Arsenal: 4 things we have to see from Mikel Arteta’s side vs Aston Villa as three Premier League points are vital on Friday night. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Who ever thought Friday night football was a bright idea? Monday night football is more than enough, and only occasionally, so for Arsenal to take on Aston Villa in two weekday slots is both unjust and unwarranted.
There is nothing that can be done about it, and Mikel Arteta refused to use it as an excuse despite the peculiarity of it, with all from the home side hoping for no repeats of the last time they played in London on a Friday night.
Arsenal were desperately far off where they needed to be against Crystal Palace. Having had the additional resting time after the international break and no European football up until this point, there is no excuse for what came across as a mentally fatigued performance.
Relinquishing possession, pressure and positivity to their opponents around the 15-minute mark, pass sequences dropped and the return of stupid decision making in possession settled into the players’ minds.
Arsenal: 4 things we have to see from Mikel Arteta’s side vs Aston Villa as three Premier League points are vital on Friday night
Hopelessly off the mark, victory over Villa on Friday is paramount. Absolutely nothing else will suffice. Palace was the first of two Premier League matches on home soil against sides below Arsenal in the table. Six points was the minimum, which has now been unacceptably reduced to four.
Anything remotely similar to the 70 or so minutes in the middle of Monday’s game will see Arteta’s side scoop the solitary point from these two fixtures. Boasting an abysmal home record under this manager – 17 wins, 6 draws and 10 defeats in 33 matches – the visit of Dean Smith’s side, who’ve beaten Arsenal in the last three meetings without conceding, presents a daunting task.
It shouldn’t do as Villa have been defensively poor all season and have shown frailties from set pieces, but these aren’t strengths of Arsenal’s. They don’t test teams enough and set pieces are merely exercises to hand the ball back to the opponent in the meekest manner possible.
A lot has to change. A significant amount of improvement has to be on show as the excuses for Arteta have ran out. Palace weren’t great against Arsenal but Patrick Vieira showed what he can do with a squad of players he’s barely got to know. That period is over for the Spaniard. He needs the results and the performances. He’s getting neither.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Thomas Partey of Arsenal warms up ahead of the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
1. Thomas Partey Partnered in Midfield With Sambi Lokonga
There are matches where Thomas Partey can hold the midfield all on his own. Playing two attacking No. 8’s is a strategy that can have huge benefits, so long as the players operating in those roles are comfortable with them.
Martin Odegaard is someone who can feature as a one, so too Emile Smith Rowe. But what are their specific tasks within that system? For the Norwegian, someone who has a penchant for operating in the right half-spaces and delivering left-footed passes from angles he’s comfortable with, should not be told to drift into the Granit Xhaka-like left-back role.
Smith Rowe has found a freedom playing as a left forward who has width added by the movements of his left-back. It means he can make his clever runs and carry the ball. Shifting him out to the right of those No. 8’s and being asked to tandem with Nicolas Pepe, a duo that has barely had time to gel, adds risks and limitations on his qualities.
And as seen against Crystal Palace, Odegaard playing as the central midfielder who covers the left and occasionally ventures forward is asking too much of him: he isn’t comfortable in his positioning and, crucially, it limits Partey’s options in possession.
Against a side like Villa who have a neat balance in midfield with Douglas Luiz and John McGinn in the pivot with a pressing No. 10 in front, the same issues will return to the fore.
Putting Sambi Lokonga in there will allow Arsenal to build passing sequences and reduce the risk of being played through centrally. Partey and Odegaard have been poor two matches running, of this there is no escaping, but they aren’t helped by systematic implementations that ask too much.
Continued on next page…
@SwedishRoss) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"https://t.co/4gOpLWTjiR">https://t.co/4gOpLWTjiR
<p>— Pain In The Arsenal (@PainInThArsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"https://twitter.com/PainInThArsenal/status/1451225454229213185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 21, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>Arsenal: 4 things we have to see from Mikel Arteta’s side vs Aston Villa as three Premier League points are vital on Friday night</h2>
<p>Hopelessly off the mark, victory over Villa on Friday is paramount. Absolutely nothing else will suffice. Palace was the first of two <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a> matches on home soil against sides below Arsenal in the table. Six points was the minimum, which has now been unacceptably reduced to four.</p>
<p>Anything remotely similar to the 70 or so minutes in the middle of Monday’s game will see Arteta’s side scoop the solitary point from these two fixtures. Boasting an abysmal home record under this manager – 17 wins, 6 draws and 10 defeats in 33 matches – the visit of Dean Smith’s side, who’ve beaten Arsenal in the last three meetings without conceding, presents a daunting task.</p>
<p>It shouldn’t do as Villa have been defensively poor all season and have shown frailties from set pieces, but these aren’t strengths of Arsenal’s. They don’t test teams enough and set pieces are merely exercises to hand the ball back to the opponent in the meekest manner possible.</p>
<p>A lot has to change. A significant amount of improvement has to be on show as the excuses for Arteta have ran out. Palace weren’t great against Arsenal but Patrick Vieira showed what he can do with a squad of players he’s barely got to know. That period is over for the Spaniard. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/20/arsenal-aston-villa-preview-arteta-job/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">He needs the results and the performances</a>. He’s getting neither.</p>
<div id="attachment_120208" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-120208" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"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%2F1347313427-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Partey" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Thomas Partey of Arsenal warms up ahead of the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>1. Thomas Partey Partnered in Midfield With Sambi Lokonga</h2>
<p>There are matches where Thomas Partey can hold the midfield all on his own. Playing two attacking No. 8’s is a strategy that can have huge benefits, so long as the players operating in those roles are comfortable with them.</p>
<p>Martin Odegaard is someone who can feature as a one, so too Emile Smith Rowe. But what are their specific tasks within that system? For the Norwegian, someone who has a penchant for operating in the right half-spaces and delivering left-footed passes from angles he’s comfortable with, should not be told to drift into the Granit Xhaka-like left-back role.</p>
<p>Smith Rowe has found a freedom playing as a left forward who has width added by the movements of his left-back. It means he can make his clever runs and carry the ball. Shifting him out to the right of those No. 8’s and being asked to tandem with Nicolas Pepe, a duo that has barely had time to gel, adds risks and limitations on his qualities.</p>
<p>And as seen against Crystal Palace, Odegaard playing as the central midfielder who covers the left and occasionally ventures forward is asking too much of him: he isn’t comfortable in his positioning and, crucially, it limits Partey’s options in possession.</p>
<p>Against a side like Villa who have a neat balance in midfield with Douglas Luiz and John McGinn in the pivot with a pressing No. 10 in front, the same issues will return to the fore.</p>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/18/arsenal-player-ratings-crystal-palace/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Putting Sambi Lokonga in there</a> will allow Arsenal to build passing sequences and reduce the risk of being played through centrally. Partey and Odegaard have been poor two matches running, of this there is no escaping, but they aren’t helped by systematic implementations that ask too much.</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/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. The right frame of mind </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-120125" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"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%2F1347492576-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Laca" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Mental Resilience When Taking the Lead</h2>
<p>The caveat? Arsenal have to actually take the lead first.</p>
<p>Working on the basis that they might on Friday, entering the same frame of mind as they had done upon going 1-0 up against Palace will be their undoing. What Arsenal don’t do is play like they’re losing 1-0 when they are in fact winning 1-0. Changing that around might be a good idea.</p>
<p>The impetus, choice of pass and movements come as some form of mental block. In the second half against Palace the players operated in advanced roles, taking the game to the opposition more than before, but it shouldn’t require a half-time debrief to rectify.</p>
<p>Especially when you’re at home, the decision to ease off in a positive game state is baffling. The crowd gets edgy, the opposition grow in confidence and the self-belief drains from the players with each failed attempt to play out and resulting attack from the visitors.</p>
<p>Why is there this weakness? Arsenal went into Monday’s game with many of their stars enjoying a prolific international break, and having gone five matches unbeaten in all competitions, to slow the pace as that did and retreat into their shells demonstrates a fear within the players.</p>
<p>Going gung-ho for 90 minutes is obviously physically impossible and shouldn’t be attempted, but finding a balance of approach that isn’t a low block, two banks of four, defensive shape nor an unrelenting 3-2-5 has to be worked on.</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/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. One player who needs to step up </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-120118" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"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%2F1235968794-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Mo" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. Martin Odegaard Taking Some Initiative</h2>
<p>Odegaard is still only 22 years old. This is someone who has never had the chance to fully settle on a club and city having been flung around on loan numerous times over the course of his career.</p>
<p>He’s here now in the Premier League, somewhere he knows well, and will continue to excite and delight for the remainder of his time at the club.</p>
<p>That isn’t happening at the moment.</p>
<p>A dazzling display against Tottenham that was all the hallmarks of his talent indicated precisely why he is was a snip at £30m and why Arteta was so hell-bent on signing him. He was the glue that held the team together. He connected all the dots and performed the role of a No. 10 excellently.</p>
<p>None of which has been on show in the previous two matches. Odegaard’s touch has abandoned him and the standout fear over him as a player has come to the fore: he goes missing when Arsenal aren’t in control.</p>
<p>If Arsenal are in possession and command there are few better young playmakers you want in your team to ensure all parts function in accordance with one another. Knowing when to hold the ball for two extra touches, who to play in when transitioning and whether a first time pass is the right port of call, Odegaard can do all in silky fashion.</p>
<p>Then when Palace got a foothold his physical profile meant he vanished gradually with each pass around him. These are the points in matches when you need someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck: forcing the issue, playing a particular pass or being gritty in the challenges. This is where he is guilty of getting lost.</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/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Just do it </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-120110" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"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%2F1347338229-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Auba" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>4. Be More Aggressive & Press the Opposition</h2>
<p>There is no excuse on the planet for Arsenal only being able to sustain periods of pressure for a maximum of ten minutes. No reasonable supporter is demanding full throttle pressing from the first to the last minute, but they are crying out for a side who struggle to create chances through picture perfect play to seek new routes to goal.</p>
<p>Arteta has a wealth of players suited to broken, unstructured play who can not only press and counter-press efficiently, but also be quick in transitional play. Someone like Pepe would thrive in those situations with grass to run into and his path to goal not blocked off by an entire starting lineup as he stands with chalk on his boots.</p>
<p>There is a metric known as PPDA (passes allowed per defensive action), which is used to measure the quantity of pressing a team does or does not engage in. In short, PPDA is essentially the number of passes a team will allow to be completed before attempting a defensive action. So, a lower PPDA indicates a stronger press, and vice versa.</p>
<p>A peek at the graph below is harrowing.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's *another* viz showing why Manchester City and Liverpool are *good* <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"https://t.co/p5IXoZadwF">pic.twitter.com/p5IXoZadwF
<p>— Ninad Barbadikar (@NinadB_06) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"https://twitter.com/NinadB_06/status/1450884978225602568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 20, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Arsenal don’t have to be an all-out pressing team. But to avoid utilising this approach more when there are key attacking members of the squad who would benefit greatly from trying to win the ball back high up the pitch – as well as having players who <em>can </em>win the ball back high up the pitch is a huge oversight.</p>
<p>Having two athletic midfielders in Sambi and Partey who are adept at tackling dribblers would also be a nudge in the direction of pressing more, but alas, the manager seems to think otherwise.</p>
<p>Arsenal struggle to create chances. Higher pressing is one of the best ways to create chances. What if it was McArthur and Luka Milivojević who were getting the ball pinched off them on Monday? Arsenal have forwards who would put those chances away.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="The sin of being outworked" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-outworked-aston-villa-sin/" 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/2021/10/22/arsenal-4-things-vital-arteta-villa/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/22/arsenal-outworked-aston-villa-sin/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> The sin of being outworked </a> </div>
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<p>Instead, it’s pass, pass, pass, corner, and relinquish possession (sort of hyperbolic, but not really).</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
