[Thread] With Kai Havertz move to Arsenal looking imminent, here's a comprehensive thread — 23 Tweets and 1K+ Words — on another mercurial German talent arriving at Arsenal.
Was watching back the game and fell in love with this particular sequence, such an improvement from the Palace game.
Weighted passes, calculated risks, aggressive off the ball calm on it, multiple passing options, control and poise. Brilliant.
Saliba incredibly outpaces Nuñez and blocks off Salah's left, Rice maintained adequate separation to delay Salah's pass, Raya makes himself big forcing Trent to go over him.
Trent should have still scored but Arsenal forced the error.
[Thread] With Arsenal agreeing a deal for Jurriën Timber with Ajax, they have put in another step towards their aim this summer — adding depth and versatility to the squad.
An extensive thread — 30 Tweets and over 1K words — of what Timber is bringing to Arsenal.
Arteta froze out a player of Özil's stature, also Arsenal's high grosser at that time, when his side was struggling to create, exiled his best striker and the captain while Arsenal were in a Top 4 race.
You don't get more ruthless than that.
He single handedly stopped the City counter, forced City back without making a foul.
Declan Rice isn't just a destroyer, he's a genius at knowing when to jump in and when to jockey.
Uses his aura best.
Declan Rice: "I was never going to celebrate. My nan and grandad are not here anymore and I think it would have been disrespectful to them." [
@beINSPORTS_EN
]
If Holding holds the same line as Gabriel, he can close down Alcaraz before he assists the second Southampton goal.
I'm fine if he can't make the recovery run holding a high line but Holding HAS to squeeze the space or Arsenal will keep conceding these cheap transitional goals.
Kudos to Arteta today.
He lifted a nervous team through his substitutions.
Bringing Zinchenko and the forwards on was a clear message and it translated into a more confident performance.
They've learned valuable experience at the cost of a draw, I would take that.
Bukayo Saka's biggest strength is his heart.
Premier League is a ruthless league but to have the heart and courage to try and attack the box every time you pick up the ball is incredible.
One of the nicest guys around but that guy becomes a monster on the pitch.
🗣️ "We deserved a lot more at Arsenal. You can see we are progressing against a good Arsenal."
Erik ten Hag felt the minimum that Manchester United deserved at Emirates was a draw
A byproduct of Raya's box dominance against crosses and corners is his ability to initiate counter attacks.
Enjoy 2 minutes of David Raya's proactivines.
While scouting, don't fall for the stats to profile a player.
Stats represent what a player does, not what he can do.
A player's actions are governed by his role in the tactical system and it might give you a false/incomplete impression.
I'll take the example of Caicedo. [1/6]
I like Ange and his metamorphic influence at Spurs is undeniable but just feel they're getting too enthusiastic about 4 wins and 2 draws in 6 games — that's a mini crisis at Arsenal.
Arteta's biggest strength and weakness since the last season is that he wants to play the same way irrespective of the XI.
We lost the Brighton game because we played the way Gabriel, Xhaka and Ødegaard do but with Holding, Lokonga and Vieira.
Xhaka had a great game vs the Foxes but his movement — which should not be seen in isolation — was far more intelligent than just going from box to box.
- Movement in sync with Zinchenko & Martinelli.
- Constant LHS triangle.
- GX playing 8, LB, LW.
#AFC
I guess I muted this at the right time, never knew I would get hate for a stat lol.
But lemme make an effort to explain the metric here — Field tilt is to possession what the xG/xA value it to chance creation, it provides context and informs about the quality of possession.
[Thread] Jose Mourinho once said that there isn't even a bad copy of Mesut Özil in world football, well now there is one and in Ozil's own words, he might even be better than himself.
So how does Barcelona's interest and Güler's profile actually align with Xavi's system?
What could have been a counter for West Ham was just a throw-in thanks to KT's commitment and guess what happened next? Arsenal win back possession and score the second goal, look at the crowd's reaction.
The agenda against him is really unwanted.
Arteta should create training sessions where Rice is not allowed to carry the ball at all.
Make him find passing solutions in difficult situations and it'll ramp up his development by many folds.
Just Gabriel pressing Evan Ferguson into his own penalty box.
Such commitment is required when you're covering as much space as Arsenal's CBs usually do on their own — virtually the whole breadth of the pitch.
Summing up the most interesting facets of Arsenal's match against Leicester City in this sequence:
• Jorginho the Orchestrator.
• Trossard dropping deep to allow +1 advantage.
• Arteta's tactical tweak to deploy minimum width.
Focus on Havertz's movement.
Jumps deep and long continuously, making a nuance of himself for the CB.
Unsettling the CB, he eventually makes the run and gets the timing spot on.
Lovely pass to cap it off, there's so much he offers in a single sequence.
Smith Rowe vs Palace
In a short cameo, he displayed qualities Arsenal have been missing.
Consistent central reception, btl combination play — unlike Arsenal's first choice 8s, ESR played through the block, adding fluidity to the play.
Proper No.10 play
[Thread] Kai Havertz Out of possession (OOP) impact.
OOP contributions, especially for forwards, are often difficult to measure and keep an account off through the pace of the game.
In this thread, I'll try and make a case for Havertz's impact OOP and why it's valued by Arteta.
Vincent Kompany: If you end up going wide, you commit all the way use the best defender in the team — the touchline, commit all the way no foul but commit all the way, because there's pressure on the ball he's got his head down.
Trossard made 4 Progressive passes against Leicester in 69 mins.
A feat Nketiah only achieved once since taking over from Jesus post WC while playing the full 90 — Arsenal's issues against deep blocks required something different from their CF and Leo delivered exactly that.
Watched the Leicester game back.
The first 70 minutes clearly showed why Arsenal aren't too far from moving on from Xhaka and the last 20 showed why they haven't moved on yet.
Arsenal are buying a monster of an athlete, a 22-year-old with an aura.
Playing in Italy, made for the Premier League.
Front-footed hybrid FB, strong build yet agile, defensively solid yet explosive going forward.
This is Arteta's Lisandro Martinez deal coming true but better.
For me, Gabriel Martinelli is going to be our most important player until the end of the season.
He shows no emotions whatsoever, just brushes aside any mistakes and keeps going at it — exactly what's required.
Saka follows him closely but those two are the key.
[Thread] How Arteta tweaked Arsenal's rest defense shape to counter Spurs' threat.
Arsenal usually field a 4-4-2 rest defense with the two wingers dropping back into the midfield and Ødegaard join the CF up top.
However, against Spurs they played a 5-3-2 rest defense, but why?
Was watching back the Newcastle game and I loved this bit from Saka.
• Slows down to make Burn lose his acceleration.
• Open up his body indicating he might cut inside to get Burn flat footed.
• Then uses his short burst of pace to create separation.
Some of Arsenal's box entries in the final 30 minutes against Luton.
The variation of play — utilising both wings, positional interchanges, general fluidity — all promising.
Finally 'clicking' offensively. (Re-Uploaded)
Arsenal emptying the central zone through two high gravity players opening up space for Rice to exploit and putting runners ahead of him — emerging as a consistent pattern.
These localised overloads are a potent offensive threats.
Some of Arsenal's box entries in the final 30 minutes against Luton.
The variation of play — utilising both wings, positional interchanges, general fluidity — all promising.
Finally 'clicking' offensively.
I don't think Arsenal would sign Trossard if they weren't challenging for the title.
They have to walk a tight rope between adding more impetus to Arsenal's title bid and leaving enough in the bank for a marquee signing in summer and this deal balances their interests well.
Being saying it for a while, the closer Jesus and Havertz play to each other the more Arsenal will get out of both of them.
Twice they combined against Brentford, twice it ended in a shot.
Those off the ball runs from Vieira had me dropping my jaw, here I was profiling him as simply a deep creator while he's adding different dimensions to his game.
Proper Arsenal player now.
Arsenal lost the key duels of the game — Saka vs LBs, Martinelli vs Konate, Jesus vs VVD, Zinchenko vs Salah.
Structurally a far superior side but individually Liverpool aced Arsenal.
That's where we draw the game.
Someone on the commentary said it's like Arsenal are playing in boxes and I can't agree more.
Rice's dynamism, playing as a 6, has added another vertex for Arsenal to counter teams overloading their right wing.
The next step of progression for Nketiah is learning how to offer himself for the others' cause — something Jesus excels at.
Taking this scenario as an example, Trossard is isolated out wide and both, Xhaka and Zinny, are in the midfield. There is clear space to make a decoy...
His passes for Martinelli are way better than anything I've seen from Zinchenko or Gabriel in that position.
Needs to improve on his 1v1 defending but you won't put it beyond a 24yo.
He's phenomenal in other defensive aspects though — closing down, spacial coverage, all top.
Gabriel Martinelli take-ons completed:
Before the World Cup: 28 in 14 games (2.13 per 90)
After the World Cup: 5 in 7 games (0.82 per 90)
He hasn't become a bad player over a month's time, yes teams have doubled up on him more often lately but he's certainly missing Jesus.
Arsenal's second half analysis is...they were a second slower at everything.
Leeds didn't afford them much time to ponder on the ball and they simply couldn't make decisions on the ball quickly enough.
Arteta was right, these players were jaded.
KT is not just back to his best, he's better.
Whether to play a pass through the half-space for Xhaka or put a cross in for Nketiah, he's making good decision and making them quickly.
Zinchenko's singing has brought the best out of him and it says a lot about his character.
It took Spurs an own goal in the 96th minute to win against 9 men.
Been saying it for a while, they don't have too many arrows in the quiver when you don't bait for their press. Fewer minerals than Brighton—lack 1v1 specialist out wide and their only settled defense breaker is
Lokonga, Kiwior and Vieira — three players signed by Edu, all of em about to leave the club or already left.
Arteta's game modal is stringent on the physical profile — agility and strength a is must.
Anyone that doesn't fit in physically, is out of the door.
Havertz and Trossard make up for the most complete CF profile, they have EVERYTHING.
Ball striking (Trossard), target man (Kai), link-up play (Trossard), off the ball runs (Kai).
Using them together as dual false 9s is the meta of Arsenal's fluidity.
Only notice Ødegaard in this sequence.
Works hard to show up for the ball, dancing around the pitch.
As soon as gets on the ball Arsenal have a shot on target within 3 passes.
Key to our build-up.
Havertz's dual movement did Dunk there for the goal.
• Shapes up for a run outside of Dunk when he was scanning.
• Stays on the blind side of the CB until the last moment.
• Bends his run inside instead, just had to reach for the cross then, and he did.
Elite box movement.
🎥 Leandro Trossard vs Fulham:
• Dropping deep to break Fulham's block.
• Deft touches to progress through layoffs.
• Intelligent runs to manufacture space for those around.
• Counter movements with Martinelli occupying space generated by Trossard.
Excited for Calafiori tbh, he's the glitch in the system.
The kind of player Arteta can only orchestrate to a certain extent.
Arsenal need someone who can shake things up when it doesn't go to plan.
He's that guy, can see him winning us crucial points.
I'm certain Partey will play a significant role in Arsenal's knockout journey in the CL.
While Ødegaard has been a revelation in the deeper role but OOP he is susceptible to getting absolutely rinsed in duels as Barkley displayed against Luton.
Rice, Partey, Ødegaard.
Nah, this guy's footballing IQ is beyond normal.
Not sure how many saw that run he made for Jesus' goal—he was dropping deep but realised how high PSV's def line was and instead attacked the space behind.
Beyond brilliant.
89th minute, 3-1 up, dominating the game and there's Eddie Nketiah chasing down Saka's misplaced pass.
No wonder Arteta praises his work ethic every other week, Eddie embodies Arteta's expection of his players.
Gavi has the potential to become an all-phase midfielder.
Out-of-possession he's already good enough in all phases, in-possession I think he's quite underrated in the way he can receive and distribute the ball in and around the half-space. [1/3]
Gavi has to be the biggest enigma in world football currently.
I have a reliable method of profiling players, usually I am able to come to a conclusion within watching a few 90s.
With Gavi, I simply can't profile his role in the midfield irrespective of how much I watch of him.
Yes, please!
Would be a lovely back-up to Partey for a potentially nominal fee.
One of the best passers around and his defensive positioning is excellent. Lacks athleticism but playing in Arsenal's possession based system will help his cause.
🚨 Arsenal among clubs exploring possibility of signing Jorginho from Chelsea. Italy midfielder’s contract up in summer +
#CFC
open to exit (may depend on Enzo Fernandez). 31yo one of options
#AFC
have expressed interest for. W/
@gunnerblog
@TheAthleticFC
If Arsenal do end up selling Kieran Tierney next season, Pervis Estupiñán will be a wonderful replacement.
He provides the perfect balance between maintaining a similar technical level as Zinchenko while providing a different in-possession value than the Ukrainian.
William Saliba can easily be CL quality right-back.
The agility and pace he carries with that frame is a phenomenon in itself.
Most CBs of his size would tear up doing some of the faints he did today.
Havertz's output at the end of the season wouldn't justify his price tag.
But his value to this side in games like these is easily of a £65m player, against CB of great ego players of Kai's ilk are of tide turning potential.
Yes injuries happen but this was worse.
We lost the EXACT set of players that were brought in for this type of game, the only two runners in that midfield.
No Zinchenko, an undercooked Jesus and Sterling, kids on the bench, we weren't meant to win this.
So proud of this team.
The referee was still plugged to his in-ear mic seeking confirmation for the crucial penalty decision. The camera swiftly panned to Arsenal's leaders, Jesus and Ødegaard, engaged in intense discussion. Meanwhile, the commentators eagerly informed the viewers that it was Saka
4-0 win, kudos to the forwards but William Saliba was my MOTM.
Arsenal's press was insanely aggressive and every time he was stepping up and defending the space White was vacating, competing against the long balls and duels (won ALL his duels!) with utmost dominance and his body
He has been playing game after game, Arsenal were 4-0 up, he had just scored his goal but the effort he was willing to put in at this stage of game is what earns him that captain's band.
Phil Foden, Declan Rice & Virgil Van Dijk have been the best players for the three title contenders.
#MCFC
#AFC
#LFC
Whoever takes their team to the title, will probably take himself to the PFA POTY award!
2-2-6 is not Arsenal's future, it's a game-state formation which we might see time to time against low blocks but no manager wants to leave their team vulnerable to counters and no two players can cover the width of the pitch no matter how you put them in a line.
Ben White has done exactly what he has done all throughout his career at Arsenal — uplifted his game to another level.
He is Arteta's delight, a player of high technical ceiling who is a true student of the game and grasps Arteta's tactical variations with ease and at pace.
Two structural changes I would like to see at Arsenal:
• Sister-club system where we can give talents game time and develop them in accordance to our philosophy.
• A hybrid transfer model of a superclub and a self-sustaining club where they sell second tier talents on profits.
That is why Arteta wants Havertz at 8.
Not many No.8s in the world can give you that level of aerial dominance, off the ball workrate and combination play as Havertz did in that first half.
Loved every bit of this *version* of Havertz.
A perfect game of chess is always a draw—between Arsenal and City it was about finding that moment of imperfection in the other team.
In football, the greatest probability of a flaw comes in isolation.
That long ball into Tomiyasu and then Havertz pinning the ball down isolated
As a footballer, Thomas Partey is a flawed genius.
He has mistakes in him and those who don't rate him tend to concentrate on that.
But his ability to break defensive lines, put unnatural curve to his passes and weigh his passes to perfection is beyond brilliant.
Arsenal's diamond in all its glory.
They keep emptying the midfield in order to play 'around the block' through their midfield while opening up central passing lanes into their front-line to play 'through the block'.
An attempt at getting the best of both worlds.
I'll be honest, I'm taking being the best defensive side of the league over the best attacking side all day.
Attack wins you games, defense wins you titles.
Martin Ødegaard ranks 2nd for most progressive passes in the Premier League, and 3rd for most key passes this season.
Excelling at two categories from different phases tells how CRACKED he has been this season.
Multi-phase impact. Incredible footballer.
It was a good tactical showdown today.
Arsenal-City won't ever be as entertaining as CityPool largely because it simply lacks the enormous gulf in style of play that CityPool had but tactically it's gonna be a treat for us nerds.
To many more of these.
I have had volume stats thrown at me every time I appreciated Xhaka's defensive workrate when it's actually not the volume but the potential threat of a situation that matters in a defensive transition.
A good example of that when the match was still 0-0.