Check out part 1 here.
1) Hips, turn, forward
This might sound too specific, but it is not. How often have you shouted at the TV when Xhaka receives the ball and he automatically passes backwards?
I am fully aware that this is often a tactic to draw midfielders towards him, but not always. This detail has already been adjusted in some players and areas but there is more work to be done.
We shout at the TV because we have a 360 view. Cesc Fabregas might too, but few others do.
The optimal midfield player scans every two seconds for colour. Their hips are open, so they have the option to turn. If an opponent arrives, they close the gate.
Xhaka is most guilty but Ceballos and others are too. It is just not so obvious. Xhaka closes his hips too often and so plays safely whilst you are screaming at the TV because there was no need to. Ceballos can do this too, but he rarely passes backwards. He gets out of trouble by shielding and twisting to his outside.
If you have wondered why we rarely play through the centre of the pitch, now you have less reason to. Were these changes to be made through coaching or new players, we will see the ball going forward more often.
Marrying this improvement with players like Willian and Coutinho or whoever will be between the lines, then this small detail changes much.
2) Move as the ball is moving
There is a multitude of reasons why when watching Manchester City play, they appear to play one-touch football better than anyone else.
My observation is that they are taught to move as the ball is moving. This is not absent from Arsenal’s game, but it is not automatic either. At the instant that the ball is struck from A to B, the entire 11 on the opposing team do the same thing, they watch the ball and see who it is going to.
If the team in possession would move to support as that is happening, you can go undetected therefore allowing the receiving player to pass on his first touch if needed. This can be improved even further.
You are player C. You see that A is passing to B. At the point that you realize that you are not B (the chosen recipient), you move then. Even earlier. You move into a position that B can see you, so he now has a one touch option.
None of this is difficult. It is all simply changing habits. Becoming a player and not an observer. Proactive rather than reactive.
If you have ever thought that City’s players are all better than ours in possession, maybe that is not true. Perhaps it is simply the coaching that allows them to see what you see whilst on your couch.
3) Modernize the midfield
Decision number one: decide where Maitland-Niles is going to play.
Arteta is forming a team of hybrid players. Players that can move position during games as we shift formations and tactics.
We saw at the beginning of Arteta’s reign that he played his right-back inverted. Suiting Maitland-Niles perfectly. He can excel as a 1 vs 1 defender and tuck into central midfield too.
Decision number two: Who are you going to buy to modernize?
Thomas Partey looks very possible and if so then we have struck gold. He is good enough to play in any club side in World Football.
Whether he is positioned at defensive midfield or central midfield, we need at least one more modern athletic powerful central midfielder.
If we had the money, I would have gone hard for N’didi but that’s not possible. Had Leeds not been promoted I would have gone for Kalvin Phillips who is a hybrid DM/CM. He will stay to play for his hometown club in the PL though.
Amadou Diawara at Roma would be a great option. Young yet experienced. Tall and strong. Athletic, quick passing DM. I would be very tempted to swap Bellerin for him.
Add Dani Ceballos on loan again to two modern midfielders to take the place of Guendouzi and Torreira and we have transformed our midfield.
4) Between the lines
I know you remember Chelsea’s goal. It started when Pulisic went inside and between the lines. He had scanned. He had his hips open. I would imagine he was told to turn. You will notice that he moved there unnoticed.
Arsenal will change their playing style next season I am sure. Arteta’s coaching style seems to be to pick his formation, style and strategy based on who he has, hence the focus on ignoring the central space and going wide or long.
When we get a player or two that are comfortable between the lines, we will have an alternate route to goal. This will make us a far bigger threat and more unpredictable. The midfield improvements are pivotal for this.
Importantly, it also gives us the opportunity to play Aubameyang as centre forward. We have not been able to do that as without a creative attacking midfielder.
We have had to either hit long balls to the forwards which would have seen him competing with bigger centre backs rather than full backs and we would have needed him to play like Lacazette has with his bag to goal. Aubameyang is not strong, willing to be physical or creative.
If we have players between the lines, we can go through a string of short passes, then slot a final ball to Aubameyang as he would have peeled left or right off the centre-backs.
5) If Aubameyang stays and stays left
If Aubameyang chooses to stay and we choose to keep him on the left, I believe we will need a new centre forward.
I believe that Lacazette will be used to raise money and I am good with that. I think Lacazette is good at mostly everything, but simply good. Not great at any one thing. Jack of all trades, master of none.
Are we going to look at more of a finisher and allow our new ‘between the lines’ player/s to feed him?
If we sign a pivot-type forward, then I wonder if Barcelona would entertain a loan for Griezmann?
He would be ideal. Elite, technical combination player who prefers coming towards the ball and would allow us to spend our limited money elsewhere whilst allowing Nketiah, John-Jules and possibly Martinelli to develop without blocking their path.
However, if we sign a raw finisher, I was extremely interested in Cavani – not blocking the routes of young players coning through in a couple years’ time.
Odsonne Edouard looks like the next best option. Not superstar money but superstar potential.
Could be groomed to follow in Aubameyang’s footsteps too. Plenty of food for thought.
If you like my ideas, check out my weekly review blog on GunnersTown. It’s called ‘Positives, Needs and Hopes.’ I am also part of GunnersTown’s tactics podcast too.