“It’s just like serving to somebody on the pitch. You all the time suppose you assist somebody by going in the direction of him however you assist him essentially the most by strolling away from him. For instance, I’ve bought the ball, I like taking part in 1v1, so serving to me means strolling away.” — Johan Cruyff
You heard the person. In the event you’ve bought 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 aspect, which suggests Bukayo Saka has Martin Odegaard again by his aspect. And Odegaard is aware of precisely when to depart the winger to his personal gadgets.
Granted, the Nottingham Forest strategy on Saturday appeared a bit confused and performed into Arsenal’s fingers. Callum Hudson-Odoi appeared centered on Jurrien Timber however didn’t truly 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 usually, you’re in large bother.
On that first picture, Hudson-Odoi finally did get again to form of double up on Saka, however then one other run, one in behind from Timber, allowed Odegaard to gather a easy move in house on the sting of the realm.
Nothing got here of that one nevertheless it was a standard sight to see Arsenal efficiently isolating Saka, with Odegaard intentionally protecting his distance, permitting Saka to win his one-on-one and hanging again, ready for the move, moderately than encroaching on the winger’s house.
The important thing to threatening Forest down the proper over and over was permitting Saka to do his factor one-on-one, not going over to help him … till it was time to.
When Saka was doubled up or Arsenal reached the field, team-mates have been instantly readily available to assist him play his approach via it. The motion off the ball was glorious, the runs incisve and continuous: when Arsenal weren’t one-on-one out broad, 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 subject with lots of people, so the tempo of the ball should be very excessive, almost one or two contact principally. That’s why we attempt to create (in coaching) a small piece of subject, 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 via 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 via the opposition. Under is one such second a bit additional away from the purpose, the place seven of the ten outfield gamers are all gathered over on one aspect of the pitch.
Crucially, no one 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 rapidly.
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 broad into house out broad — once more appeared like a way more assured, flowing Arsenal.
An identical assortment gathered on the left within the first half, with Riccardo Calafiori tucking inside and Odegaard drifting over to that aspect 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 purpose — 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’re going to obtain the ball or not.
In the end, it’s all about posing the opposition with questions. Depart Saka as alone as potential and also you’re actually forcing them to decide on in the event that they wish to double up and depart house elsewhere. Make runs in behind off the ball and power 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 wish to sit again and make issues tight, get much more attacking gamers across the ball and up the tempo to play via them.
The steadiness of all of the above was glorious towards Forest and it actually gave a glimpse of what this Arsenal staff needs to be able to after they have to interrupt a aspect down this season.
