₦airaland Forum

Security must be shored up then. He didn't have colleagues when this happened?

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Arteta has shown before that he can implement a high quality press against a 3 at the back team but he must change or improve upon his current system to revert to those previous successes to make Arsenal less vulnerable in these games. Brighton, on the other hand, showed Arteta who was boss on the day by matching up man-for-man when Arsenal had goal kicks. This structure forced Ramsdale to go long more often than he and Arteta would have liked - Brighton, however, had no problem playing out from the back. As I maintain at the start of the thread, Arteta is a top tactician but has made glaring errors against 3 at the back teams on a number of occasions this season despite implementing a successful approach against Chelsea last ssn. This needs to improve to give Arsenal more control.

Improved technical levels would enable Arteta's men to be more dominant on these games but Arsenal's XI was more than good enough to control the game vs Brighton, yet they didn't, and the team with D. Burn and S. Duffy did with the ball, which is unacceptable.

He must improve.

My take: same as usual

What can he do when he notices he's being outsmarted? That's what makes a great tactician to me. Else, its just crap. I think in this aspect, Emery is by faaaar better than him.

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However, bizarrely, Arteta matched up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season & completely stifled their game pressing wise before ultimately beating Chelsea at the Bridge on that day, so for him to make this error twice after beating Chelsea with it is utterly illogical. Crucially, in the below pictures Holding (Arsenal's CB) was right behind Mason Mount ready to press high. Also, Arsenal were not outnumbered numbers wise either. They matched Chelsea up man for man. This was a successful & high quality tactic which should be used vs 3 ATB teams.

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So Arsenal's press was outmatched numbers wise and wasn't vertically compact. The reality of the situation is Brighton dominated the ball against Arsenal with the likes of Dan Burn and Shane Duffy in the team. That’s not good enough from Arteta.
The same thing happened against Chelsea and Chelsea dismantled Arteta's Arsenal on the day. There is a clear 5v4 in the build-up here, and this was how Chelsea directly exposed and scored against Arsenal on a number of occasions.

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Not only did Brighton have an overload in the build-up, but the vertical compactness with Arsenal's block wasn't tight enough. Ben White and Gabriel lacked aggression within their positioning so Brighton often had spare men between the lines.

This had a number of implications. Ideally, in a good pressing system, Partey will push on & press the opposition pivot here as he is a clear pressing trigger. However, as seen in the same video, he was conscious of the spare man between the lines behind him so couldn't press high. This is White & Gabriel's fault.

Klopp constantly talks about how the last line must be aggressive within their positioning so the entire block is compact and the space in which the opposition have to play in is reduced. Arsenal weren't vertically compact, so Partey couldn't press high. This means that Brighton can 1) play a simple short pass into the pivot to play out of Arsenal's subpar press or 2) play directly to the spare man between the lines. Either way, Arsenal are getting forced back because their press wasn't good enough.

For me, this is primarily Gabriel's fault. He was signed to be the leader in that backline so controlling where the line operates is one of his primary tasks. Again, this is also imperative for Arteta to drill into him and the defensive line, so both are certainly at fault here. Look at Partey here. His body position is one that is conservative and lacks aggression in the sense that he's more concerned about what's behind him as opposed to pressing what should be his trigger which is the opposition pivot. Again, the defensive line is too deep.

Analysis on the Brighton Game.....

#Copied

Arteta is a phenomenal tactician but Arsenal having just over 40% of the ball against Brighton is not good enough. Below, I analyse his flawed tactics against 3 at the back teams and why Arsenal cannot keep the ball in those games before ultimately getting dominated. Interestingly, Arsenal had 71% of the ball after the first 10 minutes - they didn't just play out from the back - they partook in a combination of both direct and short play and were successful with both thanks to their good technical quality and Ramsdale's long kicking.

Ramsdale's kicking enabled Arsenal to win second balls in areas deep in Brighton's, which is good. This is a position of control and strength for Arsenal because they're winning the ball back high as opposed to losing it in their own third and being forced to recover. Pressing wise, Arsenal were forcing Brighton to go long and play risky passes because Arsenal were incredibly frantic because the game just started and their energy was high.


However, the overload in Brighton's build-up enabled them to dominate the ball from this point (minute 10) on. Between minute 12 and 22 Brighton had 63% possession, and this marked the swing of the tide in the games dynamics and overall control for each team.

Once Brighton got their foot on the ball, Arsenal never got it back, & that's because Brighton had a spare man in the build-up vs Arsenal's subpar press. Brighton had a constant 5v4 when building play, & that's excluding Sanchez in goal who Brighton successfully used to circulate

Lagos should be getting as much as 4% if not more.

Jodera:
Lol... Afcon or no afcon sef, difference no dey concerning Pepe

Lol. I'm not defending pepe here na. Just needing a shoo in when Afcon comes.

mostob:
If he still has that fiery hunger and passion, I'd take him. Especially considering the poor form of Pepe and the fact that AFCON is around the corner. Apart from his ball playing skills, one thing I admire about him is his transmissible passion bug. But where does this leaves Martinelli?

That's true o!

Nelli that i want to see playing.

I just imagined how that LHS will be easier for Tierney if Alexis comes back. Especially the Counterattacks, a smooth gel with ESR no doubt.

I watched the day we beat Man Utd, 3-0. Alexis(2), Ozil(1)

The NLD goal of Auba was an exact replica. The midfield flick of ESR to set Ozil up....

These guys are recreating too many past buildups.
Can't predict which.


Overall, i won't mind.

Jodera:
is Alan Shearer 11 the official EPL team of the week?

It doesn't have to be. Its close enough for this last week.

Jodera:
Even tho I love Sanchez to the core, but I won't advice we take him back on a normals, but seeing that Pepe can't even beat a barn door I might.

Tbh, I'm at a cross here cos I want to fully access arsenal wings issue fully if pepe plays on the left and saka plays on the right but Arteta isn't just seeing it. If pepe still plays the nonsense he do play on the right on the left, then I'll take a low wage Sanchez in a heartbeat

Exactly! I won't mind a Second Option available for the wings if the first isn't working. Especially as Afcon is nearby and Pepe will be gone. I think it ticks all boxes to me. A lil skeptical, but we may just need him.

iamoyindamola:
No fvcking way
Nonsense and ingredients, too hell with him
Inshort 600 years of mediocre for him

Guy

He's not Benteke or Sanogo or Frimpong na. Shuu.

Besides he is still active and will make things easier for Arteta as he still has that winning games factor in his blood. I don't like the Wingers situation at Emirates any more than you, but if he available, I'd take him. Mediocrity?? Okay o.

iamoyindamola:
For your own sanity, stop taking shearer and Owen serious
Those 2 mofos hate anything arsenal and will rather put emotions when judging matches against us.


Maybe arsenal steal their trophies we don't know

Not that i take him that serious, but i know he does get it as close as possible, no doubt. A game against Arsenal isn't going to make me think he's bias na. Cucu did well. Anyways, i get your point.


Its even Owen I'd never take serious ever.

Thanks to Nairaland! Still repping well!

Meanwhile, CuCu is in TOTW

Will it be good to use his performance as yardstick for consequent 3s in XI?

Sanchez will be a free agent this coming January.


I'd take him back, especially if his wage isn't going to be a bottleneck. That LW side needs him. What do you think?

We Love as its back, but can they just improve on that Logo pls? Behind it up or something. Better Fonts dey abeg!

ObaIgwe1:
IMO, AMN should have been introduced earlier instead of bringing in Pepe. Then we should have reverted to 4-3-3 with Laca also replacing Auba... I think the game would have changed for better.

This could work truly. Auba has 6 touches. Same as Laca under 15mins. That wasn't Auba's game truly.


A testament to the fact that Arteta isn't doing his job when it comes to Opponents.

Jodera:
This is the wrongest match for those two to gel. I told you how our test with Brighton starts this week cos of how they play and not crystal palace. I still feel with time those two will blend(remember this is their first game together). Crystal palace will be a perfect opportunity for the two to get their game better, not Brighton and certainly not Aston Villa.

I love how lokonga played, but partey was off the pace, with more game time those two will understand themselves

I clearly didn't expect their tactic would flourish against us. But Lallana bossed that middle.

I don't care about time for gelling together, cos if it was a matter of understanding or compliment each other, it would be different. But both were unable to do their individual part yesternight. Then together again,no connection. I'd put more on Partey tho. Lokonga really helped Tierney, compare to the Tomiyasu side with Partey. If Arteta have a Lallana, I'd say we got gold. He's so good.

iamoyindamola:
I was expecting him to double up on cucurella, then remove auba
Ódegaard didn't do anything wrong he should have introduced another midfielder to add up to the midfield and ódegaard will double up with Tomi
Arteta no be manager abeg he didn't learn anything from pep, he's poor
The 9npy changes he made was more pressing and 0lat from back which didn't work.
Only Smith was trying to drive in, lonkonga tried in helping Tierney
Partey was average today, I was just thinking if bissouma played nothing for partey today

Man did nothing to take pressure off from a Defence that were always on the backfoot. He should have increased Presence in Midfield and set offside traps. Even BA set for us sef. You're right, this guy just go mark register for Pep side abeg. Or maybe he needs the moneybag like Pep to make a difference.

As for that midfield solution i expected someone like Elneny, don't be shocked. Yeah back passes but he does well in settling a rushing opponent. But who will then be sacrificed? Saka? Auba?


If Xhaka was available, i know half of us would believe he'd have gotten a red for clumsy tackle. But i think Lokonga and Partey is a no no IMO going forward.

They won almost all their one on one challenge. One of the scariest days for Arteta.

None of our youngsters are good in positioning for Any CK, with defenders getting a whooping 80% touches compared to the rest of the team combined. Poor setpiece planning.

How Arteta will relish this 1point.

iamoyindamola:
Cucurella where ever you are thunder fire your balls
Omo ale jatijati imagine lamperty come play, we will park double decker bus.


I noticed Arteta forced play from back in the second, that shít didn't work ramsdale returned to default settings straight up CS over stupid coach instructions

You see why i always support going against a coach's plan if its not helping. Na who field know how as e dey hot. That Ramsdale Save is enough to trust we have a good Leno replacement. He should have started Laca.



Pls who else will join me to conclude that Arteta is piss poor at planning against another team's tactics?

Its so obvious to me. Like BA played exact same tactic for 90 without as much as a challenge in halting their strides?? Especially that Cucurella guy.

Arteta need do better. That's what makes a good coach. You plan to the weaknesses and if they are exploiting, you figure a way to halt it. It can go side by side with whatever plan to attack is. I'm still laughing at that Tierney moment. A team that will make Tierney do 90mins defending go soon come. Lol. See how they made Tomi stay back with their own 3.

Poor game for Partey and Lokonga. Good one for Ramsdale and Smith. The rest were average.

Roland17:
Naaaaa..Saka or the winger should be helping out Tomi. If you drag Partey to that wing, that will be disastrous because you leave the front of the defenders open especially if a cross comes in.

Atall. Cucu has beaten Tomi and he easily strolled into to give a dangerous cross. Partey shouldn't have made it easy for him. By looking at a 3 stroll in. Who cares what defence front needs in that situo?

Partey again allows that guy ease to head that CK. Smh

Wassuping?

Roland17:
A big portion of the issue is the formation. How do you surrender possession to Brighton who are playing a back 3 with 5 midfielders, 6 if you include Trossard who joins them in the middle when they have the ball? Isn't that suicidal? That means whenever Brighton have the ball, which is like every time, they have 6 players as against our 4, I am not including Odegaard because he was not helping out. So you see, Partey/ Lokonga can only do so much if the tactics is faulty.

Those two aren't even challenging either. Lazy attempts. See that side when Tomi was overrun, Partey supposed to fill in and cover. He didn't.

Do ar-senal corner kicks every gets to an arsenal head ever?

Laca on finally. Laca supposed to start this match if Arteta understood how Brighton plays. But as usual, he trusts his tactics to always out tops. Smh.

He was telling a Tierney that went back to defend to run forward. To where?

Roland17:
Good substitution.. Odegaard was not influencing the game and Brighton were exploiting the space he was not covering to find open players. We need quick forward passes that open plays.

The space Exploitation is also Lokonga's and Partey's. This midfield pairing no be am. Lets see what Pepe will bring. A pity these guys know how to exploit. Just not clinical in all attempts.

I see Pepe. Be like his dribbling is needed. I know that's why he's coming on.

So cucu na Spaniard?

Better player.

Space Exploitation continues.

And Partey?!

Omo. See how Lallana dey boss Midfield. Curry dey real show Tomiyasu palaver.


Partey needs to practice his shooting abeg. What's all that. Even Bellerin does better jare. No excuse.

Laca press is needed. I don't get what Auba is doing. Those CKs are scary. I kinda see some kinda Spanish Influence on Brighton football. Its too evident. But Arsenal are giving them too many spaces. I hope that space doesn't turn to what brings their goal. Troussard on a whole new level but his shooting is worse than Partey's. Else, that's two goals.


That Smith Rowe run, who else noticed that nobody from the Midfield followed to be with auba in the box? Isnt that horrible? Very disgusting to me. So the chances of goal from such crosses are solely on Auba. No hope that an Arsenal fan will be at the end of any of that. They all just stayed in the middle, far from the box. Pissed at that.