“It’s much like serving to somebody on the pitch. You at all times suppose you assist somebody by going in direction of him however you assist him essentially the most by strolling away from him. For instance, I’ve obtained the ball, I like taking part in 1v1, so serving to me means strolling away.” — Johan Cruyff
You heard the person. Should you’ve obtained somebody who likes taking part in 1v1, simply keep out of his approach and take an opposition defender with you when you’re at it. Arsenal have Martin Odegaard again within the facet, which suggests Bukayo Saka has Martin Odegaard again by his facet. And Odegaard is aware of precisely when to depart the winger to his personal units.
Granted, the Nottingham Forest strategy on Saturday seemed a bit confused and performed into Arsenal’s arms. Callum Hudson-Odoi appeared targeted on Jurrien Timber however didn’t really handle to get near urgent him. Odegaard simply distracted the central midfielders by tucking inside, and the mix of the 2 meant Saka was one-on-one repeatedly.
If this …
and this …
… occurs too typically, you’re in huge hassle.
On that first picture, Hudson-Odoi finally did get again to kind of double up on Saka, however then one other run, one in behind from Timber, allowed Odegaard to gather a easy cross in house on the sting of the realm.
Nothing got here of that one nevertheless it was a typical sight to see Arsenal efficiently isolating Saka, with Odegaard intentionally holding his distance, permitting Saka to win his one-on-one and hanging again, ready for the cross, somewhat than encroaching on the winger’s house.
The important thing to threatening Forest down the proper time and again was permitting Saka to do his factor one-on-one, not going over to assist him … till it was time to.
When Saka was doubled up or Arsenal reached the field, team-mates have been instantly available to assist him play his approach by it. The motion off the ball was glorious, the runs incisve and continuous: when Arsenal weren’t one-on-one out vast, they gathered a number of gamers near the ball, dragged defenders over, and managed to dart into the house to outnumber Forest anyway.
Let’s return to Johan Cruyff once more.
“We play on a brief area with lots of people, so the tempo of the ball have to be very excessive, almost one or two contact principally. That’s why we attempt to create (in coaching) a small piece of area, the place the ball can go at a excessive tempo. So (the gamers) right here (of their heads) can go at 100%.”
One/two contact, fast actions, team-mates shut collectively to attach and play by tight areas? Sounds nearly … Wenger-esque. A few moments actually have been.
That wasn’t the one time Arsenal gamers broke out of their construction to play by the opposition. Beneath is one such second a bit additional away from the aim, the place seven of the ten outfield gamers are all gathered over on one facet of the pitch.
Crucially, no person is standing subsequent to anybody else as Arsenal look to progress the ball: there are diagonal or vertical balls on solely, forming a number of triangles and giving each participant over there in these tight areas a number of choices to play the ball, play it ahead, and play it shortly.
The transfer above broke down when Merino didn’t get the burden proper on a ball to Odegaard on the sting of the realm however the fast passing and even faster motion — Jesus creating house for Saka to float inside, Saka doing simply that so Merino may drift vast into house out vast — once more seemed like a way more assured, flowing Arsenal.
An analogous assortment gathered on the left within the first half, with Riccardo Calafiori tucking inside and Odegaard drifting over to that facet of the sphere.
Some tidy play between these two and Leandro Trossard nearly noticed Odegaard discovering Bukayo Saka with a cutback as Mikel Merino and Gabriel Jesus made darting runs contained in the field.
Odegaard’s off the ball run for the second aim — when Saka did have a couple of man to beat — opened up house once more and, like loads of the motion on the day, confirmed the significance of fast bursts whether or not you will obtain the ball or not.
In the end, it’s all about posing the opposition with questions. Go away Saka as alone as doable and also you’re actually forcing them to decide on in the event that they need to double up and go away house elsewhere. Make runs in behind off the ball and drive them to decide on whether or not to allow you to go or open up house for another person. And in the event that they need to sit again and make issues tight, get much more attacking gamers across the ball and up the tempo to play by them.
The steadiness of all of the above was glorious in opposition to Forest and it actually gave a glimpse of what this Arsenal group ought to be able to once they have to interrupt a facet down this season.
