 6 yrd box to create traffic and space for Gabriel to charge without impediment

He has allowed Gabriel to get

close in chances with best possible conditions for success (arriving with momentum onto fast whipped balls).

This is different from say Maguire, who starts at the edge of the box with lots of players around him, resulting in chances from ~12yards or more with little momentum.

This approach also helped arsenal's other players as
the likes of White, Auba, Partey only have flick fast 6 yard box crosses towards goal.

Arsenal are also fairly protected in the second phase, only vulnerable to the sides of the 2 second phase men

Top Work from Jover!

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