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Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez unravel the regimented
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez were phenomenal in Arsenal’s FA Cup final win over Chelsea, unravelling the usually rigid and regimented Blues’ defensive structure.
Arsenal entered Saturday’s FA Cup final in need of their two star players turning up. Well, both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil certainly did that. Both have endured criticism and questioning this season – for very different reasons. Both have suffered frustration and times of poor form. Both have been praised for their work one week and vilified the next.
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However, in shifting to a 3-4-3 system as the season drew to a close, while Arsene Wenger proclaims that it was to provide a greater defensive rigidity and shape to the side, whether intentionally or not, he unleashed the very best of Ozil and Sanchez.
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In the two free-roaming, unshackled wide roles that both play, Wenger has provided them with the license to influence the game wherever they see fit. As the width, both from an attacking and defensive standpoint, comes from the two wing-backs, there is no requirement of Ozil or Sanchez to stay out wide simply to make the pitch big. They can move wherever they like. It makes them extremely dangerous.
This greater freedom was on full show in the remarkable 2-1 win over Chelsea. In the first half especially, both repeatedly received the ball in between the lines, shoulders square to the touchline such that they were able to spin immediately, drive at the back three and then find a pass or unleash a shot.
This is the position that Alexis Sanchez is receiving the ball in. Causing Chelsea nightmares in the inside left channel pic.twitter.com/EIwWs5qtIS
— Andrew Dowdeswell (@a_dowdeswell) May 27, 2017
Two passes later, Ozil receives the ball in this position, slides Danny Welbeck in, who Cahill halts. Ozil, Sanchez positions causing issues pic.twitter.com/0urjsc8yem
— Andrew Dowdeswell (@a_dowdeswell) May 27, 2017
It was in these positions that they were able to pull the Chelsea defence out of their usually so regimented and disciplined shape. With N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic wary of the extremely busy and relentless Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka dictating play from deep, neither were able to consistently keep tabs on Ozil or Sanchez. Likewise, none of the centre-halves wanted to push up into the space thanks to the pace of Danny Welbeck in behind, and Ozil and Sanchez were able to wreak havoc as a result.
The penetration that both were able to provide was extraordinary. Whether it be through their ingenuity with incisive passes or through piercing, darting runs off the ball, they were consistently able to engineer opportunities for themselves or for other in behind the Chelsea defence. It was this frequent threat in behind that ensured there was space in midfield areas with which the duo could work their magic.
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This was an excellent team performance from the Gunners, full of spirit, energy and, ultimately, quality. But it was the duo of Sanchez and Ozil that were the real unravellers of Chelsea’s system. Now Wenger just has to get them to stay.