Thread by @EBL2017

Arsenal beat Wolves last time out but they were lucky despite Arteta's top tactics. Arsenal were passive and weak mentally on & off the ball due to their inexperience within a hostile environment, but the Emirates is a difficult ball game.

I expect a dominant showing.

THREAD!

On paper, Arsenal should dominate the game against Wolves, but they should have done the same at Molineux & didn't. Pressing wise, Arteta adapted his press perfectly to nullify Wolves' build-up, but the players didn't reliably exert that press due to technical insecurity.

In possession, Wolves didn't even press high and Arsenal still couldn't build play successfully. It was such an immature and poor overall display. However, that type of performance is to be expected. It's such a young group and it's their first year playing together at this level

However, at the Emirates, the likelihood of Arsenal succumbing to the pressure of a difficult atmosphere like the one at Molineux is far less. The crowd will be behind them and it'll be easier for them to be assertive and harder for Wolves to be aggressive.

Mentally, it's difficult to go to any away ground and press or keep the ball, let alone at the Emirates. However, Wolves did it at Old Trafford because they have quality, but Arsenal are a different tactical beast when compared to United. It won't be as easy as it was that day.

Wolves had an overload in the build-up against United's lacklustre pressing structure so they used their technical quality and numerical advantage to stamp their authority on the game. They won't have that tactical advantage against Arsenal, and Arteta's men are more intense too.

So, when considering that Wolves don't have home advantage, are matched up in the build-up pressing wise, and don't even press high, Arsenal *should* dominate proceedings with the ball. They're an immature & inconsistent bunch, but the logic at hand points toward Arsenal control.

As such, I think Arsenal will come out & control the game tonight. Yes they're immature, but they have quality & home advantage. It's easier to be aggressive in a game where they're supposed to win - away from home, however, it's easier to be passive like they were at Molineux.

The fans and Arteta won't allow that at the Emirates, however. Arsenal have to be controlling these types of games. The primary theme should be 65% possession to Arsenal and them trying to break down Wolves' low block. Wolves have quality, but their plan is reductionist.

Wolves are a good technical & physical team so will win duels, use their technical quality in the build-up & in settled play, & have moments where they use their outlets to get up the pitch, but they don't press high unless counterpressing. Arsenal subsequently have an advantage.

When Arsenal build play out from the back, they'll do it with little pressure. When Wolves build play out from the back, they'll be under mass pressure because Arsenal press high. They didn't do it successfully at Molineux, but the Emirates is a different ball game as discussed.

Arsenal should be able to sustain attacks and try to control the elements of play that Wolves are good at i.e. nullify their outlets as much as possible, win duels in midfield after long kicks, be aggressive positionally to win the ball high + force them back in settled play.

Again, even in those moments where José Sá kicks it long, Arsenal have a compact midfield structure with aggressive players, so it's all about ensuring that Arsenal are the team that retrieve possession in those moments to keep the ball and/or exploit Wolves in transition.

Wolves will of course have joy there too, but Arsenal have to ensure they dominate that phase of play as much as possible to ensure that they can be as aggressive as possible on & off the ball. If they keep losing midfield duels/fail to deal with outlets, they risk losing control

Then it'll become easier for Wolves to keep the ball in settled play because Arsenal are losing the ball in midfield areas where they have to retreat into a defensive block as opposed to an aggressive one. Teams can't keep pressing high if they lose possession close to their goal

However, despite these warning signs, ARS should pin Wolves back & control proceedings. They have the compactness when pressing & in transition, the physicality to deal with duels, & the technical quality to build play under little pressure. It should be wave after wave of attack

Then, within those moments where Arsenal sustain pressure, they are fantastic creatively. They have elite positional play structure, combinations, and balance in the final third. Martinelli is a loss but Smith-Rowe is a nice interchangable type combiner/threat against low blocks.

Overall, the game is in Arsenal's hands, particularly with home advantage behind them. It'll be easier for them to use the positive energy of the crowd to be brave on and off the ball & control proceeding than it was away against Wolves. I expect Arsenal's best selves to turn up.

If those complaining over the 'lucky' comment in the initial tweet bothered to read the thread they'd understand the context behind it. I am very obviously referring to the general control within the game and not the last 20 minutes where Holding & co defended the box resiliently