Arsenal: Learning from England’s World Cup campaign

England’s performance at the World Cup was far perfect but did provide some learnings for Arsenal in terms of team makeup, spirit and tactical approach ahead of the new season.

Set Pieces: In the modern era, scoring goals from set pieces is seen as inferior to those constructed via tika-taka or passing combinations however England’s rehearsed routines, developed by Steve Holland, produced such empathetic results that historic snobbery is likely diminished whilst the stock of dead ball proficiency has risen.

There is no doubting Sweden specifically were intimidated by England’s delivery which meant a nervousness in their defending and an instant advantage to England. Set pieces have never been a strength of free-flowing Arsenal however is England’s success a catalyst for change?

Defenders who Defend: Harry Maguire was an unpopular choice before the World Cup started however his aerial dominance and willingness to defend through personal sacrifice was both important for connecting England supporters with the values of the team and in gaining results.

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Arsenal have attempted to address this through Sokratis, a proper defender, so it will be interesting to see if this breeds the same success and reengagement with supporters.

Balance: Southgate’s midfield consisting of Henderson, Lingard and Alli was not a lot of supporters preferred choice however it showed the benefits of a balance of attributes.

Alli’s late runs into the box were counterbalanced by Henderson’s discipline and grit which in turn was complemented by Lingard’s movement and energy. Ultimately the midfield trio probably lacked the game control and creativity against Croatia but this only heightens the argument for constructing a system that is well rounded.

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Sven Mislintat has taken a big step forwards in signing Lucas Torreria who will undoubtedly add midfield attributes, namely ball recovery and aggression, that have been lacking for a number of years.

Substance over Style: Kieran Tripper was arguably England’s most consistent player of the tournament with assured one on one defending combined with an attacking contribution that was full of output.

Whilst his natural build does not make him the quickest or strongest of full-backs, his quality of delivery and efficiency offsets a lack of natural athleticism. Arsenal have a tendency to select full backs who are biologically impressive, given the need to provide width to compensate for two inverted playmakers, however perhaps end product should be a higher priority.

Selecting on Form: Players like Maguire, Tripper and Henderson are not the most fashionable in profile or style of play, but Southgate’s decision to select in-form personnel was arguably the catalyst for such energetic and sharp performances.

Whilst not taking Jack Wilshere might go down in history as a mistake given his ability to control games and create, in general you cannot fault the strategy which saw England through to a World Cup semi-final for the first time in a generation. In recent years Arsenal have fielded a near impenetrable starting eleven regardless of form but perhaps it’s time to become more ruthless.

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Analysis is the art of evaluation and establishing meaning, good interpreters will then utilise such meaning to find self-benefit. Whilst England’s World Cup run did not lead to tournament success, the balanced makeup of the team, selection strategy and set-piece planning are all positives that can be learnt from and applied to ahead of Arsenal’s forthcoming season.