The pragmatic portion of the Champions League semi-final pitted together a traditional defensive bastion with a club reborn in that image. There would be a sprinkling of Hale End magic from Mikel Arteta to appeal to the twelfth man on the evening, but the foundation for his side’s success remained a resolute rearguard against an […]
The meeting at the Metropolitano would always underwhelm against the explosive standard of scoring from the first Champions League semi-final, but the tie remains on tenterhooks in its own way. A trio of penalties produced the most dramatic moments on the evening, exhibiting the flow of a fixture where defensive solidity and minimizing mistakes made […]
Eberechi Eze’s early goal was enough to get Arsenal over the line in a challenging game against Newcastle United. The away side’s high press proved tough for Arsenal to negotiate, and Mikel Arteta’s side surrendered possession for much of the game in order to defend their slim lead. Tactical analysis and match report by Josh Manley. […]
Arsenal arrived with a high pressing approach here, and Mikel Arteta attempted a solution to Manchester City’s own high press. However, City’s attacking quality proved too much, as Rayan Cherki’s and Erling Haaland’s decisive strikes helped City close the gap in the Premier League title race to just three points with a game in hand. […]
On an evening at the Emirates Stadium that starkly contrasted with the action across the pond in Bavaria, the two sides showed why there are levels to fear in Europe’s elite club competition. The hosts have gone too far deep to turn back on a plan that is pushing players towards physical exhaustion while their […]
The weight of history is hanging over Arsenal. Dumped out of two cups in a fortnight, they are not rising to the occasion of the run-in. But as another defeat marked a typically miserable month for Mikel Arteta, the biggest bottle job of all is not beyond the realms of possibility. Tactical analysis and match […]
Arsenal are finding ugly ways to win, but how should fans feel at the midway mark of their Champions League quarterfinal? They left Lisbon with a clean sheet, and the advantage in the tie, but there are still signs the side are playing with the margins of football a little too finely. Tactical analysis and […]
Pep Guardiola was able to find the right approach on both sides of the ball here, and Mikel Arteta was not able to find the right response. Without the ball, City’s zonal press used cover shadows to prevent Arsenal progression, and with the ball, their right-sided play with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Cherki, and […]
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium, showcasing a tactical masterclass that balanced sophisticated positional play with a ferocious defensive appetite. A spectacular strike from Eberechi Eze broke the deadlock, before Declan Rice’s defensive anticipation and subsequent clinical finish in the second half doubled the advantage, leaving […]
One could have been forgiven for thinking that Arsenal were on their way to another dreary draw against a disciplined defensive unit, but that headline would not have told the whole story. In spells, the hosts had shown that they are open to using their tools in different ways to better effect, and the newest […]