Arsenal: Ralph Hasenhuttl re-exposes Gunners’ key weakness

In Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat to Southampton on Sunday, the Saints’ high pressing suffocated the Gunners. Ralph Hasenhuttl re-exposed a key weakness of Unai Emery’s side.

The modern game has changed. How many times do you see a goalkeeper stood over a goal kick, the centre-backs split either side of the penalty area, two attackers stood in the half-space between the centre-backs and the full-backs, almost baiting the opposition to try and play out?

Find the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here – Assessing Unai Emery’s first term

Just two or three years ago, that picture was rarely seen in the game. And yet, in the current iteration of the sport, it is an extremely prevalent pattern. And for Arsenal, it has been a troubling, one that has seen them hemmed in their own half for extended periods of matches.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Those problems have existed for some time. Arsene Wenger lacked the necessary detail and spatial instruction, leaving his players to imaginatively break out of such pressure. That rarely ends well, with turnovers in dangerous areas committed with painful frequency. And it was a common issue for Arsenal in the final years of Wenger’s tenure.

With Unai Emery’s appointment in the summer, this was one of the key issues that many believed he needed to solve. The initial signs were worrying. Both Chelsea and Manchester City exposed the Gunners’ lethargic play deep in their own half, targetting Petr Cech and Granit in particular. But as Emery continued to work with his team and implemented patterns of play to break opponents’ pressing structures, his team became more comfortable with and more effective at building attacks from deep when under pressure.

However, in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Southampton, the difficulties against the high press again surfaced. Southampton, under the tutelage of Ralph Hasenuttl, a manager built very much in the ilk of Jurgen Klopp, renowned for his incessant, suffocating Gegenpressing, were able to control the game for long periods because of their high-intensity pressing.

This was especially true in the first half. While many critics of the Arsenal performance focused on the lapse defending, particularly for the opening two goals from crosses to Danny Ings’ forehead, what was more concerning and more detrimental to the match was their inability to exercise any semblance of control in the midfield because of their loose play in possession. In the first half, only Bernd Leno and Laurent Koscielny had a pass completion rate north of 90%.

This shortcoming is something that Hasenhuttl re-exposed. The improvements that had been made throughout the season had suggested that Emery may have solved the problem. But this match left no doubt: Arsenal still struggle to play with calmness, surety and progression when put under pressure. Admittedly, injuries played their part. Granit Xhaka was at centre-half, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis were both missing through suspension. But the problems are deeper rooted than just one or two players being absent.

This is perhaps the biggest weakness of this team. It is maybe Emery’s most pressing task. Without a solution, it is difficult to see how a top-four place will be possible. The game has moved on. It’s time for Arsenal to catch up.