Passion, desire, determination: it was these factors – normally considered imperceptible in deciding the outcome of a match, (but are quietly crucial) which were evident in Arsenal’s FA Cup f...
https://arseblog.com/2017/05/tactics-column-arsenal-show-more-flexibility-in-battle-of-3-4-3/
In Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Stoke City, Francis Coquelin delivered what might be regarded as his “coming of age” performance – which is fitting considering it was also his 26th birthday. St...
Mauricio Pochettino talks about energía universal, a sort of invisible force that he believes influences everything and channelled correctly, can have a positive impact on a team’s fortune. �...
https://arseblog.com/2017/05/tactics-column-wengers-one-dimensional-approach-exposed-derby/
The Gunners dominated during the 2-1 win over Boro but were unable to find any real fluency, though that was expected given that the 3-4-3 was trained to be used in the “unlikely” event of a ...
https://arseblog.com/2017/04/tactics-column-3-4-3-temporary-fix-gunners/
There were two moments that summed up Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City – an open, end-to-end affair – both of which were captured on commentary by Sky Sports’ Gary Neville. Actuall...
https://arseblog.com/2017/04/tactics-column-arsenal-man-city-eschew-control-stretched-encounter/
The relief on Alexis Sanchez’s face summed up what Arsenal’s initially tight, but ultimately comfortable 5-0 win over Lincoln City meant to the club. As he wheeled away to celebrate after sco...
https://arseblog.com/2017/03/tactics-column-arsenal-show-adaptability-despite-bad-run/
If there has been one positive in this bleak period of football for Arsenal, then it has to be the re-emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a central midfielder. Indeed, it seemed for a long ti...
https://arseblog.com/2017/02/tactics-column-oxlade-chamberlain-ready-take-centre-stage/
Desperately chasing back for the ball, Francis Coquelin felt the full force of Eden Hazard’s “back”. He groped for Hazard’s shirt not twice but three times, and on the final attempt, was ...
https://arseblog.com/2017/02/tactics-column-hazards-inside-game-destroys-arsenal/
First of all the drama. Two injury time goals, both of them penalties, both shot down the middle, and two sendings-offs – one of them for the manager in his own cathedral, but crucially it was ...
https://arseblog.com/2017/01/tactics-column-subtle-switch-ozil-changes-game/
Olivier Giroud has been the standout player for Arsenal since the start of the New Year, scoring decisive goals in each of the last four games. With Alexis shunted out to the left flank, Giroud h...
https://arseblog.com/2017/01/tactics-column-giroud-takes-centre-stage-alexis-shadow-looms-large/
It’s widely accepted that there are two ways of playing against Arsenal: by closing them down high up the pitch or dropping deep. “By far, the best option is the former,” says ex-midfielder...
https://arseblog.com/2016/12/tactics-column-arsenal-find-key-unlock-west-broms-deep-block/
It would be convenient if football matches could be explained by the mere arrangements of players, like pieces moving on a chessboard. Instead, tactics and formations act as a guidance and it’s...
https://arseblog.com/2016/12/tactics-column-partnerships-come-together-victory-stoke/
In ‘The Artist: Being Iniesta‘, Pep Guardiola talks about how he is indebted to the Barcelona midfielder, in particular, how he has shaped the coach’s tactical vision. In the book, Guardiol...
https://arseblog.com/2016/12/tactics-column-joy-alexis-sanchez/
A somewhat scrappy and frenetic North London Derby saw both teams happy, in the end, to settle for a 1-1 draw. Arsenal were perhaps the more frustrated side given the absentees for Tottenham Hots...
https://arseblog.com/2016/11/tactics-column-granit-xhaka-form-arsenal-share-derby-spoils/
Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score two goals to help Arsenal to a 4-1 win over Sunderland. Earlier, Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring and though Jermaine Defoe equalised not long before G...
https://arseblog.com/2016/10/tactics-column-key-players-step-help-overcome-sunderland/
There’s only so much you can write about a goalless draw. In the end, 0-0 was accepted as a fair result mainly because Middlesbrough had many good chances and Arsenal were flat. But as the matc...
https://arseblog.com/2016/10/tactics-column-plans-fail-take-shape-middlesbrough/
Arsene Wenger baffled a few fans when he said that he saw Granit Xhaka as a box-to-box midfielder. After all, the team has been missing a presence in front of the defence who could control the ba...
https://arseblog.com/2016/10/tactics-column-granit-xhakas-promising-display-spoiled-sending-off/
It was the first real test of Shkrodan Mustafi’s character, but instead of wallowing in despair at the rough treatment he being was given by Burnley’s big centre-forward, Sam Vokes, he saw th...
https://arseblog.com/2016/10/tactics-column-mustafi-displays-dynamism-grit-early-arsenal-career/
It is fitting that for the game that celebrated his 20th anniversary at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger would rediscover his religion. Because, in defeating Chelsea with style, pace and movement – “th...
https://arseblog.com/2016/09/tactics-column-chelsea-undone-arsenals-inside-game/
It’s perhaps a little early in the season for Arsene Wenger to revert to safe mode, but his selection against Hull City on Saturday suggests a bit of that. It’s not just that Granit Xhaka rem...
https://arseblog.com/2016/09/tactics-column-walcott-iwobi-typify-arsenals-approach-v-hull/