Steve the Bruce set up his castle in a 442, much the same way that Crystal Palace set up against Arsenal just a few days earlier. But unlike the Palace match, Arsenal found a few moments of incisive long-range vision from the midfield, breached the castle walls, and forced the game into the open where the Arsenal’s superior firepower cut the opponents to ribbons.
Thomas Partey ran Arsenal’s midfield during his 67 minute stint and was a joy to watch. His economy of touch and forward vision are exactly what Arsenal’s midfield has been missing since we lost Santi Cazorla to injury. Thomas brings a calmness and assertiveness to Arsenal. And when he does get the ball, he dances like a handkerchief in the wind, zipping through the opposition midfield, dropping off passes with incredible ease. But even more key is that he’s always looking up: he sees the runs of the forwards and tries to pick them out.
For Arsenal’s first goal, Thomas collected the ball deep in his own half, evaded pressure, and saw Aubameyang making a run. With no effort, and no wasted movement, he clipped in an effortless outside of the boot 40 yard pass to Aubameyang. Aubameyang still had plenty to do to score but it would be hash in the extreme to take away Thomas’ assist. There are times when long passes like that get an assist and it’s a bit laughable, but in this case, Thomas knew exactly what he was doing, saw the exact pass he needed to make, and made it.
For Aubameyang’s part, that’s the kind of goal you want to see Auba score. He took his man on, got a little bit of space and squeezed in the shot. It was a “confidence” goal – the kind that a player who is in full confidence takes – which came at the time when he looked completely shorn of confidence. In fact, in the first half, he looked so bad, that it was as if aliens had abducted him and replaced him with a lesser replica. He’s been struggling all season and as he has his ebullient smile seems to have evaporated. I’m hoping that first half was his nadir and that from here on out we see Auba’s smiling eyes: a happy Auba is a happy Arsenal.
I’m running short on time today (I got up late, 0640, rather than my normal 0430) and I have to get to work but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Saka and Smith-Rowe’s goal. Once again started by Thomas moving the ball forward, and again to Aubameyang (who seems to have a great connection with Thomas), this time Auba passes to Emile Smith-Rowe who was being covered by poor Jamaal Lascelles. ESR took Lascelles left, right, left, and then right again, got a half yard of space and knew exactly where he wanted to put the ball for Saka to score.
Saka and Smith-Rowe have a real chemistry which is apparent whenever they are on this pitch. And this, along with the mental link between Thomas and Auba, is a great reminder of one of the realities of football: it’s the combinations that are key. One great player on his own doesn’t win you games. But two good players, who know where the other guy is going to be and can pick him out instinctively, are incredibly dangerous. It’s so hard to defend that kind of linked up, mind-meld, play because it’s faster than human movement, it’s even faster than human thought in most cases.
This is also the reason why it’s so difficult to just buy good players and stick them on a team. Players need time to bed in, to teach each other their idiosyncrasies, the way they move, which spaces they like to occupy, and even how hard they like a ball to feet. In his autobiography Wenger called this “technical empathy” – the ability to feel the way another person likes to play, to put yourself in their boots – and the good news is that it looks like Arsenal have several players who can do this.
Thomas is starting to form that connection with ESR too. He is looking for him right away as he makes vertical runs or pops up in the half space. It’s very exciting to see.
I wonder as we look back on our absolutely dire run when extremists (aka me) were saying there was no way back for Arteta, we might just chalk a lot of it up to Thomas’ absence. This isn’t to minimize the impact of ESR and Saka, just to say it may seem obvious why we looked so poor as Thomas becomes so integral to the way we play.
As for ESR, he is also becoming attuned to several players. As you say, Saka and he are 100% in sync. But ESR was also gutted to scuff that final ball to Auba as he screamed toward goal – he knew exactly where it was going. I am continuing to be mesmerized by his awareness. At 1:07 of this video, https://twitter.com/i/status/1351455177056907265 it looked like to me he was expecting Auba to be making a far post run, and was redirecting for him. That’s astounding for a 20 year old, imo. He now needs to start following up with the “Why didn’t you make the run?” stare. He’s too nice for that.
Finally, I can’t say enough about Saka. He takes on a new position and devours it. He’s moving and finding spaces in a way Pepe has never done so far. 19. 19. Freaking 19! We’re in a phase where we are making strides instead of baby steps, and I’m trying to stay in the moment and enjoy it.
Good article. On telepathic communication, I seem to recall Tierney and Martinelli being like that before Martinelli got injured.
So, gut check gooners…
Do we still buy Houssem Aouar (22), or will he kill the budding development of Smith-Rowe (20)?
We look a totally different side with Partey and Tierney. Partey always looked to go progressive. I felt that Xhaka, after a good game against Palace, regressed to the maddening ultra-conservative passing he often performs. There’d be an Arsenal player unmarked in a gap, but he’d knock a 6 yard pass back to Holding or Luiz. Partey is an undemonstrative but effective tackler too. Good footballers know where to be to effect a tackle. Not so good ones hare around making a show of it. Arteta, when we put him in the back midfield, played with a similar level of positional intelligence. No wonder he got Partey.
Know who had a good game too? Cedric. Combined nicely with Saka for the 3rd goal. He looks a more natural RB than Hector, who comes inside a lot. When Hecor and Pepe play, we have very little natural width in attack.
‘Partey is an undemonstrative but effective tackler too. Good footballers know where to be to effect a tackle. Not so good ones hare around making a show of it.’ Or just diving in and foulind, as the case may be, lol.
I would like us to take a wait and see approach about Aouar. He’s not leaving in January, from what I read. I would however, like to see us sign a #10 on loan for this season. We can’t put the burden of playing nearly every match on ESR (even though he would gladly do it). The dropoff from him to Willian is sickening. We need a competent, experienced player to back up and fill in at 10. If ESR stays fit and continues to progress, maybe we don’t need Aouar. But we need a backup GK, a left back and another midfielder to partner with Thomas, so we can begin phasing out Xhaka.
Agree that Aouar isnt coming this month. But if we do sign him, he is coming to play, not sit on the bench. And that means taking Emile’s place. Yes, ESR will play games if HA is first choice at the 10, but at some point, there won’t be enough to keep both of them happy.
To me, this is a good problem to have. We wanted to sign one of the most promising AMs in Europe, but our homegrown boy is making a case to be a mainstay. Depth is nice, but at some point someone will be unhappy.
And another question for you, LA… who gets the No 10 shirt? Laca says he wants it, but will be do another Wilshere and give it to The Kid? Or the expensive recruit?
I like the problem of too many good attacking midfielders, too. I want to have a strong incumbent and a strong challenger at every position. If I had a gun to my head, I would buy Aouar, but give them both lots of playing time. 60/30 one game 30/60 the next, etc.
I wouldn’t give the 10 shirt to anyone yet. Laca is not a number 10. I have been a big supporter, but why would any 9 want the 10 shirt? Plus, I suspect he goes this summer. Let ESR show he earns it over the rest of the season and give it to him if he does. If there’s a doubt, give it to the 10 we buy to replace/compete with him.
Look how far we have come since the Wenger days, when Arsenal would play 1 striker, 7 attacking midfielders, 1 central defender who wants to be an attacking midfielder (Vermaelen), 1 other central defender (Koscielny), and 1 goalkeeper.
Well, for one thing, I’m not totally sold on Aouar. But for another, I don’t believe he’s a number 10. He’s much more part of the 2 in a 4231. I think.
Ah, ok. Interesting, Tim. Posted in reply to LA before I saw this.
I actually went to look at the match positions for him this season, he plays as a 10 in the 3412 or a more advanced CM in a 433. So, I guess he would take ESR’s spot. In which case I’m a big no thanks.
The other thing about Cedric is that he’s a more secure counterweight than Bellerin when you have Tierney rampaging down the left. I liked our balance overall against Newcastle, not that Bellerin can’t also provide that.
On Aouar I don’t know enough about the player, but if you’re asking if we should prioritise AM / 10 then yes, but only after a goalkeeper and a midfielder to replace / upgrade Ceballos (who I like).
JUST FYI: Cedric was the more advanced and attacking of the two FBs yesterday.
Also, he’s really terrible (even for a backup) and I can’t believe how many people are being swayed by a single lucky assist.
He is ok as a backup. But nothing more. Solid game against Newcastle. Woohoo. Can anyone explain why Bellerin is getting so much hate this season? I think he’s been very good, especially going forward.
He’s not terrible. Just meh. Terrible in the FB position is Andre Santos…Soares isn’t that bad.
As far as Bellerin goes, he’s been good, but not great. Great would be the right side equivalent of Tierney, and he’s not been at that level.
As far as Aouar goes, if ESR keeps playing at this level, seems it would be much smarter to get a mid-level backup instead of Aouar, and use some of that money in other places where the need is greater.
Not according to the heat maps on sofascore. Cedric was box to box, as much in our half as in theirs. Most of Tierney’s touches were in the opposition half.
Interesting:
Both players had the same number of touches in their own final third, Tierney had more in the opposition final third/box, Soares had way more in the middle third, Soares had more deep pressures (7/4).
That’s a moot discussion; Aouar isn’t interested in coming to Arsenal from what I’ve read. He pretty much sees himself at a bigger club and, let’s be fair, Arsenal are not a big club anymore from a financial or honours perspective.
But even if he were, he didn’t want to come this past summer, so we move on now.
As far as killing ESR’s development – we need depth and creative players that can alternate from #10 in the hole to out wide. ESR could deputize for Saka if needed, as an example. To that end, Buendia seems to make the most sense, because he can play on the wing also.
Bring in Buendia and Yves Bissouma this summer. But I really don’t think we’re adding anyone this January. COVID has killed the market.
Claude
Arteta wanted Aouar as bad as a non- negotiable, likely reason we waited till zero hour to snitch Partey although his release clause was known. It caused consternation in his former Club who did not have the time to get a substitute. Fortunately Arteta tumbles into positive situations, mostly not of his making.
Aouar is clear he does not want to come to Arsenal
I dunno guys, Newcastle are currently the team whose sole purpose is to make the others look good and I am picking all my fantasy players from whoever is playing against them.
It was a good result in the end but we were poor in the first half, maybe even for a majority of the game, with the same old lack of cutting edge, lack of ideas, slow movement and timid passing. The technical empathy took a long time to arrive, and when it did it just made us look more like a standard, decent, mid-table Premier League side.
For example, while it’s massively hopeful that Auba got on the scoresheet, I don’t remember the last time he was allowed to run at a RB the way he did for the first goal – that’s his trademark and he’s effectively been stopped from doing it for months now by opposition defences.
In the middle of our slump I said we would know more in January, and it sure looks a lot better. But now we have a tougher run of fixtures coming up to measure ourselves by. I’m looking forward it.
Fair play, Greg, but isn’t Auba making that run and getting the ball a sign of an upturn? I agree our opponents have been pretty woeful, but that hasn’t stopped us in the past from getting outshot and/or dropping points to lower table teams.
My biggest takeaway from yesterday is it finally felt like we had something that we’ve been missing for years: Balance.
We’re not relying on any one player or area, like we have been with our left-side bias. Or in other games, right sided. We are working the ball up both sides. We are hitting some long balls. We are making fast 1-2’s in the final third through a more central area. We are getting Auba into scoring positions. We are figuring out how to put players in positions to succeed. We’re not sacrificing defensively while this attack develops.
It’s been a while since we’ve had a legit handful of games like this. Tim will momentarily insert a passing chart to contradict me, but the eyeball test says this is different than over the last couple of years, at least.
Oh yeah for sure, I used the word balance as well. I’m just waiting to see if that translates into results against cannier and stronger opposition, and especially to see if Arteta maintains this formation, selection and tactics against those stronger teams. In the past he’s gone cautious, which paid off e.g. against Man U but I think we’d all like to see this momentum allowed to continue if it can.
I suppose you wrote this comment…………..before you had a “nice breakfast “ Greg 😉
I have saw some discussions in the last post on Dani Ceballos concerning his attributes and his position in a team, as well as Houssem Aouar. I hope I can elaborate a bit on Dani as a player because I have watched and reported on his development from when he was at Real Betis, and a bit on Aouar because I had to follow him when I was looking into Lucas Tousart and Alban Lafont around 2017, and have continued since.
First off, Dani is what is referred to as a Mezzala in Italy. A role that was common during the times of the WM formation. These were players who played in the half spaces and behind the front 3, which was the W. It literally means half winger.
Defensively they are no slouches and are good when defending as a unit, but not good enough to truly fit as one of the two deep lying players. They are creative on the ball and have the technical ability to control, pass and move in the final third, but they lack the urgency or creativity needed to consistently provide a FINAL ball, it’s just not what they always look out for (like KDB, Erikson and the big O). They have the ability to finish well and make good runs into the box, but again they do not have the urgency of a box-to-box midfielder to get on the end of things. And as we know, goals do not necessarily come from quality of finishing, but from how many times you can get yourself into good positions to have a chance.
These players also have the work-rate and ability to play on the wing. In that an area of the pitch which is cut in half, they have the ability to keep possession of the ball and use it effectively, but they lack the thrust and burst to not just beat their man, but also get beyond them. Even worse is that they are not a goal threat when coming in from out wide.
Spanish football has been developing such players at a high rate for the past 15 years, with notable examples including players such as Andres Iniesta, David Silva and our very own Santi Cazorla. All of them, players that do not seem to be utilising all of their abilities in any of the traditional positions. Too adventurous for defensive roles, too conservative for attacking roles.
They are not all completely alike though. Payers like Santi are more of a playmaking type and have a high number of touches and passes, like our very own Dani who falls into that category. They thrive in beating players in small spaces and then distributing. Some like Iniesta are an additional dribbler in the side and carry the ball well while providing technical security, they also help in transitioning the ball through their dribbling and draw opposition to make space for their other teammates, like how he did for Messi and how Aouar does for Lyon. Others are almost an in-between of the two, not very exceptional at any of above, but very capable like David Silva and funny enough, Paul Pogba.
What is also common for all of these players is their low numbers in output compared to their high calibre counterparts who have defined positions. That’s no to say that they can’t top assists or goals charts, but that their play does not require output for them to be influential. I mean Iniesta had 3 goals and 8 assists in 42 games during the MSN season for Barcelona, while going on to record 6 goals and 18 assists from 14/15 to 17/18. But his play was incredibly influential to how Barcelona played, to the point that they still feel his absence now, even more than when Xavi left.
With Ceballos it isn’t about rigid structures or roles that he must interpret in order to have an influence on a team, after-all this isn’t table soccer/foosball. It’s limiting to focus on whether he fits into 3 or 4 different positions when he can’t show all he can do in any of them. Dani has attributes that are very useful and would cost us far more if we were to go for Auoar. Houssem plays as a mezzala as well which scares me a bit. If we are looking to sign Aouar, he cannot hold down a role alongside Partey better than Dani. Dani is a bit more rugged, has better defensive awareness and is just plainly more solid than Aouar. Aouar is also not better than Smith-Rowe in the attacking midfield position and we will suffer if he was signed to play there. If we are to sign Aouar to play alongside Dani, in front of Partey as a double barrel where both could fil the WM mezzale roles, it could work. It is my wish actually.
So in short, Dani has good attributes which are seriously backed up in the stats. If Arteta plays by the book, Dani has no future at the club. But if he looks at attributes, it’s hard to find a player who does everything quite as well and as consistently as Dani Ceballos. Get the right pieces working around him and you have the best support act for your difference makers of the highest level.
Or maybe it’s just my bias because I have always thought he is an insane talent and was above our level as a club.
A good review of the match and this reminded me of someone:
“For Aubameyang’s part, that’s the kind of goal you want to see Auba score. He took his man on, got a little bit of space, and squeezed in the shot.”
TH14 would score these types of goals for fun. The sheer cheek of the man, the insolence. What a time we had back then!
I have no idea why your posts keep getting spammed. I have zero blocks on anyone or any words and your posts are even cleared by Akismet.
It’s weird.
The last paragraph depicts Chelsea.
Saw Chelski losing to the Foxes today and boy did they look bad. Kinda like us six weeks ago. Lots of unhappy millionaires standing around looking lost, I reckon Lampard’s losing the dressing room. We can hope anyway.
I want to share a persnal story about the “technical empathy” Tim mentioned. Once I played with a retired professional player (Chinese nationational level :)), I picked him out, passed him on a difficult situation, which made me feel good:). Afterwards, he told me”if you had passed the ball to my left foot, I would have dribbled my two defender easily”. At that time, my gut feeling was the gap between pro and amateure is so huge.
Thanks, Liu.
I love these kinds of stories, of sharing pitches with great players.
In my 30s I played five-a-side on a basketball court for a couple of years with a bunch of Italians my age. One guy had such dreamy control, touch and vision, made everything look easy, and made everyone around him better. Occasionally when it got intense he would start playing at his real level, and just blew everyone away. He would often play with his laces open, like Maradona in warm-ups, if he laced his boots halfway through a game we knew we were in trouble.
Occasionally reaching technical empathy with him, getting on his wavelength in a game, was one of the great pleasures of 30+ years of kicking balls around.
I knew he had to be an ex-pro midfielder, but when I googled him I found nothing. I started looking into the Italian national youth teams, I thought maybe he got injured young.
Later we got friendly and went for a drink, I said I knew he was pro and asked if he had been Pirlo’s understudy or something. He laughed and told me had been one of the reserve goalkeepers for A.C.N. Siena in the Italian third division. That’s when I started to appreciate how good the real players are.
devlin, it was me that brought up ceballos on the previous thread. i agree with your assessment. i’ve heard criticisms that he takes a lot of touches. however, his touches are typically progressive; he takes space when he can or he holds the ball allowing a situation to develop. that’s not the same as “needing touches” to settle the ball or figure out what to do. every game, we’ve seen him send a peach of a pass 50 meters with a single touch. he doesn’t need a lot of touches but does understand how to develop situations. likewise, he makes plenty of good defensive challenges and doesn’t hide. i like him.
i think xhaka was good against newcastle and is becoming undroppable. sure, his passes weren’t always forward but, he’s doing what the game asks. for me, this is the sign of a good player. if there’s no good forward pass, he remains patient and switches the point of attack by swinging the ball; nothing wrong with that. we all know that, if a penetrative pass presents, xhaka will pick out tierney or aubameyang. historically, i’m not a xhaka fan. i thought it reckless for arsenal to have all of that money spent on attacking talent in their prime and fail to capitalize due to inadequate cdm play. xhaka wasn’t ready to be the lynch pin for a top team then. however, i’ve been happy with his recent displays. i chalk that up to experience but how much has that cost arsenal?
what i loved most about the saka goal was the diagonal run by smith rowe. that’s what i call a near post run…a center forward’s run. the awareness to put a center back in a wide area (where they don’t want to be) with no cover in a 1v1 with a dribbler is a mismatch all day. it’s like putting a center on a point guard on the perimeter in basketball. smith rowe was asked which arsenal player he believed helped him most and he said lacazette. i love that. the run he made was a proper center forward run and it’s nice to see lacazette drop in to cover if smith rowe makes that forward run.
Thanks for post TIm. Encouraging game yesterday. Great to have Partey back. Another strong performance from Saka and ESR. Another clean sheet. The team defense has certainly recovered from the 5 game run of bad form. Most encouraging for the rest of this season is Auba scoring twice. We are a much more dangerous team with him back in form. 3 weeks ago we were in a bad run of form and many of us were actually thinking we might be in a relegation fight. Now after a win against Chelsea who are badly out of form and wins against 3 other teams who are in the bottom 5 and a draw against Palace and suddenly we are a team brimming with potential. The reality is somewhere in between. The doom and gloom of October and November was a heavy duty over reaction and I suspect our form will level off when we play some tougher teams. I have always thought we will end up somewhere between 7-10th place. With our strong team defense and if Auba starts to score again I think we have a good chance to make a really deep run in the Europa league which is the big hope for this season.