So, Premier League is about to take off. I can't really figure our how much I look forward to it actually. My optimism is at an all time low at the moment, as I have only little belief that the major defensive problems (set pieces and the structure) will be solved. I've had that belief earlier. But i guess that if you get disappointed too often....
In this blog I will take a look at the latter mentioned defensive problem, and more specifically look at three aspect: Defending according to the system 4-3-3, adjustment of the lines and roles of the backs.
1) Defending as 4-3-3/4-5-1 instead of 4-4-2
As I have mentioned earlier, we've had some defensive problems as a direct result of the use of Cesc. More specifically we have been outnumbered on the midfield. If you look at the graphic, this visualizes what we have been seeing during the last two seasons. Van Persie and Cesc often tried to put hight pressure on the centre halves, resulting in a opponent midtfielder dropping back in the space behind, have opportunity to draw back an attacker or letting a winger cut in, leaving us outnumbered.
Figure one: Classical Arsenal structure
I really don't get the tactical idea behind this, unless we are talking about a ball loss high up field, where the opponent is still not structured. We need to be more patient. Why don't we let the opponent centre halves have the ball? Even though some moderne defenders are quite capable on the ball, it is MUCH preferable comparing to opponent midfielders having finding space. This leads us to the second bullet:
2) We need to adjust the pressure.
We saw it in big parts of the games against Barcelona, and also when we beat Manchester United. When pressure is calibrated, and the space between the lines is minimized we almost look strong. If we let opponent centre halves have the ball, the opposing team must either move a defender forward (which especially in the coming seasons will be to much joy for our pacy wingers) drag en attacker back or play the ball long. If space between the now more flat midfield and the defence is minimized, it will be incredibly hard for the opponents to find space. They will have to try deep balls. But as we have quite pacy defenders, we will win those balls. Koscielny has showed several times, that he is suited to this type of defending. Against Manchester and Barcelona he was excellent.
Look at the figure below. It really shows how space is minimized when the pressure is calibrated:
Figure two: The optimal structure
It will take no time to close down players and space. To exploit this, our full backs can contribute:
In this blog I will take a look at the latter mentioned defensive problem, and more specifically look at three aspect: Defending according to the system 4-3-3, adjustment of the lines and roles of the backs.
1) Defending as 4-3-3/4-5-1 instead of 4-4-2
As I have mentioned earlier, we've had some defensive problems as a direct result of the use of Cesc. More specifically we have been outnumbered on the midfield. If you look at the graphic, this visualizes what we have been seeing during the last two seasons. Van Persie and Cesc often tried to put hight pressure on the centre halves, resulting in a opponent midtfielder dropping back in the space behind, have opportunity to draw back an attacker or letting a winger cut in, leaving us outnumbered.
Figure one: Classical Arsenal structure
I really don't get the tactical idea behind this, unless we are talking about a ball loss high up field, where the opponent is still not structured. We need to be more patient. Why don't we let the opponent centre halves have the ball? Even though some moderne defenders are quite capable on the ball, it is MUCH preferable comparing to opponent midfielders having finding space. This leads us to the second bullet:
2) We need to adjust the pressure.
We saw it in big parts of the games against Barcelona, and also when we beat Manchester United. When pressure is calibrated, and the space between the lines is minimized we almost look strong. If we let opponent centre halves have the ball, the opposing team must either move a defender forward (which especially in the coming seasons will be to much joy for our pacy wingers) drag en attacker back or play the ball long. If space between the now more flat midfield and the defence is minimized, it will be incredibly hard for the opponents to find space. They will have to try deep balls. But as we have quite pacy defenders, we will win those balls. Koscielny has showed several times, that he is suited to this type of defending. Against Manchester and Barcelona he was excellent.
Look at the figure below. It really shows how space is minimized when the pressure is calibrated:
Figure two: The optimal structure
It will take no time to close down players and space. To exploit this, our full backs can contribute:
3) Our full backs must send opponent wingers inwards, not outwards.
Well, we know it from when we have met well structured opponents which have forced our wingers to move inwards: The play becomes too tight. We can do this as well. In the prime of our defence, Dixon and Winterburn were taught this. They KNEW that the centre halves would simply eat the small wingers, with the helt from our center midfielders, if they were forced to cut inside.
With space between midfield and defence being minimized, the wingers cutting inside will be shut down without other key areas are left exploited.
I know this is not easy to implement. But it surely must be the way to go. Unfortunately this requires that the defensive training is changed, as a tight structure requires stop n' go corrections - an probably A LOT of them for us.
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