Arsenal are not identifiable through one set tactical shape.

It's best to separate the new iteration of Arteta's Arsenal into three simple categories:

- The build-up,
- The offensive triangle on the left,
- And the offensive triangle on the right.

All of which form 'one' unit. Thomas Partey drops into the first line of build-up to overload PSG's first line of pressing. Calafiori becomes the spare man and Arsenal find him.

Partey drops into the first line of build-up, Gabriel becomes the spare man.

Rice drops, Partey moves up, now he's free.

Arne Slot's Liverpool have some tactical issues, both with and without the ball.

A thread 👇 When Liverpool build in a 4-3-3, Slot asks a lot of his players.

The absence of a second pivot player increases the distances between the teammates which means short, sharp, and snappy combinations in close proximity are not always possible.

The reliance on individuals is high.

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have evolved.

Arsenal are no longer easily identifiable tactically.

So often we have seen Arsenal use positional play principles, and they are still there, albeit in an entirely different way.

Below, I review "The New and Improved Arsenal".

THREAD! 🔴⚪️ 'Rigidity' is a concept that centres around the consistent occupation of specific zones on the pitch.

Fluid rigidity, however, is a related but different concept that centres around the consistent occupation of specific zones on the pitch with freedom to alternate between zones.

Manchester City vs Arsenal ~ a tactical review like no other.

A thread designed to educate.

🔵🔴 Smart people watch City versus Arsenal and see that Arsenal came to press with aggressive intent but were forced back.

The very same people would have expected that to happen, just like as Arteta and Arsenal would have.

Two big questions - how and why were they pinned back?

Manchester United were flawlessly coached from a tactical perspective against Crystal Palace.

This was one of the very first times Erik ten Hag's team controlled the game with AND without the ball to the same level as City & Arsenal.

It shows Erik ten Hag CAN succeed..

THREAD! One of the biggest issues Erik ten Hag's Manchester United have faced from a tactical perspective has been their lack of positional discipline in possession.

So often we see players popping up all over the park and rotating, but too much of that breeds unfamiliarity and chaos.

Spurs 0-1 Arsenal.

With several key starters injured, Señor Mikel Arteta cooked up a tactical masterclass of the highest order 💯

THREAD! 👇 The idea that Arteta's Arsenal simply 'played a low block and grinded out a result' is one that makes me laugh.

The same narrative persisted when they went to the Etihad and ended City's 57-game scoring run at home.

The reality is Arsenal are incredibly brave in their approach.

Mikel Arteta can create tactical solutions for Arsenal in each phase against Spurs even WITHOUT Ødegaard.

Spurs are a good team with & without the ball whilst having top players so it will be a tough game in a hostile atmosphere, but this was the case even with Øde!

Analysis 🔻 The blueprint is there for Arteta to hurt Spurs in the 4-2-4 - Spurs press in man-to-man fashion so there will be 1v1's in the last line for Arsenal.

Havertz can beat van de Ven in the air, Jesus can drop to drag Romero out, Saka & Martinelli's 1v1 qualities vs Udogie & Porro...

Raheem Sterling is NOT a player of the past.

Sterling averages 1 goal contribution per 151 mins across his career. Last season at a dysfunctional Chelsea, he averaged 1 goal contribution every 153 mins.

I guarantee that he will SUCCEED at & IMPROVE Arteta's Arsenal!

THREAD! 🔴 Raheem Sterling averages 24 goals and assists per season over the last 10 seasons & is available to play in over 90% of games each season.

He guarantees a goal contribution every game and a half & he miraculously maintained that standard at a haphazard Chelsea last season.

Wow.

Arne Slot's Liverpool outclassed Erik ten Hag's Manchester United.

A tactical review 🔻 Manchester United pressed in a 4-4-2. The idea was similar to the one that ten Hag used against City in the FA Cup final (albeit zonal as opposed to man-marking in midfield).

The difference was Liverpool built with deep fullbacks & false #10's.

Arne Slot killed ten Hag's press.

Arsenal's tactics against Unai Emery's Aston Villa were flawless.

After a summer away from Arteta's team, it was nice to remind ourselves of how special Arsenal can be. As far as control goes, they are on City's level 💯

However, Arteta deserves and *NEEDS* more..

THREAD! 🚨👇 Arsenal started off in a 4-2-4 shape in the build-up with Timber as a traditional left back, Ødegaard dropping deep into the double pivot, and Rice pushed on high and between the lines as a left-sided #10 alongside Havertz.

That midfield balance may seem off, but it's genius..

Ten Hag and United's biggest issue is their in-possession play.

They attack with 6 on the last line but is there really a need for it? Oftentimes two players are in the same lane..

Not only that, but players have too much freedom to roam.

Reliable positioning does not exist. Fluidity within the confines of rigid zones is great.

Just look at Ben White at Arsenal who tucks into a back three, plays as a deep fullback, tucks into midfield, overlaps, and sometimes plays between the lines.

But he rotates in tandem with Ødegaard and Saka, and that's it.

Erik ten Hag's pressing system against Brighton was Jürgen Klopp-esque.

Manchester United may have lost, but the high pressing was the best we have seen since ten Hag joined the club.

Let's take an in-depth look at how United pressed in ten Hag's new-look 4-4-2.

👇🔴 The entirety of United's pressing centred around managing Brighton's centre backs and #6 at the base of their 4-3-3.

As part of United's front 2, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount had to lead the press.

They had to alternate their movements to manage the 3v2 in a variety of ways.

Bukayo Saka needs help.

A thread 🔻 Arsenal have 10 players for their offensive positions:

Saka, Ødegaard, Rice, Martinelli, Havertz;
Nelson, Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard, Jesus.

(Rice is their best #6 so including him here weakens the team in the #6).

So, what does that attack lack? Unstoppability outside of Saka.

Chelsea defended in a passive 4-4-2 against Manchester City's 3-1-6.

The idea was to leave Nkunku to manage both Akanji and Rico Lewis with the rest of the team blocking the pass lanes into City's players positioned high up the pitch.

A clear change in style from Maresca.

🔻

We can see Palmer blocking the passing lanes into De Bruyne and Doku in this moment with Gusto and Caicedo further creating a 3v2 defensive overload within the mid-block.

However, when City bypassed Palmer and sped up the game, they could create a 1v1 or even a 2v1 out wide.

Maresca's Chelsea were absolutely outstanding in possession from a tactical AND balance perspective against Pep's City.

Chelsea built out from the back in a 4-2-4 with Enzo in the left half-space between the lines.

The idea was to entice City high to create space in attack.

🔻 Maresca wanted Chelsea to find Enzo between the lines to drag Akanji out, create space in behind City's last line, and find runners from deep to attack that space.

Maresca's team nearly scored as a direct consequence of that Roberto De Zerbi-esque pattern of play..

Arsenal, Arteta, Ødegaard, and the need for another 'Saka'.

A thread 🔻 To the casual fan, bemoaning Ødegaard's offensive qualities seems insane.

I get that, but he is too reliant on intricate combination play to create. De Bruyne has unstoppable power when carrying, under/overlapping and on both feet.

Ødegaard is much closer to Bernardo.

Erik ten Hag's build-up structure and high press is still an issue in pre-season.

United are too fluid in possession and too passive out of possession.

People will point to personnel, and they're right, but not even elite quality can solve this.

Concerned is an understatement. See this?

This is a good 4-4-2 high press. Zonal turned man-to-man with pressure put on the ball in the right moment.

Great, well done ten Hag. HOWEVER, this did not occur reliably.

With better personnel, it will improve, but in other phases United lack STRUCTURAL aggression..

With Salah pressing as part of a line of 4 in Liverpool's midfield in the 4-4-2, he has to be conscious of when to jump to press the centre back (like he did under Klopp) & when to be passive to keep the midfield line compact.

He has more responsibility under Slot..

A thread 🔻 From goal kicks, it makes complete sense for Salah to start central with Bradley/Trent backing up the press behind him so the team press in man-to-man fashion and exert optimal pressure on the ball.

However, in settled play, he has to pick and choose his moments carefully.

Liverpool vs Arsenal.

Tactical takeaways 🔻 Arsenal played in their preferred system both with and against the ball.

In possession, they utilised their typical 3-2-5 high build shape with Zinchenko and Ødegaard alternating between operating alongside Partey in the pivot.

This was an interesting test for Slot's Liverpool.

Get ready, Liverpool fans.

Arne Slot's first game at the club was exciting beyond belief.

A thread 🔻 Arne Slot's Liverpool start off in a 4-2-4 in the build-up.

The idea is to lure the opposition in before playing through them and finding Liverpool's front 4 who can exploit the opposition defence in open spaces.

Unlike Klopp's team, Slot's are very patient when building.

Mikel Merino is as well-rounded as you're going to get as a #8. La Liga in possession, Premier League out of possession.

A mix of Henderson & Souček without the ball with the technical elegance of a Spaniard in the first, second & third phase.

Arteta's dream profile.

THREAD 🚨 Mikel Merino can lead the press in midfield thanks to his incredible work ethic, mobility & intensity against the ball. He presses with maximum aggression (the Lijnders model).

Not to mention his intelligence to shadow mark in tandem with his leadership skills to lead the press.