ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta masterminded another brilliant win in the title race as they thrashed Manchester City on Sunday.
The 5-1 scoreline might have flattered them but it was their impressive high press which set them on their way.
Here, Dean Scoggins — from SunSport’s Tactics Exposed show — looks at how Arteta’s “double press” baffled City.
DOUBLE PRESS
NOT just one press but two.
Arteta sets up his Arsenal side in a 4-4-2 shape when they are defending, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard as the furthest foward.
Those two orchestrate and lead the press. But what Arsenal did against Man City, was force the visitors to play the ball into areas where they were ready to press again.
So after Odegaard and Havertz block off one channel and the pass is played — Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice charge towards the player about to receive the ball.
It worked perfectly as Manuel Akanji was robbed for Arsenal to score their first goal — with Trossard pinching it, Rice playing to Havertz and the German setting up Odegaard to tap in after two minutes.
Havertz should have scored another when Rice swarmed all over City midfielder Mateo Kovacic in the first half. It made the visitors jittery in possession and was just one of the battles Arteta’s side won.
CITY’S MISSING MEN
MAN CITY’S set-up basically made it seem like it was 11v9 at the Emirates.
Arsenal decided early in the match that two City players were not going to be a threat to them.
Matheus Nunes failed to create much on the right, even when he was given plenty of space.
Following his early error which resulted in Odegaard’s opening goal, the Gunners were also happy to let Akanji take the ball throughout.
To Arsenal, those two players were not going to cause a threat or any harm – they were almost redundant.
That made it seem like City were playing with just nine players.
As a result, the Gunners were able to focus more on the likes of Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, nullifying any threat they could have produced.
SIX & THE CITY
CITY’S new set-up didn’t quite work out this week.
The Prem champions had six attackers but they failed to phase Arsenal.
City had three at the back with Josko Gvardiol dropping in because Nunes was high on the right.
However, it proved to be a problem for Gvardiol – one of the club’s best attacking defenders – who struggled to move past the halfway line.
As a result, Guardiola’s side appeared to play with six midfielders at times which took space away from new signing Omar Marmoush, who has looked very promising since completing his January move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
In contrast, Arsenal also played with a six but through the centre with three pairs – an attacking duo, a midfield duo and a defensive duo.
They were then able to control and dominate a specific zone of the pitch – one that they considered to be the most dangerous.
Man City therefore were unable to create many good chances.
A SURPRISE PARTEY
ARSENAL had a plan – and it was Thomas Partey.
One of the midfielder’s key roles was simply to stand in front of Haaland, preventing the direct passes from Stefan Ortega.
Partey quietly had a great game in midfield, stopping the ball from getting to the feet of Haaland.
As for his goal, Partey was hiding behind the referee when Foden was about to make that pass across the centre.
He was subsequently able to step out and intercept the ball before scoring Arsenal’s second.
SMILES LEWIS-SKELLY
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY is playing two positions in one as that inverted full-back.
He is physical and quick in those defensive positions but his tactical awareness of knowing when to go into midfield makes him stand out.
The 18-year-old knows exactly when he needs to shift based on his team-mates’ positioning.
His goal came as a result of his movement inside from the left, receiving the ball from Rice before firing his shot into the top-right corner.
Arsenal player ratings vs Man City
ARSENAL stunned Man City 5-1 at the Emirates on Sunday evening.
It was an incredible result against their rivals of recent years.
Here, we take a look at how the Gunners rated…
David Raya – 7/10
Had very little to do in the first half but made a brilliant save in the 22nd minute to deny a goalbound header from Josko Gvardiol. Made another stunning save two minutes from the half-time interval, stopping a deflected Savinho shot from close range. Powerless to stop Erling Haaland’s 55th-minute header from briefly levelling the scores.
Jurrien Timber – 6
Didn’t offer his usual attacking threat going forward but was solid defensively. Picked up a pointless yellow breaking up a harmless counter-attack in the 24th minute. Almost scored late in the second half.
William Saliba – 5
Didn’t have much to do in the first half but won all his aerial battles in the first 45 minutes. Marshalled the defence well early in the second period but was embarrassingly outjumped and outmuscled by Haaland for City’s equaliser – a major flaw of his that continues to be exposed.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 6
Like his defensive partner, he was seldom called into action in the first half. Dominant in the air in his battles with Haaland, who he trolled after Odegaard’s goal.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 8
Continues to endear himself to the Emirates faithful with composure and tenacity beyond his years as he brilliantly floated between left back and midfield. Put real daylight between the two sides with a thumping finish just after the hour mark. This young lad is a real bright prospect for both the Gunners and England.
His trolling of Haaland by copying the Norwegian’s ‘Lotus’ celebration went down a storm with fans.
Thomas Partey – 7
Steady in the heart of midfield and broke up play well when required. Fired the Gunners back into the lead in the 57th minute with a deflected shot from outside the box.
Martin Odegaard – 7
Was in the right place at the right time to benefit from the aftermath of an uncharacteristic Manuel Akanji error and break the deadlock. Was at the heart of everything good the north Londoners did going forward.
Declan Rice – 6
Combative, as always, in the middle of the park and played a role in the home side taking the lead, teeing up Havertz who squared the ball to Odegaard.
Leandro Trossard – 6
Was particularly lively on the left in the first half, giving Matheus Nunes a real run for his money. His end product, however, wasn’t the best.
Gabriel Martinelli – 6
Lively on the right wing in the early goings. Found the back of the net in the fifth minute after some beautiful play from Odegaard but was needlessly offside. Forced a good save out of Ortega with a rasping effort in the 68th minute.
Kai Havertz – 6
Lively early doors, testing Stefan Ortega with a tame shot in the first minute. Teed up Odegaard for a tap in a few moments later. Missed a golden opportunity to double the lead in the 25th minute, dragging the ball wide with the goal at his absolute mercy. Made amends for his howler by finishing an even harder chance in the 76th minute. He well and truly needed that as he looked absolutely devoid of confidence.
SUBS
Ethan Nwaneri – 83 (on for Trossard) – 7
Put the cherry on top of the cake with an outrageous effort in second-half stoppage time.
Mikel Merino – 83 (on for Odegaard) – 5
Raheem Sterling – 89 (on for Kai Havertz ) – N/A
Riccardo Calafiori 89 (on for Lewis-Skelly) – N/A
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