Arsenal Tactics Talk: Building from the back showing signs of life

Building from the back is showing signs of life. Changes in goal, forced or otherwise, and in defensive midfield, have helped Arsenal better keep their shape in recent matches. It must be said, Unai Emery is getting his tactics right.

If you are willing to count Arsenal‘s third from the 5-1 win against Fulham, which began with Hector Bellerin gaining possession on our end line, three of our goals can trace their DNA back to our own penalty area.

All five came from open play, as the majority of our goals this year have (15 of 19, to be more exact). And we built plenty more chances in front of their goal from the shadow of our own.

So pay no attention to detractors playing down Fulham’s survival hopes, or accentuating their make-shift back three: The Arsenal of old is no stranger to dropping points on the road before an international break. Job. Well. Done.

What has changed? Two things. The first is a Bernd Leno in goal. Leno, Lucas Torreira and Rob Holding have quietly developed a solid rhythm, and the tactics are clear: If teams commit to pressing early, Leno kicks it long. If they delay pressing, Holding launches a ball for Lacazette in midfield – this led to our first goal.

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Otherwise, we build. Good habits, all.

On a normal night, our fifth goal would have captured the headlines: a nineteen pass, match killing passage of play, replete with “Ole” raining down from the Arsenal supporters while Shkodran Mustafi and Granit Xhaka tapped the ball back and forth. Three Fulham players moved in to press, and, four passes later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took his chance with style.

Lure them in, make them move, carve them open.

And the second change? All signs point to the insertion of Lucas Torreira. His work rate, willingness to defend and overall tenacity gives opponents on the ball so much to think about. The knock on effect is that we are doing a better job keeping our shape defensively. This in turn allows us to immediately attack when we gain possession. It literally is that extra half step that separates one Premier League side from another.

Tactics aside, just knowing that level of commitment is guarding the space behind you can only build confidence. What say you?