‘Art in motion’ (Positives Needs & Hopes) [Pre-Season Friendly: ARS 3-0 ACB]

‘Art in motion’

An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective

Well, I wasn’t expecting that.

There wasn’t much ‘art’ against Villareal and the ’motion’ wasn’t jiving either. The game was littered with tactical nuance, experiments and improvements. Almost as if we had been storing this up for a rainy day, so to speak. ‘Sun on a rainy day’ was my original title, until Max came up with a better one.

The list is large.

Arsenal spent the opening period sucking Bilbao towards them. That was the period that seemed dull. Endless backward passing. That was all intentional, though. They wanted Bilbao’s three lines to push on to us, so we could play Saka, Martinelli and Gyokeres behind. We picked our passes well, ignoring Gyokeres, as he was occupying both centre backs, giving the wingers multiple 1 on 1’s.

We played a version of a 4-2-3-1. The exact version that I suggested in my last piece with Odegaard playing centrally and Rice and Zubimendi playing at an angle from each other with Rice much deeper and not in the half spaces, as I suggested.

What you don’t know is that on Thursday Arteta called me. I was eating a delicious medium cooked cheeseburger with extra grilled onions. He told me to put down the cheeseburger and catch a quick flight from Morristown International airport to London Colney International where his driver would meet me in his new Skoda limo. So, Arteta met me as he said he would. “Mike, thanks for coming so quickly. I know that Morristown airport is a hard place to get a flight from due to the amount of air traffic in and out of Morristown, the City of Lights (late night fast food restaurant lights).” “Anyway Mike, let’s talk about your new formation ideas and how we can utilize your wicked brilliant tactical brain to win this pivotal game and bathe in the glory of another Emirates Cup win.”

Mikel put down his electric shaver at this point and got his notepad out.

“Mike, sorry about shaving and talking but I have to shave every 37 minutes.”

“ Please tell me what else I should do on Saturday?” “Ok, Mikel,” I replied. “Here are a few tactical tweaks for Sunday. Get Dec to ping early balls to B. Vik, the Swedish Avenger, needs to show the others how running in front of the first defender gets you the first chance. Have Martin play centrally. This will take a defender away from B and allow him more 1 on 1 opportunities. It will also activate the left hand side where Ricky can use his unpredictability coming forward and overlap Gabby. When Ricky pushes high and wide, Gabby can come inside and get off the touchline. Get Vik the Swedish Avenger to occupy both centre backs and you will be able to use the space behind and over the top. Have Dec and Zubi rotate and give one freedom to push forward, but just on an angle, not too high. When you bring on Myles, play him more as an eight and that will leave Noni the wing to attack his defender 1 on 1.”

At this point, Mikel’s stubble had reemerged and so we pause as he shaves, yet again. We pull up to the gates of his Hertfordshire residence and I put my hand on Mikel’s shoulder. He seems to think I’m trying to brush the excess stubble off his shoulders, but I tell him that I want to talk about Zubi.

“Encourage Zubi to play in a way that will have me drooling, Mikel.” “He needs to have brilliant decision making. Left foot, right foot, high tempo one touch. He needs to anticipate, back tackle and defend in a way that Makelele only dreams of.

Oh, and I’d really appreciate a hot water bottle for my bed tonight and a  balti pie from the stadium, Mikel.”

Mikel picks up his electric shaver for the 3rd time and assures me that he will take all my advice and give me my requests.

So, now you know. The vast difference between Wednesday and Saturday was because Mikel has sneakily been reading my blog. When he’s not shaving, of course.

POSITIVES:

• Zubimendi

Now Arsenal have a very good squad. Probably the best in club history. A handful of players who are masters of their craft. We have another one. Martin Zubimendi may be the reason that we win a major trophy. He was almost faultless. I often have my teams over to my house to show them the importance of decision making. I pause the TV to ask them what decision the player should make. So, I feel like I’m tuned to looking at football this way. Zubimendi doesn’t just make the right decision 29/30 times, he does it quicker and with better technique than anyone I’ve seen in a while. I’d imagine that he’s worth Rice money if he didn’t have a release clause.

• Arteta

This quote gives me so much hope. I don’t think the majority of fans know all of what they are seeing. Arteta has got the team to the phase where they have moved past the passing patterns and the automatisms and is now preparing his team for the variety of tactics that they will face and not just giving them a way to stifle it but ways of taking advantage of it.

This quote speaks to the level Arsenal are at. Higher than Liverpool’s according to Ernesto.

To think that there are many who think Arteta isn’t good enough.

• Rice

I am so very glad that it looks like we will see Rice a little deeper. We were not only exposed in transition against Villareal, but we are the team that concedes the first goal too often. Rice is the best insurance policy against this in the business and we’ve had him too far away from transitions to help.

• Gyokeres

A bit of a fairytale beginning for big Vik. Not only did he impact the game with a solid performance, but he got rid of the ridiculous weight that has been put on his shoulders to score NOOOOW! Not only was it a great finish but the fairytale was that it was headed. Not just bouncing off his head but a technically perfect run and finish and one that Arsenal have been needing and not making.

As well as his goal, I was equally thrilled with his repeated runs to the near post. Another Arsenal sin being remedied. We were becoming too predictable with our back post exclusive crosses. We will still have those as they are tactically a good idea (doesn’t allow GK to claim), but the near post run will split their defence, allowing more freedom/space for all.

• Martinelli

Arteta’s new focus on tactical unpredictability might see a move that leads to a change for Martinelli. MLS had a new role when he came on. With Madueke holding the width, he was inside but higher. It was noticeable that he still held left back responsibility when we were defending. There has been clamour for Gabby playing further inside ever since he arrived. He hasn’t yet come close to fulfilling his high ceiling but being allowed to play this role might get him close.

I’d also like to point out that his touch to Saka for his goal was sublime in one sense but easy in the other. Too many players over-pass the ball and miss opportunity, allowing defenders that extra few seconds to recover. Kudus to Martinelli for slowing his heart rate down to play the perfect touch.

• Havertz

The best way to improve a player is to give him competition. Arsenal will benefit from Gyokeres because of Gyokeres, but also because Kai has and will continue to step up his desire to improve. There were so many moments in this game that likely led Max to come up with this title and Kai produced four in one moment. The pace, power, body strength but particularly, the finish.

• Gabriel

I don’t really understand how he can get back to his level so quickly. He is truly becoming an Arsenal great.

• Calafiori

Not only is he clearly a very good player, but he is exactly what Arsenal need when coming forward. Unpredictability. It’s not just in the fact that nobody including us has seen much of him, but he has a leaning towards not following the passing patterns.

NEEDS:

• Saka

We are at the point where we are trying to perfect Saka. A huge compliment to him. He was roasting their left back continuously in the first half but his final ball was off and is often off. To be fair to him, I think Gyokeres was in the 6 yd box too early. This reduced the passing lane. There are two better options. Hit it at the defender’s inside leg/between his inside leg and the goalie. This would cause utter panic. Madueke looked like he was doing this. Alternatively, cut it back towards the penalty spot/edge of the box. His teammates need to help him by screaming for cutbacks. He doesn’t have much opportunity to look that far backwards. I developed a code a few years ago. Short words, said quickly so they can go by voice rather than eyes.

• Odegaard

This is probably a positive but there is such a need for Odegaard to play quicker. Hopefully he is encouraged by his pre-assist for Saka’s goal.

HOPES:

• Eze and Ethan

This is a delicate situation. If Eze comes in and is exclusively/predominantly an option as a number 10 with Odegaard, then I’m not so keen as Ethan has the same potential/level. If the plan is for Eze to be the left winger, especially if he is tucked in with Ricky C, then it’s a brilliant idea.

I would be very interested in Ethan being a left wing option with Madueke. I love the idea of one inverted and one winger crossing/shooting on the outside of the defender with their best foot. As we now have a 4-2-3-1option, this favours the players mentioned and gives less defensive responsibility to a player like Ethan. He would have to lead the press but be more of a zonal defender rather than having to follow runners, which he failed to do as the right eight against Villareal.

Some interesting thoughts to consider.

I think that Eze and Nwaneri are both seen as versatile options depending on opponent, game state or tactical need. Either way, I’d like to see Ethan on the left wing to see what it looks like. If he were moved away from being an option as a Saka rotation, that would also give Dowman that opportunity that not only he needs, but what looks best for the team.

• Zinchenko

Of all the players on the out, I wish we wouldn’t need his 15M and could hold on to him. I can imagine that a player like Zinchenko sees Arsenal on the brink and wants to be around to get his medal. A medal that he would deserve for his part in our growth. He is just a true asset in certain game states. The same for Trossard but I’m not convinced that his attitude is conducive to being a regular on the bench or out of the squad.

• Out of the squad

There are going to be some big names and big egos that won’t make the matchday squad this season. That has been the dream, in a strange kind of way. Arteta will see at this time who is team minded and who is in it for themselves.

TWEETS and THOUGHTS:

This is my brother and the legend Oscar, sporting one of the new goalie jerseys.

I’m loving the shade of green and hope to purchase this beauty soon.

Remember this photo and remember Oscar McDonald. Maybe he’s on his way to the big time with his wand of a left foot.

Just a great photo that needs to have a place on the stadium tour.

This is an example of one of the details that Arteta and his staff teach. Details that other coaches don’t have time for or don’t understand.

This gave me chills.

More high-level thinking and attention to detail.

Probably the best stat that any team can produce from preseason.

FINAL THOUGHT:

Arsenal now have the best squad in the Premier League.

I could write much on this as a comparison to last season. For now, I will leave it at this….. Don’t fret when trying to pick the team in your head. Arsenal have more 50/50 picks than any team, arguably in world football. This has been the club’s goal since Arteta arrived. No drop off when subs are made. We have White or Timber and possibly Mosquera. MLS or Timber or Calafiori. Madueke or Martinelli. Havertz or Gyokeres.

I bet that the gap between Kepa and Raya will shrink. Saliba and Mosquera. Gabriel and Calafiori. Odegaard and Nwaneri or possibly, Eze. Saka and Dowman. That’s crazy to even think that, let alone type it.

The gap between Rice and Merino and Zubimendi and Norgaard might be bigger but you don’t always need Rice and Zubimendi to win or secure a game.

If Arsenal figure out the left wing then I would consider us favourites for the Premier League. Take a look at Liverpool’s squad and even though you might rightly think that they have the best eleven, their squad is trusting in players like VVD, Gravenberch and Konate to stay fit and for opponents to not notice that their full backs are not going to be able to defend aerially at the back post.

Thanks for reading and roll on Sunday!

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.