LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on January 11, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: 5 things we learned – Old habits die hard
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: Lucas Torreira of Arsenal receives medical treatment during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on January 11, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
4. Lucas Torreira is important
The half-time withdrawal of Lucas Torreira had a noticeable impact on the Arsenal performance. While Matteo Guendouzi battled hard in the Uruguayan’s absence and certainly provides more drive in possession, the tidy passing and industrious tackling of the diminutive, snappy holding midfielder was missed.
Torreira suffered a blow to his back and head when jumping for a ball with teammate Nicolas Pepe just before half-time. The extent of the problem is not yet known, but the impact on the midfield is quite. The double-pivot of Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka has been exposed before and was again here.
Guendouzi lacks the positional discipline and wherewithal to anchor the midfield, while Xhaka’s immobility and one-footedness limits his true impact also. Torreira aids both of these issues. He sits deep, he shields the defence, he moves the ball quickly, and he has the speed to cover the ground. Arsenal missed him here, and will miss him if he is out for any period of time.
Arsenal came away from their Saturday lunchtime trip to Selhurst Park with a hard-earned point. Mikel Arteta’s team started dominantly, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sweeping a lovely move into the bottom corner. But as Palace started to press higher, the Gunners struggled to pass the ball as effectively. Jordan Ayew nabbed a deflected equaliser and Aubameyang was sent off, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/50242705">leaving the sides sharing a fair point</a>.</p>
<h2><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pain-in-the-arsenal-podcast-on-arsenal-fc/id1314514440?ign-mpt=uo%3D4%26amp%3Buo%3D4&mt=2%22>Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — The Rebuild 2.0</a></h2>
<p>Here are five things we learned from the 1-1 draw.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-97467" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1198812427-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on January 11, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>5. The Mikel Arteta definition grows</h4>
<p>For the first time all season, Arsenal named an unchanged team in two successive Premier League games. That it took until mid-January to achieve that feat is troublesome, to say the least. But under <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=mikel+arteta%22>Mikel Arteta</a>, there has been a much clearer and well-defined style that the team has taken to and is at least attempting to execute.</p>
<p>The 4-2-3-1 formation that morphs into a 4-4-1-1 out of possession and a 2-3-5 in possession, with a high-pressing approach on turnovers, quick interplay in deep areas to build up attacking moves, and the focus on getting Mesut Ozil into pockets of space in the right half-space, it is quite noticeable and evident what Arsenal are trying to do under Arteta.</p>
<p>Unai Emery’s greatest problem was his confusing instructions, largely because of his incessant tinkering, of personnel and system. Emery wanted his team to be adaptable, but he took it to an extent that they then did not know what to do. Clarity was painfully absent. But under Arteta, there is a plan, and it might just be a successful one.</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/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Lucas Torreira is important </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-97476" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1198829953-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: Lucas Torreira of Arsenal receives medical treatment during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on January 11, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>4. Lucas Torreira is important</h4>
<p>The half-time withdrawal of<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=lucas+torreira%22> Lucas Torreira</a> had a noticeable impact on the Arsenal performance. While Matteo Guendouzi battled hard in the Uruguayan’s absence and certainly provides more drive in possession, the tidy passing and industrious tackling of the diminutive, snappy holding midfielder was missed.</p>
<p>Torreira suffered a blow to his back and head when jumping for a ball with teammate Nicolas Pepe just before half-time. The extent of the problem is not yet known, but the impact on the midfield is quite. The double-pivot of Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka has been exposed before and was again here.</p>
<p>Guendouzi lacks the positional discipline and wherewithal to anchor the midfield, while Xhaka’s immobility and one-footedness limits his true impact also. Torreira aids both of these issues. He sits deep, he shields the defence, he moves the ball quickly, and he has the speed to cover the ground. Arsenal missed him here, and will miss him if he is out for any period of time.</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/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. The importance of line-breaking passes </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-97458" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1198815288-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: David Luiz of Arsenal arrives prior to the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on January 11, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>3. The importance of line-breaking passes</h4>
<p>Arsenal started superbly. They scored the opening goal with a sweeping move, pressed well to recover possession when they lost it, and moved it quickly when they did have it to break out of their own defensive third and control the game as a result.</p>
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<p>But as the first half wore on, especially in the latter 20 minutes, Crystal Palace stopped sitting off their visitors, pushed up the pitch, and pressed with more intensity. During this period, Arsenal struggled to play through Roy Hodgson’s side, an increasing number of passes played between the centre-backs and goalkeeper as a result.</p>
<p>Put simply, fewer forward balls were played into Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil, inviting pressure in deep areas, and eventually succumbing to lumped clearances which usually result in a turnover. But when Arsenal did have control of the game, it was often due to David Luiz, Lucas Torreira or Granit Xhaka playing forward passes to progress the play.</p>
<p>Playing out from the back is the correct approach from Mikel Arteta. Successful teams must be able to do it to control games. But it must also feature the right type of passes, passes to break opposition lines. Without them, the facade of control only grows.</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/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Full-backs impress again </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace battles for possession with Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on January 11, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>2. Full-backs impress again</h4>
<p>If there were any individuals to come out of Saturday’s draw in a positive mood regarding their own performances, it should be the two full-backs, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=sead+kolasinac%22>Sead Kolasinac</a> on the left and<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=ainsley+maitland-niles%22> Ainsley Maitland-Niles</a>. Both ‘reserves’ at the position impressed mightily and are pushing hard for a starting role.</p>
<p>Kolasinac was the more offensive of the pair, pushing into a left-wing position when Arsenal had safe possession of the ball. He was also the primary outlet, with Granit Xhaka and David Luiz both finding him on several occasions with spraying passes from deep.</p>
<p>Maitland-Niles was equally as influential. He stuck to his Wilfried Zaha task superbly, which is one of the most difficult one-on-one assignments in the Premier League, and was tidy and composed in possession as always. While Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney will be waiting in the wings to return from injury, if Kolasinac and Maitland-Niles perform like this, they might not be handed their starting roles as many assume.</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/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Old habits die hard </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 11: Jordan Ayew of Crystal Palace celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on January 11, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>1. Old habits die hard</h4>
<p>Mikel Arteta has spoken at length about changing the culture, the atmosphere and the belief in the dressing room. For all of the talk about the Pep Guardiola-inspired tactics and improved individual coaching, Arteta’s prime focus has centred on the attitude of the players, especially when they are defending.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>While the high-pressing approach still paid dividends at times here, the vulnerabilities in defence were still present. Crystal Palace’s equaliser stemmed from a deep freekick where Arsenal were not organised to prevent the short pass and then far too slow to react in the penalty area, Granit Xhaka unable to close down the shot and David Luiz turning his back as he made a pitiful attempt to block Jordan Ayew’s effort.</p>
<p>The Arsenal defence is still creaky. The greater intensity of the frontline when pressing and structure of the central midfield has helped hide these deficiencies, but when the back four is asked to block out opponents for long periods, they begin to falter.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: Player ratings" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-crystal-palace-player-ratings-3/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace-5-things-learned-old-habits-die-hard/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/01/11/arsenal-crystal-palace-player-ratings-3/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: Player ratings </a> </div>
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<p>And it all starts with concentration, communication, and organisation. I guess old habits really do die hard.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
