Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal project has moved forwards in fits and starts. But with the signing of Martin
Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe’s regular use in an attacking midfield slot, and the continued
development of Bukayo Saka as an inverted winger, have made Arsenal less ponderous and predictable.
While the development of young players into regular starters is exciting for fans,
especially if they came through at the club, these players offer more than just
a glimpse of Arsenal’s future: they are a solution to current tactical problems.
Under Arteta, Arsenal’s build-up from the back has been consistent and generally good.
The centre backs split quite wide, with a midfielder dropping in,
sometimes all the way, either to the left-hand side or centrally.
The midfielder may also stay higher to offer a wall pass. This is a short pass played forward
and then straight back, which allows the passer to move before receiving and open up more passing
angles. Other players also look to drop off away from the opposition defensive lines.
In both approaches, the full backs will push up the pitch to offer receiving options
higher and wider, especially for Leno to target.
The benefits of this are that the opposition has to make a decision on how to press.
If they press high, then Arsenal can go wide to the full backs or to a spare
man in midfield. If they don’t, then the centre backs can bring the ball forwards.
Arsenal’s defenders are all comfortable on the ball, can advance in possession and then
look to launch longer, raking passes or penetrative, vertical passes.
The intention in build-up is always to create a numerical superiority behind the first opposition
line, and Arsenal’s deep build-up finds it relatively easy to do this, especially as they
like to move the ball quite quickly. The splitting centre backs open up passing angles, while the
dropping midfielder allows the full backs to push up the pitch with a fair degree of security, which
in turn stretches the opposition across the pitch. It’s technically hard to play out from the back
at speed, but it seems to be something Arteta has worked on a lot and generally Arsenal do it well.
Once the first line of the opposition defence has been either bypassed or pushed backwards,
Arsenal try to attack with width.
They are seeking to create overloads out wide by forming diamond shapes,
usually comprising a central midfielder, a full back, and, depending on how deep the build-up is,
a centre back and an attacking player, or two attacking players.
This allows one of two things. Either a quick interchange of passes can set one
of the quick attacking wide players free into space, from where they can deliver
a cross to players arriving in the box or a striker already stationed there.
Or the opposition are dragged across the pitch towards the overload to try to box it in,
which can allow Arsenal to go directly across the pitch with a switch of play.
If that’s not an option, they recycle backwards to the centre backs or a spare
midfielder to attempt a quick vertical pass to a central player in space or a deeper switch.
Movement between the lines is crucial to this approach. It needs players to drop off,
receiving the pass but also, importantly, drawing a man with them. If the dropping player is tracked
by a defender, then this opens space for an overlapping run or a player pushing forwards.
If they are not tracked, then the player receiving the ball has more time to turn
and pick a forward pass.
That’s the theory, anyway. Arsenal have had few issues progressing the ball from deep,
as we’ve seen. But effective progression into shooting areas has been a problem.
This is a problem for 4-2-3-1 formations generally.
If the deeper midfielders are as involved in build-up as Arsenal’s are,
this can create a disconnect between the back six and the front four. It can isolate the
attacking players and put a lot of emphasis on individual creativity to break down defences.
If the striker drifts wide to add to an overload, the depth of the central
midfielders can also cause an issue, as it can lead to an absence of numbers in the box. This
is why Arsenal’s crossing game has, at times, been ineffective. Midfield runners from deep are needed
to stretch the opposition defence in the box but Arsenal’s midfielders generally haven’t done this.
This has been compounded by the movement of Arsenal’s strikers. A
striker who drifts wide or drops off to try to help bridge the gap from back to front
leaves a hole up front so even if the ball is worked wide,
there are often not enough bodies in the box to get on the end of the cross that’s generated.
But, with a more mobile attacking three behind the forward, these problems can be solved. Players
like Smith Rowe, Saka, and Odegaard are quick and dynamic. All are comfortable dropping off
to receive the ball deeper on the pitch and then have the pace to get forwards towards the box.
There is a greater positional fluidity, too. Even when he was playing as the 10, before Odegaard’s
arrival, Smith Rowe would often take up positions out wide, allowing the striker to stay central,
before making curving runs towards the box. He and Odegaard also excel at dropping much
deeper to collect the ball from the centre backs or defensive midfielders, which allows Arsenal
better ball progression because the gap between the back six and front four is much smaller.
Saka is also dangerous when dropping into the half space, especially on the right,
from where he can turn and carry the ball, or play it wide then attack the box.
This has a knock-on effect for the strikers. While Aubameyang
still likes to drift left or drop off, and Lacazette drops deep too,
there are now more regular compensating runs from other players who can get forwards.
This ensures that Arsenal don’t end up vacating the box and their build-up amounting to nothing.
Quick, technical players will always pose teams issues.
Able to think and act at speed, Arsenal’s young attacking midfielders have added movement,
explosivity, and the ability to generate individual moments of quality
to a well-constructed deeper build up. Arsenal can still switch things up: when Thomas Partey
returns, the team will have a better ball-carrying option in the double pivot which will allow them
to progress the ball without the attacking midfielders needing to move quite so much.
For now, though, this seems like an effective solution to Arsenal’s most pressing problem:
how to get the ball forwards into dangerous areas with players there to capitalise. They are still a
work-in-progress, but Arsenal’s young attackers appear to pulling them in the right direction.