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Arsenal 5 Tottenham 2: Tactical Analysis | Pre- & Post-Adebayor

Second Half Analysis

Villa Boas made two changes at half time. Dempsey and Dawson came on with Naughton and Walker withdrawn. Spurs moved from a 4-4-1 formation to a 3-4-1-1 with Lennon and Bale playing as wing backs but positioned very high up the pitch to force Arsenal’s wingers back. Dempsey operated behind Defoe but sought to break forward at every opportunity.

There was still a feeling of disconnection within the team, understandable given the circumstances, with Sandro and Huddlestone now positioned deeper, possibly due to their exertions during the demanding first half. They were struggling to move up and down the pitch as they tired.

Nonetheless, the revised formation enabled the wing backs to push high and retained the central strength of the team. It did allow considerable space behind the wing backs which Arsenal would take advantage of. It was a chance which Villa Boas had to take to try and get Spurs back into the game.

As the half progressed, Cazorla’s effect on proceedings became stronger and stronger. From early in the first half when he was squeezed between the Spurs defence and midfield and saw little of the ball. He now had considerable freedom to roam and find space, especially when he drifted wide in behind the Spurs wing backs. His goal was the result of a long kick upfield from Szczesny, Giroud winning the header. It left Walcott, Podolski and Cazorla running 3-on-3 against the Spurs centre backs.

And yet, despite trailing 4-1, Spurs continued to produce chances. Bale pulled a goal back with a great solo run and shot. He should have been pressed sooner but with space, he advanced and finished well from distance.

Arsenal failed to learn the lesson and a few minutes later Bale again broke free and cut in from the left. He should probably have squared the ball for Defoe but took the shot and missed, and with that Spurs’ hopes of getting back into the game evaporated.

Walcott completed the scoring late on, by which point he had adopted a central striker’s position with Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right.

With speculation surrounding the future of Walcott and his apparent desire to play centrally, his performance on the right again offered further evidence as to why he is best used wide where he can use his pace. Walcott delivered 13 crosses during the game, more than double anyone else on the pitch. There is nothing to prevent him moving in diagonally to carry more of a goal threat during games.

Villa Boas: Brave or Foolish?

Your side is reduced to ten men after just 17 minutes of the game against your closest rivals but you have a one goal lead.

Do you:-

a) batten down the hatches, bring everyone back and try to hold on

or

b) continue to try and implement your game plan by pressing high and holding a high defensive line though you have one player less.

It’s tempting to go for option (a). So often the media talk about the need to be defensively strong and hold on when you only been reduced to just ten men. Conventional wisdom would state that when playing with ten men you revert back to a 4-4-1 formation, which is precisely what Villa Boas did. But he also attempted to retain the high defensive line and aggressive pressing which had brought Spurs’ initial success.

Was an attempt to hold on for 73 minutes really going to work anyway? Yes, you must maintain defensive structure and organisation, but equally you have to offer something in attack which makes your opponent consider what they themselves are doing.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but even with it, Villa Boas probably made the right decisions.

Conclusions

It’s the sort of game that both managers can claim to take many positives from.

Wenger will clearly be the happier with his side taking full points but that there were five different goalscorers will also be significant. When you break down the statistics, nine Arsenal players created ten clear chances. The threat in this game came from the entire team with four different players providing assists.

Walcott, Giroud, Podolski and Cazorla now have 15 league goals between them. This addresses the argument that was made pre-season when Van Persie left. With the correct signings, Arsenal have the possibility of sharing the goal-scoring burden, rather than relying upon one individual.

Villa Boas will still have his critics but the second half performance of Spurs, whilst open to the counter attack, was very brave and again demonstrated his ability to set up and organise a team who have suffered having a man sent off. The bold use of a 3-4-1-1 formation dragged Spurs further up the pitch and enable them to create chances whilst forcing Arsenal back.

chalkontheboots
chalkonthebootshttp://www.chalkontheboots.wordpress.com
No stereotypes. No cliches. No fuss. Just analysis with a Spanish flavour.
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