For the past 20+ years Arsenal have been known as an attacking team playing free flowing football – sometimes taking it too far and trying to walk the ball. Whilst this has slowed somewhat in recent years, the notion of Arsenal being an attacking team is not applicable this season. Instead it has been the defence that has taken the headlines and the greater solidity has helped Arsenal to be more competitive in ‘big’ games. But at what cost?
Arsenal have scored just 9 goals in 8 games so far this season which currently puts them on track to score 43 goals in the Premier League. That is significantly down from last season (56 goals) which was already a huge drop off from the year before that (73 goals). Trading off a few goals scored to ensure the team does not concede makes sense, especially with the shaky defence in recent years but so far the goal swing has gone too far the other way.
Lacazette after heading over vs Aston Villa (Credit: Getty Images)
Part of the issue is the way the team is set up. Arteta likes structure and that is the foundation on which he has built a strong defence. The team is able to sit deep on the edge of the box and stifle teams whilst also having the ability to press teams in their own half and pin them in – both these aspects require structure. Although this structure seems to be hindering the attacking side of the game. Arsenal’s attack is predominantly predicated on building up from the back, beating the opposition press, shifting the ball to the fullback and then looking for a cross. Whilst this has produced some spectacular goals and created some fantastic chances, having crossing as the most reliable form of chance creation simply does not suit the forwards we have. All of Lacazette, Willian and Aubameyang are below average in the air and only Aubameyang has shown an ability to score off low crosses and cutbacks. These problems have been added to by the shift to the 4-3-3, where Arsenal’s attacking balance has taken time to adjust and a lack of a bona fide creative midfield player has hindered the ability to score.
Despite this structure hindering the attack, it should largely remain in place. The defence has been improved significantly and it would be naïve to throw that away. However, Arteta should give his attacking players greater freedom to play outside the confines of the structure on the attacking side of the ball as it has been mavericks, like Pépé and Willock, playing in this way who have been instrumental to Arsenal’s Europa League success this season. In the absence of a creative midfield player, the likes of which will be difficult to obtain until next summer, a loosening of the reigns on the forwards and a change in personal should be the primary focus for Arteta.
Looking at the manager’s favoured front three, Lacazette and Willian have been particularly poor this season. Lacazette’s athleticism has taken a complete nosedive and his ability to press and hold up the ball is not what it was when he first joined. The only real positive for Lacazette is his positioning in the box has got him a number of presentable chances and a player of his quality is bound to take some of them. Like with the Frenchman, Willian’s athleticism seems to have disappeared. The effort is clearly there but he seems incapable of applying it. Willian’s selection seems to be a result of his effort and his ability to facilitate Bellerín who has provided a number of good crosses as a result. However, from a 32-year-old on over 100k per week, he should be contributing in goals and assists rather than facilitating a fullback. If Arteta is going to stick with his attacking structure, it is clear that Lacazette and Willian do not fit it.
One option is to shuffle a couple of the players positionally. Arsenal’s main source of goals over the past 2/3 years has been Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese forward has 74 goals in 119 games for the club but has only registered 2 goals in 8 games so far this season, often struggling to get into games and get chances. Whilst we have seen in the past it does not work in every game, moving Aubameyang into the middle as the main striker is one way to involve him more and allow him to be more active in the penalty area to get on the end of chances. This will also allow for an extra creative player on the wing since Aubameyang can struggle to make chances when played out wide. A player who can fulfil that wing position in Bukayo Saka. He has already shown in his young career that he is one of Arsenal’s most creative players and is able to contribute on either wing. Also, Saka’s excellent crossing will be capitalised on far more by Aubameyang in the middle.
By moving Aubameyang and Saka, a space is opened up for another midfield player, allowing for the likes of Willian, Ceballos or Willock to play ahead of a combination of Xhaka, Partey and Elneny. Based on performances this season, Willock is the most deserving of this position with his direct movement and energy driving Arsenal to the top of their Europa League group. Willock is unique amongst Arsenal’s midfield options as he is the only player willing to run beyond the striker and he offers the most goal threat in and around the box. In the absence of a pure creator, someone who causes chaos can help create space. This takes us onto another available option who should be getting more game time, Nicolas Pépé. Although Pépé is inconsistent and frustrating to watch at times, he has a unique ability to produce something out of nothing. In a team that is not fashioning chances consistently, having a player like Pépé who can take on a few players or bend a shot into the top corner can be a way of getting the goals flowing.
The combination of Saka, Willock and Pépé has already produced a goal in the Europa League which should be easy to replicate and adding Aubameyang into the mix will only improve this type of chance. With Saka driving with the ball on the left, Willock makes a run into the box, occupying defenders whilst Nketiah waits for a cutback, forcing a defender to mark him. Saka is able to pick out a cutback to the unmarked man running in – Pépé.
Pépé vs Molde
(Credit: Arseblog/RMC)
In the short term, some combination of these suggestions have to be tried by Arteta. Going with Willian, Lacazette and Aubameyang will not fix the attacking problem. In the long term, if Arteta does want to continue with Aubameyang out wide and relying on crosses from Saka, Tierney and Bellerín, then Gabriel Martinelli is worth trying as the main striker. In a forward Arteta seems to want a player who can score all types of goals, link play and press from the front. Martinelli does these things better than both Lacazette (currently) and Nketiah. Whilst his link up play and pressing needs work, his time off the field recovering from injury should give him the chance to learn what Arteta needs of him in that position and being just 19, there is still plenty of time for him to improve. Where he is a big improvement on the other two is his ability to score from crosses. We saw in last season’s cup games that Martinelli is good in the air, has good movement in the box and can strike the ball well. It will take time for the Brazilian to return to match fitness and get up to speed but if the attacking struggles continue throughout the season then surely he is worth a go up front.
Adam Perry - 13/112020