Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal: A silent revolution
Having been educated in his playing days by a defence-first David Moyes and an offensive mastermind in Arsene Wenger, Mikel Arteta spent 3 years under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola and then took the stride forward in December 2019 to become the head coach of a depleted Arsenal side. A team that had fallen into a schism of chaos under the guidance of Unai Emery, a team that had lost their identity for playing fluid attacking football which had attracted them so many fans. Arteta has sought to bring back what he says is a “blueprint” of how Arsenal should play. Since his appointment Arsenal have seen a sudden in resurrection in all phases of play, on or off the pitch. Arteta has breathed a new lease of life into the club and 2 years post Wenger’s departure it seems that Arsenal have filled the void of their legendary manager.
Build-up play
Pre-lockdown Arteta had setup in an asymmetrical 4-2-3-1 with Mesut Özil playing a key role to their attacks. Arteta had put in place a 2-3-5 build-up shape with the desire to create passing angles into the #6 space. The centre-halves were instructed to drop deep and attract pressure to ‘free’ the #6 space and evade the opposition press. The centre-halves particularly David Luiz were instructed to engage opposition pressure in order to work balls through the lines or work a switch ball to the weak side.
In the wake of his arrival, Arteta made a significant effort to use Mesut Özil as a key tool in the build-up phase utilising him him into the #10 space and both left and right half-spaces. He also made very good use of Maitland-Niles an excellent one-touch passer and mover and Nicolas Pepe who is amongst the most lethal players in the world in 1v1 situations making him drive into wide and central areas spontaneously.
Arsenal would (pre-lockdown) switch to a 2-3 build up shape in a 3-2-5 formation with Xhaka moving into a left centre-back role to establish a three-chain as his midfield partner will drop into the six space.
Arsenal’s build-up shape 2-3
Post lockdown, Arteta had opted to change the setup to a 3-4-3 formation without Ozil’s creative presence. In a nutshell it was a worthy gamble as it helped Arsenal lift their 14th FA Cup whilst also defeating teams like Pep’s Man City and Chelsea.
With the 3-4-3, the build-up structure is the the GK and the two centre-halves towards the right create a three-chain. Whilst the LCB/LB, RWB and the two midfielders are create a four-chain in midfield. This allows Tierney to bomb forward as the extra man. Tierney would usually be centred across the touchline allowing Aubameyang to come into the half-space and be isolated with the opposition defender. Arsenal’s attacks from this setup were mainly left-sided in the final third but in the build-up phase they used the right flank with Pepe and Bellerin to build. From this structure Arteta had brought out the best in certain individuals: Emi Martinez has been a shining light in every building attack whilst Kieran Tierney and Maitland-Niles have displayed great understanding of their respective roles
Arsenal’s build-up shape post lockdown
Pressing
Arsenal’s pressing has alternated between a 4-2-3-1 shape and a 4-4-2 dependant on which kind of opposition they face. In the 4-2-3-1 the main concept and theme was that the wingers cover central zones and the strikers the wide zones(by strikers I’m referring to Lacazette/Nketiah and Aubamyeang). Pre-lockdown Ozil would’ve been tasked to phase the deepest midfielder out of play and break up any passing lanes to the lateral zones.
In the 4-4-2 Arsenal would usually press in a similar fashion to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid with the CF placed between the two centre backs and Ozil closing off the #6 zone with the two wingers placed between the centre backs and the full-backs. In later stages towards a match Arteta instructs the players to play a compact press to encourage the opposition into a long ball or loss of possession.
Arsenal’s pressing under Mikel Arteta
Defensive shape
Pre lockdown Arsenal and Arteta were using an old-school 4-4-2 defensive shape with Ozil moving up alongside the CF and Aubameyang and the RW dropping deep to support the fullbacks in wide areas. This setup allows the fullbacks to no longer be constantly isolated with opposition wingers in 1v1s. The highest CM and the winger + full-back usually attack the opposition winger and fullback in a 3v2 situation to prevent the possibility that the fullback will be left in a 1v1.
Post-lockdown with the scrapping of the 4-2-3-1 and the introduction of the 3-4-3 brought a new defensive shape for Arsenal. This helped shore up a defence which had suffered so many casualties. The change in shape was evident as they had moved from 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 shape to a now 5-3-2 shape with an extra centre back and a winger/wide player dropping into midfield. The use of the extra centre back proved to be a masterstroke on Arteta’s behalf with Kieran Tierney providing to be an adequate player in both attacking and defensive transitions whilst aiding two rather slow partners in Luiz and Holding.
Arsenal’s post lockdown 5-3-2 defensive shape
In both setups there is a heavy reliance on the defenders ability to block off space where David Luiz and Mustafi have shown signs of progress. They press up and retrieve balls and attack centre-forwards who are tasked to drop deep and create between the lines. Arteta perfected an efficient offside trap technique pre-lockdown to mask the lack of athleticism of Arsenal’s CBs.
Arteta has established Arsenal as a force and has made the most out of a bad situation
Mikel Arteta’s short-time so far as Arsenal head-coach can without doubt be classed as a success. He’s saved a club and a squad from dwindling into obscurity whilst instilling an elite mentality and culture at the club. There is a sense of unity and togetherness around the club and Mikel Arteta has shown with his tactical acumen that he should be the one lead the club out of this bleak period. Signings such as Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey suggest that the club is on an upward trajectory. With Arteta at the helm will Arsenal finally end their 16 year long witch-hunt for a Premier League trophy? I think they might.
Written by the one and only @amiooia also known as Ami
