Arsenal build-up shape The two most commonly deployed build-up structures Arteta favours is the 3-2-5 or the 2-3-5. And in yesterday’s derby, the Spaniard opted for the latter. Xhaka and Partey operated in a double pivot, with Cedric staying deep and at times inverting. Lacazette and Odegaard would both offer themselves between the lines, Tierney […]
The Swiss Army Knife POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES There’s a groove developing. A little swagger. Beyond the natural boost of confidence earned when you start winning and keeping clean sheets, what are the details? 1) INDIVIDUAL IMPROVEMENT Have you noticed? We have 11 players that we can pick who are either on a run of […]
It’s been a catastrophic season so far. But perhaps yesterdays performance may just be a catalyst for change. In this piece, I provide an in-depth match review, discussing the formations/tactics deployed by Mikel Arteta, a general review of the game followed by highlighting individual performances. Initially, it seemed that the hybrid 3-4-3 would be retained […]
“We don’t talk anymore. “ Rumours are abounding that Mikel’s relationship with David Luiz has broken down to the point where with neither will speak directly to each other. Pepe has stated he is unhappy at his standing at the club and is open to a January move. Xhaka is said to be unhappy […]
It was a familiar sight, back in the Wenger era: Arséne glued to the manager’s throne, watching the game along with the rest of us, knitted brow, shaking his head, letting his team muddle their way to a solution to their on-pitch problems. I’d scream at him through my TV set – implore him to […]
BLOODY HELL, SCORE SOME GOALS!As if it was easy… As a 37 year-old man, I couldn’t fully appreciate the boring, boring Arsenal days; when I first met the Gunners, in 1994, the George Graham era was scarily close to its end – although none had a clue about it. The Cup Winners’ Cup final was […]
One step forward and two back seems to be the story of Arsenal’s season so far, as they failed to build on any momentum gained from their accomplished display at Old Trafford, by losing 3-0 at home to Aston Villa. Arteta chose to stick with the same personnel and formation that worked so effectively against […]
It’s not in the Headlines POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES My son Maxwell asks me the same question each week after his football match. He asks me, ‘How did I do, Dad?’ All parents reading this can relate. We all get a similar question. We all probably feel the same way about our response. We tell […]
Almost directly on the back of losing our first league game at home since December, fans vented their frustrations far and wide on the glaring lack of quality and creativity in the final third. For me it was the worst performance under Arteta by a long stretch in a game that sent shivering reminders of […]
Arsenal made significant moves to strengthen their squad in the transfer window for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign. Thomas Partey was signed for £45m on deadline day from Atletico Madrid to put the cherry on top of solid business performed by the club. https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1313245492030181384?s=20 For too long the Gunners have settled for second best […]
