Thread by @EBL2017

De Zerbi's Brighton are a mirror reflection of Arteta's Arsenal. In fact, it's clear that De Zerbi possesses *ALL* of the necessary tactical qualities to be the next elite coach in the sport.

Below, in this in-depth preview, I break down the match-up in finite detail.

THREAD.

Sánchez is similar to Ramsdale in the sense that both have the quality to play out from the back but often go long from goal kicks.

Both 'keepers kick the ball abnormally far so it gives their respective teams a top chance of winning 2nd balls in midfield.

From here is where the teams look to exert their possession-based style on games off the back of that.

Should they be forced backwards from their own goal kicks or if the opposition go long & BHA retrieve possession, they will then build out from the back.

Brighton often do this successfully and it's where they have their best qualities as a collective. Sánchez, Veltman, Dunk, Colwill, Estupiñán, Caicedo, Lallana, Mitoma, Mac Allister and more all excel technically making Brighton a very difficult team to dispossess.

In the very first phase of the build-up, Brighton flip between a 4-3-3 & a 4-2-4. Their midfield dynamics are the same to that of Arsenal in the sense that Lallana stays high in the right half space ala Ødegaard, Mac Allister is a box-to-box #8 ala Xhaka, Caicedo-Partey in the #6

But due to the fact that Xhaka/Mac Allister prefer to operate deep as opposed to between the lines, both often drop deep to help enable their teams to get up the pitch & play through opposition high presses.

This is when Trossard drifts into the left half-space (4-2-4 shape).

Mitoma and March stay high and wide in this phase with Trossard reacting accordingly to Mac Allister's movements. The back four, on the other hand, operate the way a traditional back four do.

Further up, though, is where De Zerbi starts to implement exceptional tactical concepts

When Brighton mount settled attacks, Veltman or Groß (depending on who's playing right back) invert into midfield to ensure the team is A) compact in defensive transition, B) has enough options to circulate play, & C) create a free passing lane to isolate March in a 1v1.

Does that remind you of anyone (White of Arsenal or Walker at City)? In fact, let's look at the bigger picture. De Zerbi's Brighton operate in a 3-2-5/2-3-5 meaning they attack in the same way as Arteta's Arsenal or Pep's City.

Their positional play is nothing short of elite.

Even the dynamics are undeniably similar. March is a left-footed winger who stays high and wide on the right for 1v1's, the right back inverts when the team is high, the left-hand side rotate in a trio where one constantly occupies the wing, the half space, and deeper areas.

Just like Zinchenko, Xhaka, and Martinelli or Cancelo, Foden and Bernardo, Brighton's trio of Estupiñán, Mac Allister and Mitoma rotate within those 3 zones which enables the team to be A) fluid and crucially B) rigid within that fluidity which enables reliable chance creation.

Mitoma is excellent in 1v1 situations, Estupiñán provides incredible dynamism, runs in behind, and link play from left back, and we all know how adept Mac Allister is technically and creatively. Then, on the far side, March cuts in, the rest attack the box.

The Veltman overlap to create space for March to cut inside is exactly what we see from White for Saka at Arsenal & although the right back is typically passive positionally, they have license to overlap in those instances because of the left-hand side dynamics (one stays deep).

That means the block stays compact at all times and is ready to win second balls should play break down. They have 5 in the first line ready to counterpress, & 5 behind spread out accordingly with at least 2 always in midfield to keep the midfield compact.

The principles are 🔝

Alternatively, when defending in settled play, they are once again similar to Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. They press in a 4-4-1-1 shape but crucially invert their wide players to ensure the opposition centre backs don't have A) an overload vs the front 2 and B) time on the ball.

So, for example, in this instance Wolves switch play to the far-side centre back but March inverts to press him with Groß pushing as high as the opposition fullback to ensure the press remains compact.

It's elite coaching, & few coaches in world football utilise such aggression.

However, Brighton's biggest problem comes from the fact that their individual quality, albeit fantastic in a wide range of positions, doesn't match the quality of their manager. Solly March is a consummate professional, but not a top winger. They also lack optimal physicality.

Mitoma is their best transitional threat and although he's a top player, he's not *lightening quick* (he is quick, just not Martinelli quick or Saka levels of physical strength).

Lallana, Trossard and March (the best of the three) are also all subpar athletes regarding mobility.

This has many negative implications - they lack outlets in transition to get back up the pitch. They rely on their technical quality to get out, which is a harder method of evading pressure. This also means they lack a counter-attacking threat, & can also be passive in the press.

The success Brighton have in games centres around their technical quality. It's their best and most important quality. Chance creation, build-up and things like this have never been an issue for the club, but scoring goals has. They still have that issue outside of Trossard.

Trossard is an exceptional ball-striker on both feet but this is a quality Brighton badly lack across their attack along with physicality. It's why Welbeck is important for them as an option. He's a focal point who often gets the team up the pitch - no other forward matches that.

Either way, although their top technical quality means they will have moments and can take control away from Arsenal and have a genuine chance of causing an upset, it's key to note that Mac Allister won't be available due to the World Cup, & Groß isn't as proficient technically.

These factors simply mean a team who are very similar to Arsenal are weaker in a number of key areas. This doesn't mean they won't cause Arsenal lots of problems, because I anticipate that they will, but it means that Arsenal have a slight edge in a variety of phases.

Arsenal have better transitional threats off the back of duels in midfield and on the counter, they have more goalscorers in the team against low blocks to complement their creativity, they have better physicality in the press, and better technical quality across the entire XI.

These are all slight edges that pip the game in Arsenal's favour despite it still being a close game because Brighton are excellent tactically with lots of top players. Any team with technical quality like they possess will take control away from the opposition, press well, etc.

Another crucial aspect to note is that although De Zerbi has utilised the Arsenal-esque system as of late, he may opt for a back 3 when considering the quality of the opponent.

He didn't when they beat Arsenal 3-1 in the league cup in November, but against a better XI he could.

De Zerbi implemented a back 5 against Liverpool, Spurs and City, although this was his preferred system when he initially joined the club. He has not used it in the 6 games since. But, as I say, it's certainly an option for him because of how Brighton defend in a 4-4-1-1 block.

Arsenal are so special creatively because of their positional play in the final third. They attack with 5 in the last line with elite individual quality whilst also possessing elite tactics and balance on top of that.

There would be a clear overload against Brighton's back four.

As such, a back 5 would mitigate that, and Brighton could still press well in that system. Against Liverpool's 4-3-3, De Zerbi set Brighton up in a 5-2-3 high press. It worked excellently. Although, it would be tough to mitigate the inversions of Zinchenko & Tierney in particular

Liverpool's fullbacks don't invert into midfield the way a Zinchenko or a Tierney would meaning that the wingbacks could be aggressive to push on and press Trent and Robertson, but that's not the case against Arsenal.

The left back will drift inside to create an overload.

A better solution would be to do what Arteta himself does to mitigate the 5v4 overload in the last line and task March (Saka) with tracking all the way into the last line of defence.

That way Zinchenko/Tierney can still be pressed high & the block isn't overloaded defensively.

Overall, though, it's clear that De Zerbi is a superb coach and one who undeniably has the potential to mix with the elites.

I said it before but I'll say it again - Graham Potter *is* an excellent manager, but Brighton & Hove Albion have upgraded on him with De Zerbi.

Amazing.