‘Different ways of looking at it’
An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective
I just got a text from my Arsenal group chat.
TC could be right. Obviously, we are not being literal here, but I suppose it’s the messaging.
What does the coach place emphasis on?
I guess that in the early days it was all about cleaning up the standards. It seems like there is a lot of talk in the modern game about winning your duels. The few times that the coach has been interviewed about his playing style he uses the word ‘dominance.’ In order to dominate you have to play the way that you want to play and not let the opponent do what they want. This doesn’t mean that you have to have the ball as you can dominate by being organized and compact defensively. We are the best off the ball team in Europe, of that there is no doubt. On occasion we use this to dominate. Most of the time we are dominating through controlled possession and to use the term that TC used, being as “risk averse” as possible.
The majority of this team has been together for a little while now, and they will know the messaging. They will know that the coach loses his mind at training, on the sidelines and in the changing room if they play a ball that was 30–70. The coach has got us this far and so complaining is a bold thing to do. He is clearly significantly better at coaching than me and you so we have to tiptoe around criticizing him. My point in this is that if there is a problem at Arsenal, it is in the emphasis in the messaging. Players are being too careful and not taking risks at the right time simply because of the reaction of the coach.
You get to a point when you are a professional sportsman where you don’t need a reaction. You know that you’ve made the mistake yourself. If you played for Arsenal Football Club in this era you’d live with the thought that the club has the best squad that they’ve ever had in its history by far. If you take the risk and it doesn’t work and you’re feeling is that the coach will lose it, then you probably don’t take the risk.
The final emphasis that Arteta promotes would be the importance of keeping a clean sheet.
It’s always fascinating to think that you can score 3 goals in a game and still lose or draw but if you concede none then you’ll never lose. No complaints about the fact that Arsenal are also the best in England at keeping clean sheets by an absolute country mile. This is of course, not a bad plan. It’s perfection and arguably the best thing about this version of Arsenal.
When that last free kick was being launched forward, Max said, ”They better not.” I told him that it would be fine and that ‘old Arsenal’ might concede, but not this one. That’s a large compliment based in a confidence that has been earned by a team that takes clean sheets and the importance of being serious, very seriously.
None of us want them to change this and so again I have to tiptoe carefully around this subject.
I’m sure we’ve all thoughts about how Arteta’s demeanor affects the players, especially on the sideline. It gives us a little window into the fire that he carries.
Sometimes as a coach, it’s good to ask your assistants or the players themselves how it is that you make them feel. Humble yourself and tell them that you’re wanting to improve as a coach and ask them if they have a burden that they are carrying based on your body language and messaging. It’s definitely a thing.
On the other hand, Arsenal have won seven of their thirteen games in all competitions this season by one goal.
Almost everybody thinks we are going to win the league and yet that statistic doesn’t quite give you that confidence.
The fact that exactly 50% of our 16 games have seen a clean sheet then this is clearly part of the reason.
I think that the best way of looking at our season to date is that as I write, we are six points clear at the top of the league and had another fantastic start to our Champions League campaign, and apart from the game in Munich, we have played the rest of the season in third gear.
So, what happens when Arsenal find their rhythm?
We can’t go any higher in the league and probably don’t need to go much higher in the Champions League. What it does mean though is that our chances of having the best season in the history of the club will greatly increase. Arteta has managed his players quite well this season compared to previous seasons, and I bet that he would love to rotate more. Players likes of Zubimendi, Mosquera and Dowman would be given more chances and a substitution of Declan Rice that we saw today, would happen far more often and would include a couple of vacations to Mykonos whilst Zubimendi held the forte down.
You also cut out the mental stress that 7 of the 13 games have been. Mental stress affects everything else that you do and it sure would be lovely to relieve that.
Before I move on, I’m quite enjoying watching the footy whilst writing….
By the way, that’s Charlie in the picture.
Everybody needs a $400 wooden otter in their life. The most frivolous purchase that my wife and I have ever made but he’s been with us for 27 years and he’s a legend.
POSITIVES:
Noni:
I’d love to know what was said to him. It might’ve been a moment of self reflection and I might not be giving him enough personal credit.
“Play like you belong” is a great quote that I just made up.
Odegaard’s goal:
Not much to say about the goal apart from the rather important observation that he was the first person to the ball. Does that really matter? It absolutely does if you were to pause the TV after the save and ask which Arsenal player was going to get to the rebound. I bet none of us would’ve said Odegaard. In order to capitalize on your ability to score 15 goals this season you have to be willing to pick up the scraps as well as wait for the perfect cut back.
Centre Backs:
It won’t be talked about because it’s normal but yet again Gabriel and Konsa were faultless. So focused and serious about what they do and so bloody good.
Max just sent me an Instagram post. I thought I’d screenshot it and send you so you could appreciate where the club is now.
Saliba:
It was probably smart not to involve him today. There was no real need and now he gets a couple of weeks off to get fully fit and sharp.
Bruno:
I love how he plays. I also love the disguise in his forward passes. Everybody comments about his inclination to go forward with his passing, but there isn’t a midfielder in the league that allows that to happen easily. You need to have a little of that risk and you certainly need to not pass the ball where you’re looking or that your body is facing.
Much like Arsenal themselves he hasn’t hit his groove yet. He’s been good and not great and he’s probably in the same third gear as the team is. How much more do we get from him when he is in full flow?
Rice:
I just super appreciated that he was substituted early. I can’t deny that when we scored i wished that Merina could’ve come off and had Rice back on to secure the victory but if you aren’t going to rest him against Hull at home when you’re winning then you’re not going to do it. Maybe that’s harsh on Hull who are a good team, but you can’t just rest him against the poor teams like Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Viktor:
No need to go over the top, but it was another performance with a handful of very good moments. Better with his back to goal, better touches, and lovely weight of passing. Most importantly, it’s the first time in a while. I’ve seen him make a zigzag run in the penalty area, which is the big missing link for him.
United:
This day is getting better.
NEEDS:
Kai and the shirt pull:
Well, well well……. I can’t claim to have known this, but yet again the referees and VAR have made a horrific error.
Read this…
I always doublecheck by going to Dale Johnson’s Twitter account.
This won’t be the talk of the town as Arsenal’s game wasn’t much to talk about anyway and we won, but this is a fireable offense. This isn’t an industry where if you make 80% on the test then you can be a referee. It’s 100% or you fail.
As if the Premier League is being officiated by a bunch of reluctant Sunday league referees.
HOPES:
Nusa:
It’s probably time with the International break coming up to talk about January.
I’ve got a blog to write about a variety of options for Arsenal.
The first two are the two that everybody is talking about… Nusa and Kroupi.
It sounds like Nusa was available and considered in the summer. Arsenal‘s money men might be kicking themselves now. I didn’t blame them for not going for him in the summer as we were looking for the best of the best and he looked more like potential and a risk. He’s now becoming more confident in his ability and consistent in his output, and even though he is not yet the superstar that Arsenal are clearly wanting, he looks like the next man up. Arsenal need a technical wizard with a few more tricks than the players that we have. All of our wingers, including the two that we just sold, are much more predictable and even though they are very good players, if we know what they are going to do when they get the ball then our opponent does. Importantly, Nusa is also quick and very fast. More of that is needed in our squad. My only concern is he looks like Deli Ali.
Kroupi is a no-brainer to me. Don’t go for Alvarez again as he clearly would rather not come back to England. Take a risk on a player with elite finishing and a creative eye and flexibility to be able to play in a variety of attaking roles. Where Alvarez would be a reluctant arrival, Kroupi would be received like the hero he is for helping us with the league last season. If it doesn’t work out, then you can get your money back on both of these players I’d imagine, as they are 20 and 21.
Home games:
We have a long run of games upcoming, where most are in London. Perhaps part of Arsenal‘s issues today in struggling to get the win was down to fatigue. Never discount the fact that when you are the best team then every game is a big game because of the expectations.
FINAL THOUGHT:
Noni Madueke has found his rhythm. Martin Odegaard has found his rhythm. Our defenders are in the middle of their rhythm. Declan Rice has never lost his rhythm.
After the international break, we need the rest of them to locate it.
Finally, what’s up with Phil Neville‘s hair? Phil is introducing the ‘comb forward.’ For people that are balding on the right side of their head.
Zoom in for the full effect.
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.
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