3 key tactical principles that will help Arsenal improve in 2022/23

simply too much for an undercooked Sevilla side</a>.</p> <p>Three key principles have been on display this summer, and each will ensure Arsenal improve in 2022/23.</p> <h2>1. Relentless high-pressing</h2> <div id="attachment_128228" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128228" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1242192904.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1242192904.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1242192904-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Gabriel Jesus is one of the best pressers in the Premier League. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>The importance of pressing in this day and age has been documented countless times. Every elite side aims to win the ball back as high up the pitch as they can.</p> <p>Since taking over as boss, Arteta has employed a popular 4-4-2 pressing structure which seeks to regain possession in the opponent’s third. Typically, the most advanced midfielder joins the striker in the first pressing line with the primary aim being to limit central progression and trap teams in wide areas.</p> <p>And while Arteta’s structure is fine, the Gunners haven’t had the personnel to press relentlessly. They’ve been able to sustain pressure off the ball in spurts, typically at the start of contests, before fading and dropping off. Up until now, Arsenal under Arteta haven’t been physical nor aggressive enough to emerge as a pressing juggernaut.</p> <p>Last season, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"https://theanalyst.com/eu/2022/06/english-premier-league-2021-22-stats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arsenal’s PPDA (passes per defensive action) ranked 11th lowest (13.6) in the Premier League</a>. Although, they did register the fifth-highest number of ‘high turnovers’ (321) which shows they were an efficient pressing side – if not a relentless one.</p> <p>However, there have been signs in pre-season that could change in 2022/23. With Jesus coming in and Eddie Nketiah rising to prominence, Arsenal now boast a young, athletic and agile front line that’s capable of harassing opponents for more prolonged periods. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"https://twitter.com/EBL2017/status/1553756485615816705" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A subtle tweak or two has been made to the pressing structure, too</a>.</p> <p>Chelsea were forced to revert to their back three in the Florida Cup as they couldn’t cope with Arsenal’s intensity, while Sevilla were overwhelmed by the ferocity of the Gunners’ press – exemplified by the fourth goal.</p> <p>The increased physicality of this Arsenal side will allow them to press higher up the pitch for longer periods this season, thus aiding their ability to control contests.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 tactical principle on display </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>2. Superb build-up structure</h2> <div id="attachment_128229" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128229" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1242194490.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1242194490.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1242194490-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Oleksandr Zinchenko offers greater technical quality in the build-up phase. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>Let’s go back to Arteta’s first game as Arsenal boss again, shall we?</p> <p>On that day, a 2-3-5 possession structure in the mould of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City was on display. Ainsley Maitland-Niles functioned as an inverted full-back and thus joined the midfield line, while each vertical channel was occupied in the final third with left-back Bukayo Saka overlapping.</p> <p>Arsenal’s structure under Arteta has rarely come under question, and they’ve been able to score some archetypal Gunners goals as a result. Do I need to remind you of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener in the 2019/20 FA Cup semi-final against Man City, or his goal in the 2020 Community Shield? Back-to-front, left-to-right.</p> <div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/R6-HrA0dhr4?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen title="HIGHLIGHTS | Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City | Emirates FA Cup finalists!"></iframe></div> <p>Unfortunately, the technical incompetence of some has prevented Arsenal from dominating contests in the manner Arteta desires.</p> <p>Now, however, the boss is blessed with a personnel grouping that’ll maximise his elite structure. Arsenal’s positional play is superb, and the flexibility of particular individuals means they can line up in multiple ways. Against Sevilla, though, Arsenal built in a compact 2-3 structure with Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko inverting to join Thomas Partey in midfield.</p> <p>This set-up provides several central passing lanes and compactness in defensive transition. The wingers, meanwhile, can isolate one-vs-one against their respective full-backs.</p> <p>The only slight drawback is the presence of Granit Xhaka in a more advanced position. Ideally, Arteta would want a midfielder more comfortable from an attacking sense taking up the positions Xhaka occupied on Saturday.</p> <p>As a result of Arteta’s brilliant structure, each Arsenal player is blessed with multiple options once they receive possession. Decisions are made for players, making their lives much easier. That’s coaching.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 tactical principle on display </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>3. Fluidity in possession</h2> <div id="attachment_128148" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128148" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1242194995.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1242194995.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1242194995-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal’s English forward Eddie Nketiah celebrates with Arsenal’s Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli (R) after scoring his team’s sixth goal during a club friendly football match between Arsenal and Sevilla at the Emirates Stadium in London on July 30, 2022. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>While Arteta’s build-up structure has always been impressive, the manager has come under scrutiny in terms of chance creation. In 2020/21, Arsenal ranked 12th in the Premier League with just 45 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/big_chance_created?se=418%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘big chances created’</a> and they created even less in 2021/22, ranking 17th with 39.</p> <p>Admittedly, ‘big chances created’ is a pretty arbitrary term, but there’s no denying that the Gunners haven’t excelled from a creative perspective since Arteta took over. Although, there are multiple factors as to why that is. It’s not merely the manager’s rigid patterns and predictability in the final third.</p> <p>There was a point where Arsenal were worryingly reliant on Kieran Tierney’s cut-backs as a means of chance creation. The emergence of Martin Odegaard last season, however, diversified their attack. The Gunners could reliably attack and create from the right half-space and both flanks.</p> <p>Now, we’re seeing even greater variety when Arteta’s side reaches the final third. The triangular rotations down the left and combinations between Odegaard and Saka look to have been taken further. With the additions of Jesus and Fabio Vieira, Arteta now boasts a host of forward-thinking players that are comfortable with operating in multiple zones.</p> <p>Thus, the front five in the 2-3-5 structure are all interchangeable and the players have the freedom to rotate with each other at will. This fluidity was on show against Sevilla as Jesus frequently drifted wide to disrupt Julen Lopetegui’s defensive block.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="tCNPaoKy3g"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/pitas-2022-23-premier-league-predictions/">PITA’s 2022/23 Premier League predictions</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/3-key-tactical-principles-arsenal-improve-2022-23/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/02/pitas-2022-23-premier-league-predictions/embed/#?secret=tCNPaoKy3g" data-secret="tCNPaoKy3g" width="500" height="282" title="“PITA’s 2022/23 Premier League predictions” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>The mutual understanding between Arsenal’s young attacking stars should see them evolve further in 2022/23 and make them one of the most watchable sides in the Premier League, if not Europe.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">