4 things Arsenal must do against Leeds to ensure Mikel Arteta’s side can secure three valuable Premier League points at Elland Road. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Arsenal have a remarkable opening presented to them to consolidate their top four berth as they head to Elland Road on Saturday to face a dreadfully depleted Leeds United.
With matches being postponed up and down the country as a result of multiple COVID absences, if it was judged on injuries instead then Leeds would have had their season cancelled.
Take a deep breath, as this is the list of absentees for Marcelo Bielsa to contend with: Luke Ayling, Charlie Cresswell, Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo, Jamie Shackleton, Kalvin Phillips, Daniel James, Rodrigo, and Patrick Bamford. A near full XI of first team players unavailable.
On the one hand you feel great sympathy for Leeds, then on the other you also question whether or not their swashbuckling style has left its mark on the squad’s fitness. Whatever the reasons, Arsenal shouldn’t care one bit.
4 things Arsenal must do against Leeds to ensure Mikel Arteta’s side can secure three valuable Premier League points at Elland Road
Fresh off the back of beating West Ham with one of the most complete performances since Mikel Arteta took charge, confidence will rightly be flowing as they make the venture north in one of the few Premier League fixtures yet to be postponed; touch wood, fingers crossed, etc.
Come full-time Arteta’s side will have played four more games than fellow European hopefuls Tottenham, which makes the table slightly misleading. But at some stage Spurs will have a clogged fixture list to catch up on and Arsenal can ramp up the pressure on their rivals to win their games in hand with their greater points total.
Injuries have played a significant role in Leeds’ worryingly poor season as they have clinched victory on only three occasions in 17 matches, and with a 7-0 embarrassment against Man City still lingering there is absolutely no excuse not to leave with three precious points.
Normally, clubs in disarray will see Arsenal on the fixture list and beam from ear to ear. This can’t keep happening. Nothing other than a win will be acceptable and in order to clinch it, there are a few things the team will have to do in west Yorkshire.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Pascal Struijk of Leeds United competes for a header with Ben White of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
1. Get the Ball in the Box
Like some old school football coach trying to gear up his Under-15s side as they chase an equaliser: ‘get the ball in the box’. It seems so simple.
There are a number of reasons why Arsenal need to be getting in the 18-yard area, with the most notable of all being the erratic and somewhat frantic nature of the Leeds players in that part of the pitch. They’ve already conceded three penalties this season, but it’s their general frailties at set pieces that can be exploited.
Every aspect of their side will be makeshift given the plethora of absences they’re dealing with, so there is real scope to add to their seven goals conceded from dead balls this season. They’re also generally a poor side in the air, winning the second fewest aerials of any side in the division, with their expected organisational issues set to add to that.
Only two sides have conceded more than Leeds’ 32 goals this season – which is obviously impacted by events at the Etihad – and their frail confidence is there to be attacked. If there is a free-kick, don’t be the hero and go for goal, get into on to Gabriel’s head.
Continued on next page…
#LEEARS</a></p>
<p>— Orbinho (@Orbinho) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"https://twitter.com/Orbinho/status/1471795054339661828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 17, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>4 things Arsenal must do against Leeds to ensure Mikel Arteta’s side can secure three valuable Premier League points at Elland Road</h2>
<p>Fresh off the back of beating West Ham with <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/encouraging-arsenal-trend-forming-arteta/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of the most complete performances</a> since Mikel Arteta took charge, confidence will rightly be flowing as they make the venture north in one of the few Premier League fixtures yet to be postponed; touch wood, fingers crossed, etc.</p>
<p>Come full-time <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-predicted-lineup-leeds-arteta/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arteta’s side</a> will have played four more games than fellow European hopefuls Tottenham, which makes the table slightly misleading. But at some stage Spurs will have a clogged fixture list to catch up on and Arsenal can ramp up the pressure on their rivals to win their games in hand with their greater points total.</p>
<p>Injuries have played a significant role in Leeds’ worryingly poor season as they have clinched victory on only three occasions in 17 matches, and with a 7-0 embarrassment against Man City still lingering there is absolutely no excuse not to leave with three precious points.</p>
<p>Normally, clubs in disarray will see Arsenal on the fixture list and beam from ear to ear. This can’t keep happening. Nothing other than a win will be acceptable and in order to clinch it, there are a few things the team will have to do in west Yorkshire.</p>
<div id="attachment_121851" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121851" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"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%2F1349245350-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Benji" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Pascal Struijk of Leeds United competes for a header with Ben White of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>1. Get the Ball in the Box</h2>
<p>Like some old school football coach trying to gear up his Under-15s side as they chase an equaliser: ‘get the ball in the box’. It seems so simple.</p>
<p>There are a number of reasons why Arsenal need to be getting in the 18-yard area, with the most notable of all being the erratic and somewhat frantic nature of the Leeds players in that part of the pitch. They’ve already conceded three penalties this season, but it’s their general frailties at set pieces that can be exploited.</p>
<p>Every aspect of their side will be makeshift given the plethora of absences they’re dealing with, so there is real scope to add to their seven goals conceded from dead balls this season. They’re also generally a poor side in the air, winning the second fewest aerials of any side in the division, with their expected organisational issues set to add to that.</p>
<p>Only two sides have conceded more than Leeds’ 32 goals this season – which is obviously impacted by events at the Etihad – and their frail confidence is there to be attacked. If there is a free-kick, don’t be the hero and go for goal, get into on to Gabriel’s head.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</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/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Getting the edge </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121826" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"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%2F1237251689-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Gabi" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli (C) celebrates with teammates and substitutes after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Take the Lead – It Will Help</h2>
<p>Leeds have only won three matches all season, and all three of those were when they got their noses in front: Watford, Norwich, Crystal Palace.</p>
<p>Compare that to when they’ve fallen behind and it makes for unwanted reading for those in west Yorkshire: in the 11 matches where Leeds have been trailing they’ve only managed to secure four points.</p>
<p>When they trail, they invariably lose. They haven’t won a single game this campaign in which the opposition have scored first. There have been a couple of last-second equalisers in home matches against Brentford and Wolves, but otherwise this confidence damaged side become entirely deflated as soon as they find themselves behind.</p>
<p>Good thing that Arsenal have found a knack of taking the lead in matches then, right?</p>
<p>Only the top three in the division having taken more leads than Arsenal’s 12, and the Gunners have gone on to win on nine of those occasions.</p>
<p>Statistically, if the visitors score the first goal they stand a far greater chance of clinching three vital <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a> points. Football is simple, sometimes.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</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/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. The switcheroo </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121852" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"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%2F1237254892-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, GX" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka gestures to the supporters after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. Manage the Transitions</h2>
<p>If your defensive setup is organised to manage the transitions then you stand an excellent chance of beating Leeds. It’s well known that their man-marking system can cause the occasional goal fest.</p>
<p>Win the ball and you’ve got grass to run into and numerical advantages to exploit, whereas lose it in dangerous areas and it’s likewise against you.</p>
<p>One of the more obvious alterations to make to this Arsenal team would be to bring Sambi Lokonga in for Granit Xhaka in midfield, especially with the new role he’s taking up alongside Thomas Partey.</p>
<p>Shaping up in more of a 4-3-3 system with Xhaka as a left-sided No. 8, the risks that come in transition with the Swiss more advanced can be exactly the openings that quick forward like Jack Harrison and Raphinha crave.</p>
<p>Arteta is woe to leaving his superhero out of the team and if he does field him then he will have to rework the system accordingly as it would be suicide to man-marki against Leeds with Partey asked to act as the solitary shield in front of the back four.</p>
<p>Defensive shape out of possession will more closely resemble a 4-4-2, but in possession the midfield have to keep a watchful eye on their spacings or else they’re playing with fire. The more mobile and press resistant Sambi feels like a wiser choice.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</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/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Make yourself known </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-120558" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"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%2F1235520421-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Gabriel" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel (L) and Arsenal’s English defender Ben White (R) celebrates their win in the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>4. Give White & Gabriel Options in Build Up</h2>
<p>Who wants to hear how Leeds set their teams up again? Nope, didn’t think so.</p>
<p>But the byproduct of their touch-tight man-marking approach – <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/leeds-arsenal-tactics-arteta-bielsa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as noted here</a> – is that it gives freedom to the opposition’s central defenders to carry the ball through the first line of press.</p>
<p>Using a solitary striker ensures one of the two opposing centre-backs (in a back four) is given those extra yards of grass before the trigger is pulled to close him down, something that will be music to Benjamin White’s ears. And he’ll know all about that very approach.</p>
<p>The only other time White has returned to Elland Road as an opposition player he actually featured in midfield for Brighton, yet coming up against opposition who will know his every strength means that it’s likely to be he who will be the subject of the striker’s marking.</p>
<p>Whether Gabriel or White take it in turns to be the starting point for attacks, they have to be given options on the ball. If Arteta is to go with a more fluid formation where Xhaka can drift off to the left then he has to have someone else coming into the midfield to provide the additional passing lanes for the central defenders.</p>
<p>The key is movement. Movement everywhere. When Leeds go touch tight then bodies need to come short to provide the diagonal options White loves to hit. When the ball goes to feet there has to be two options minimum to form triangles to go through the press.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Predicted lineup vs Leeds United" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-predicted-lineup-leeds-arteta/" 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/2021/12/17/arsenal-tactics-white-win-leeds/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/17/arsenal-predicted-lineup-leeds-arteta/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Predicted lineup vs Leeds United </a> </div>
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<p>White and Gabriel will crucial in this game and providing them with the tools they need to be decisive will be among the key tactical points worked on in the short days leading up to Saturday night.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
