To see Arsenal, see Manchester United (Positives, Needs & Hopes) [WHU 0-6 ARS]

To see Arsenal, see Manchester United

An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective

The headline might confuse. I know we played a different United, don’t worry.

I was just watching Villa v Man United after our game. Although United are on a four game winning run and this might not seem like the best time to pick on them, they are the perfect example if you want to put Arsenal in a mirror.

Don’t be fooled, Manchester United are all over the place. The club has had huge off field issues for 10 years. Top players in their prime don’t consider United anymore. They have two players who seem to be guaranteed a starting spot. Two. Hojlund and Mainoo and they’ve only just shown up. Their recent form is very good but here are their results this season…. W, L, W, L, L, L, W,W, L, L, W, W, W, L, L, W, L, W, W, D, L, W, L, L, D, L, W, L, W, W, W, W, W. Then you watch them play and it all makes sense. They look just like Arsenal right in the middle of Wenger’s latter day struggles. There is no foundation. I suppose if nobody in your back five is guaranteed a start you aren’t likely to be stable. They have no standards. Sometimes players try, sometimes not. I can’t see a pattern of play either. It’s all random and off the cuff. Nineties football in an era that whether we like it or not, is not playing football the way it was played when Peter Beagrie was out there. They do of course have talent, but talent that looks like they are winging it. There is no coherent defensive plan. Sometimes players step out, sometimes they don’t, leaving the unit defending as individuals. Our new system of two tens would be astonished at the large gaps between their midfielders to break the lines. When balls are being crossed the defending isn’t organized, it’s emergency.

When they are attacking, if they can’t get the ball to their wide forwards they look lost. Their central triangle has no automatisms. Their set plays look hopeful rather than planned. Their biggest sin however, has been taking 5 months to recognize the abilities of their jewel in Hojlund. Rashford is selfish and Hojlund is an after thought. All Garnacho has ever known is playing United football with talented chaos, so he second guesses too much. Hojlund is the beast that we need as an option but he has been starving until Christmas came. The fact that they lean on Mainoo so much is frankly embarrassing. He is a super player but a super player surrounded by players who have all been elite and should offer so much more in Casemiro, Eriksen and Bruno.

So, what you get when you watch United is ‘I have no idea what is going to happen today-Land.’  If you have supported Arsenal for over 10 years, you understand this same land. We lived there. You remember conversations pre-game with your mates which were predicated by the phrase, “depending on which team shows up….”

When you watch Arsenal and United back to back you feel good about life in 2024. I recommend it. You see a past that looks long gone and been replaced by higher standards everywhere at Arsenal F.C.

Arsenal have what Arteta calls ‘non-negotiables.’ I always called them ‘structure and standards.’  Alongside City and Leverkusen, we have the best attacking structure in Europe. Think back to when Emery tried to play out from the back to Arteta’s Arsenal who now do it without making us nervous anymore because the structure is better. Our players know where their teammates are at all times. I noticed this yet again against West Ham when we were in tricky situations where we were potentially about to lose the ball. We passed it backwards blindly. That used to be a cardinal sin but our players are so trusting and confident of the structure that they know there is no risk.

Out of possession i think there is no doubt that we are the best in Europe. Not only well organized but our players now value EXACTLY where to stand and the importance of their hips being turned the right way.

Our improvement is still in the penalty area but 14 goals in the last 3 games is hard to argue with.

Because we are so structured, our football has looked robotic for a while but this is a phase. When you teach the very fine details of EXACTLY where to stand and how, then players are re-learning the game and so they have to think. If you can get your players through this and out the other side then you get to see what we are starting to enjoy. Players who don’t have to stress about details. The details have turned to automatisms and now Arsenal may just have found dreamland. The place where the players feel so secure in the structure and don’t have to think anymore and can now rotate positions to the point of making opponents dizzy with confusion. I always thought that this ‘process’ would lead to spankings. You can’t be as dominant as Arsenal and not eventually see that on the scoreboard.

If you marry all this with high standards then you don’t get a record that looks like United’s (above) but you get this…. W, W, D, W, W, W, D, W, W, L, W, D, W, W, L, L, W, W, W, W, W, W, , L, D, W, D, L, L, L, W, W, W, W. A list dominated by the letter W. A consistency that can only be achieved with high standards. We haven’t even hit 5th gear yet, either.

What do these standards look like on the field? In attack, Arsenal NEVER have a moment when there isn’t a player or four available to receive the ball. Watching Utd, this is absolutely not the case. They are sporadic and arrive too late like the town with a part time fire station. Defensively the difference is seismic. The single easiest way to determine if your team has high standards is seen in the ‘not-fun’ parts of the game. When you are disappointed that you or your teammate has just lost the ball, do you stop, complain, jog, walk or instantly react? Not only do Arsenal instantly react they look like a team that enjoys winning the ball back, blocking shots, sprinting 70 yards to help and then ultimately you see a team that is 6-0 up celebrate blocking the one shot West Ham had with more enthusiasm than most of the goals we scored.

I have personal experience of this quite recently. I was asked to do a summer soccer camp for a local High School girls soccer team. They aren’t rockstars but I managed to change the way they think in one session. Not because I’m good, but because I significantly raised the standards. I let them play 11 v 11 first thing. I noticed very quickly that almost all of them were just kicking the ball with no thought, just nerves. I stopped the game and asked them why when they got to the field did they get their boots on and pass in 2’s. It wasn’t my instruction. Their ability to pass was decent and they clearly knew that this is a part of soccer. I told them that they were better than they were playing. That they were going to play the game again and this time I’d blow the whistle and give a free kick every time somebody just randomly kicked the ball out of nervousness. Suffice to say, it was like watching a completely different group of girls.

At Arsenal, how you stand, which way, how you react, which foot you pass to, the weight of the pass, the concentration levels etc, etc…, are simply much higher. Not because we are better players, but because it is demanded.

To wrap up the weekend you then get that wonderful twitter post that has been going around today of the ‘shots on target’ that Arsenal have allowed in the last two games. If you haven’t seen it, it is about 6 seconds long and is two clips. Love it!

United have talented players throughout their squad. So many that could be doing so much more. They are currently winning because they are playing with a little more confidence and they have started to recognize that feeding a talented striker might actually be a good idea. Football is a wild ride because all that I’ve mentioned isn’t enough to win a game. What is it then? Why is one team so much more effective? It really is as simple as structure and standards. Arsenal built from the ground up. Methodically. Didn’t rush and go short term. Stayed with a plan that was going to bear fruit. Arsenal are the best example of why coach’s are so important. A good coach can’t win you a game but you walk on to the field with a handful of advantages. I’ve learnt that over my 34 years of coaching. My job is to help. Too many coaches aren’t just ‘not helping,’ they are actually hurting a group that would actually do better if they stayed home.

It’s good to watch other teams. Especially when you think you are good. In Arsenal’s case, it makes you realize how far we’ve come because we used to be as messy as Manchester United and it wasn’t too long ago.

To see Arsenal, see Manchester United.

POSITIVES:

Deep block

I don’t know if what I saw yesterday was intentional, but I bet it was. It could also be the solution that coaches worldwide use to defeat the deep block. Did you notice that Arsenal kept West Ham out of their box. We did this by not having our attackers inside the box when the ball was just outside. This kept their defensive line higher with space behind them for later runs. This could have been due to our new 4-2-2-2 formation that is essentially striker-less, but I’d rather give an elite thinker like Arteta the credit. Late runs are better anyway because you are harder to mark. There is nothing more convenient for centre backs than a stationary striker. This strategy could be title winning as we face deep blocks in at least 2/3rds of our games. I’m wondering now if we start using the dinked ball over the top of the back four as in players like Rice and Odegaard, we have the technique.

Odegaard

Oh, boy, he’s good. Not only can they not get the ball from him but he is everywhere. Everywhere good, as everywhere bad exists. Watch Scott McTominay. Odegaard is so intelligent that he can play in different areas of the field based on different phases of play. Deep, really deep, between the lines, on the right with Saka, centrally and as part of a two in midfield. All in one game. There may come a time in our lives where we actually realize how good so many of the players we’ve been blessed to watch over the last 25 years really are. Because the list goes on forever the players blend together. It becomes hard to recognize greatness. Odegaard as captain is the textbook description of leading by example. These standards are lead by him, especially when legs get heavy. Arteta is clever enough and Odegaard is humble enough to stay in his lane. You will see in the huddles that other leaders who are more motivational in their lean are the ones who lead. Most captains would insist on leading even if the others aren’t inspired. Odegaard leaves it to Jorginho, Jesus, Rice and Gabriel.

Trossard

Is he the best finisher at the club? I think he’s the best we have from the edge of the box. You can see that he has taken the challenge of a starting spot the right way. He was becoming a little hot and cold but that seems to have blown away. He is a true threat to our opponents as well as Martinelli and Havertz. He offers technique, versatility and most importantly, composure in front of goal. When he was about to shoot, I knew he would score. Well, that’s an exaggeration but I FELT like he was going to score. Much like watching Haaland when he’s 1 on 1 or Salah when he cuts back onto his left foot inside the box. That’s precious.

Rice

In a season where he has been 9/10 in every game or better all but twice and might just be the front runner for Player of the Year, that might have been his best game. It may not seem like this game was too difficult for him but he made it that way. His positioning, tackling, passing both short and long were elite. His goal was a training ground goal that most players would’ve laced over the bar. I hate that he felt that he couldn’t celebrate that but that is the politically correct world we live in. I’m sure Richard Keys, Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville, Jamie O’Hara and Jermaine Jenas were frothing at the mouth hoping he would celebrate. Also, it has to be noted that this must’ve been an emotional affair for him, especially after losing the first game.

Raya

When he came to Arsenal and you had your first look at him, did you have Ospina related nightmares? I had a little one. He’s tall but not as tall as the centre backs or most of the strikers he is competing with. He proves that you can be shorter than most but it’s more about positioning and timing. Add the fact that he has to be one of the technically cleanest keepers in Europe, and you have a keeper who has similar hoovering qualities to Declan Rice. His distribution was 25 for 25 and he is really settling into his game. He looks like someone has had a mentality chat with him and his confidence has elevated two levels.

Havertz

I keep seeing Kai cushioning and passing the ball with his head. Look out for it.

Ego

This thought should probably be in the opening piece. I’m listening to the Arsenal Vision Podcast as I write this and Clive Palmer is talking about our team being ego-less. Not sure if that is actually a real word, but I made it up, don’t blame him. His point is that we are able to rotate positions, as we did more so than I’ve ever seen, as the players trust each other because they like each other. So many players claim that their club is ‘like a family’ but I’ve always thought that this is an exaggeration. I’ve suspected that the lunch lady is super sweet and gives them a chocolate bar, some ketchup and their favourite dish and that this is the ‘family’ they feel. I think that what is happening at Arsenal is genuine. Everyone is respected so they are willing to do for each other on the field.

Every once in a while I mention how good this podcast is. If you aren’t listening you are missing out on the number one Arsenal content.

White

Ben White inverting and Kiwior sitting was smarter. White has played in midfield before and even though Kiwior is a highly technical player, that was a new and crowded environment. Besides his crossing, which could improve, Ben White is at his peak Arsenal form.

Saka

Do you feel shocked when Saka is tackled/loses possession? I do. For a player playing in the position of risk, it’s quite incredible how good he is at ball retention. Always keeps every touch away from his defender. EVERY touch. Just watch. I wonder if there has ever been a winger in the history of the game that was as good at retaining the ball as Saka. Grealish is another that comes to mind and Nasri when he played wide.

On another note, how impressive is Saka on a human level. To miss a crucial penalty at the same stadium last year would have most players and their coach run a mile from wanting to repeat. My understanding is that he is a strong Christian. I only wish that my Christian faith was as strong as to find the peace and strength that he does.

Set plays

Firstly, I thought Areola was crap. So easily kept away from the ball and so meek. I can’t ignore Declan Rice’s delivery though. It is high enough to get over the last man but not too high to make it easy for a keeper. Combined with Nicholas Jover telling our attackers to stand offside initially we are becoming increasingly lethal. Standing offside does two things. It keeps us away from the grappling and it causes confusion as defenders can think they know who their man is, but have him move. It also tempts them to sit deeper which is not favoured in the modern game. To add to all this, both Saliba and Gabriel put less on their headers. So important. If there is a list of ‘things professional players do, but they shouldn’t’ then not getting above a header and putting too much power on it are on the list.

Oh, and nice work on the Rice goal. We all saw the two man dummy on Rice’s goal. Impressive Mr Jover.

Through balls

Talking of the grass behind the defence, Arsenal are happily evolving into using this space. We saw it on Saka’s first goal. I would say that this has been my number one personal frustration over Arteta’s reign. We’ve made it way too easy for our opponent to read us and squeeze us because we don’t score goals from open grass. That Saka breakaway was such an unfamiliar sight, but shouldn’t be.

NEEDS:

Saka in the air

It wouldn’t surprise me if the wonderkid had a cape and could fly. He just needs to keep his eyes open so he can practice the timing of his headers whilst flying around north London.

HOPES with COACH MAX

Potential Saliba rotation

My son’s been talking about this player for about a year. A centre back from one of the best production lines of talent in Europe. His name is Oumar Solet. He plays for Salzburg. A 6 ft 4in Frenchman with a hugely impressive physique and a tackling monster. A versatile defender who can also destroy in midfield with a contract which is up in 18 months. Max is predicting that Napoli will be get him. Check him out here…

Back post Gabi

I’m noticing that there are often tap ins at the back post for Martinelli. He seems to prefer to stand behind everybody waiting for the header when the simpler chance is 3 yards from goal.

FINAL THOUGHT

It just occurred to me that those clubs that think they are rivals to Arsenal are in a bind. With the new enforced financial rules, Chelsea and United in particular, cannot afford to fire them.

A 6-0 win and some of our rivals stuck with coach’s that I bet they don’t want.

Mike McDonald

Former Highbury regular. Moved to TN, USA in ’99. Married with 3 kids. Coached in UK and US for 27 years.
Mike McDonald Soccer Academy in Morristown TN, Olympic Development coach, Regional Premier League Champion.