Managing Real Madrid must be a nightmare.
Literally everyone is bigger than the club - & the entitlement culture flows through the players to the fans creating a very difficult atmosphere for any manager.
4. We need to isolate wingers more and increase take-ons. The quality is there.
5. Attacking underlaps into the box need to improve.
Holding Liverpool to 0 shots on target while forcing back-5s and back-6s vs City and LFC still says something about how far Arsenal have come.
End of Thread!
Takeaways:
1. Arsenal didn’t read or exploit first-half spaces well enough.
2. Gyok struggles vs deeper blocks. He can’t be first-choice in these games.
3. Liverpool’s second-half spacing and use of Wirtz hurt our ball-winning.
Ultimately there were one too many "players-holding-their-hands-up" on broken pressing sequences in the 2nd half and we barely had a good possession sequence.
2nd half:
Liverpool came out with better intent on the ball - the CB found the CMs to play around our markers
+ we couldn’t press/counter the back passes to the CB (pressing triggers) in a coordinated fashion which kept us in defensive block
Spurs defended us in the same manner (Back 6) at The Ems but we were able to bait their CMs to one side & find the free man in Z14/Z11 - Eze who went onto score a hattrick
One instance we were able to access Z14 with a pass by pulling the Liverpool midfield over to one side (Saka to Zubimendi)
Opp 2: Z11 and Z14
(Wirtz/Sbo) had to press the CBs and (Grav/Mac) would mark the 8s (Ode/Rice) - This gave us the chance to stretch & find passes in Z14/Z11 which we did not do enough.
Here’s an example to big spaces in b/w Grav and Mac we should be looking to find an Ø in -
Here's an example of Saliba using the space -
Opportunities for AFC:
With how LFC chose to push their wingers back to defend the halfspaces - it created big spaces in for the AFC CBs to drive into & pull defenders out:
Watch Odegaard pointing to Saliba to drive into the space but he chooses to stop & pass backwards.
LFC were able to break the press in the first half by using the 3v2 overloads in central areas + Bradley's underlapping runs
Further it lets Kerkez or the underloaded fullback to run into the space vacated by the winger - it’s how they were able to get some joy on the ball in the first half.
Min 6, LFC were already adjusting in possession.
Wirtz (F9) came deeper to overload midfield - the CB (Gabriel) was reluctant to follow Wirtz all the way.
That movement opened space for Gakpo to run into the vacated channel against Arsenal’s last line + cause issues for Rice/Zubi in the press
We can see in the same instance how Frimpong is tracking Hincapie in the halfspace and Gakpo is tracking Timber - Liverpool had a very clear idea of man marking the fullbacks with their wingers
First half:
Arsenal built up in a familiar (3-2) base that often became a back 3 by dropping one of Zubimendi/Rice/Ødegaard into the backline, freeing the fullbacks to push into the halfspace or wide.
Also: keep an eye on Gakpo checking his shoulder for Timber (out of screen).
Arsenal-Liverpool was a game of 2 halves:
Here are a few observations from Liverpool vs Arsenal at the Emirates.
The story is in the setups and the tweaks. 🧵 👇
✨ IT ALL WORKED OUT ✨
#135: The Ebere Eze Show
🎙️: @towells.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social
🔴 Open Play Goals!
🔵 Rotations up front, rotations in build-up
⚪️ How Chelsea handled what others couldn’t
🟡 What will change with Gyök & Ø back?
Listen here 👇
pod.fo/e/35f034
💥 ARE SET PIECES OP? 💥
#134: Set Piece FC (feat. Jon Mackenzie)
🎙: @setpiecesicko.bsky.social @jonmackenzie.bsky.social
🔴 Riding the wave of discourse
⚪️ Arteta's trend-setting Arsenal
🔵 A tactical cross-roads
🟡 Why does it matter?
Listen now 👇
pod.fo/e/347fae
💥WE'RE BACK 💥
#133: Taking Stock (feat. NSftbl)
🎙: @towells.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social & Nick (@nsftbl on twitter)
🔴 We're top of the league!
⚪️ Is the handbrake off?
🔵 A changing midfield
🟡 Odegaard's injuries: are we worried?
Listen 👇
pod.fo/e/33e00d
His greatest contribution to the internet
💥TAKING STOCK💥
#182: Trading Takes
🎙: @alexcollings.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social
🔴 Liverpool & Forest reviews
⚪️ Zubi the Superstar
🟡 Hot takes on Rice
🔵 Standout performers so far
Listen here 👇
pod.fo/e/32c31f
The writing is on the wall for Martinelli. Competition for his spot is fierce this year, improve or perish.
Broke through at a similar time to Saka but the latter has improved YoY to a WC level.
💥 2 WEEKS, 2 UNITEDS, 2 WINS 💥
#131: A Change In Intent
🎙️: @setpiecesicko.bsky.social @alexcollings.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social
🔴 Making Sense of a New Style
⚪️ A Tale of Two Nineties
🔵 Flowers for Zubi
🟡 Looking To Anfield
Listen now 👇
pod.fo/e/320c27
💥ZUBIMENDI SIGNS💥
Snapshot: Martin Zubimendi (feat. Phil Ball)
🎙: @eulenberg.bsky.social @philballauthor.bsky.social
🔵 The boy from Antiguoko
🔴 Basque in his blood
🟡 Bringing balance to the midfield
⚪️ Areas for improvement
Listen here 👇
pod.fo/e/2f9c2e
It's not often you go hunting for a podcast guest & find someone who knows the father of the player you want to talk about! Phil's great here, and gives some insights & stories I guarantee you won't hear on other pods - give it a listen 👇
💥TRANSFERS TIME💥
Target Practice: Scouting Strikers, Part 1 (feat. MoeSquare)
🎙: @alexcollings.bsky.social @setpiecesicko.bsky.social @moesquare.bsky.social
⚪️ What do Arsenal need?
🔴 What profiles are available?
🟡 Osimhen, Watkins, Ekitike
🔵 Is there an ideal option?
Listen 👇
pod.fo/e/2f02e3
💥 WE GO AGAIN 💥
#128: Reconstruction: It's Time To Win
🎙: @lorcanmcc.bsky.social @alexcollings.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social
🔴 Rebalancing defence & attack
⚪️ What will Zubimendi bring?
🟡 A marquee LW signing?
🔵 What do we need from a ST?
Listen here 👇
pod.fo/e/2e43fd
Ødegaard talking to the team before a game.
💥 SEASON REVIEW 💥
#127: Men’s Team Season Review 2024/25
🎙️: @towells.bsky.social @alexcollings.bsky.social @setpiecesicko.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social
🔴 Favourite Pot Shot Question
🔵 Pot Shot Awards
🟡 Reviewing Over/Unders
⚪️ Our Hot Takes
Listen Link below 👇
Broke down PSGs tactics and how we coped. What changes in the first half + Odegaard usage.
They came with a plan and executed it well.
💥QUARTER FINAL REVIEW💥
#124: Remon-nada (feat. Jose Perez)
🎙: @lorcanmcc.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social
@jcperezfc.bsky.social
🔴 What won Arsenal the tie?
⚪️ Arsenal OOP conducive to CL knockouts?
🟡 MLS and Rice performances
🔵 Can Arsenal win the CL from here?
Listen link in next tweet 👇
