Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal Vs Huddersfield Town: 5 things we learned – Iwobi dispels doubters

By Andrew Dowdeswell

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal scores his team's first goal under pressure from Terence Kongolo of Huddersfield Town during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Arsenal FC at John Smith's Stadium on February 9, 2019 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal scores his team's first goal under pressure from Terence Kongolo of Huddersfield Town during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Arsenal FC at John Smith's Stadium on February 9, 2019 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 09: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Arsenal FC at John Smith’s Stadium on February 9, 2019 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /

Arsenal travelled to bottom-of-the-league Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon in a ‘must-win’ fixture. Here are five things we learned from the 2-1 win.

It was enough. Just. It was a performance best described as clinical but unclean, Arsenal did enough to squeeze past Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon. First-half strikes from Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette put the Gunners ahead with a comfortable lead and a sound but limited second-half showing saw them through to full-time.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Man. Utd Madness; Transfer Travesty

Here are five things we learned from the 2-1 victory.

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 09: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal scores his team’s first goal under pressure from Terence Kongolo of Huddersfield Town during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Arsenal FC at John Smith’s Stadium on February 9, 2019 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 09: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal scores his team’s first goal under pressure from Terence Kongolo of Huddersfield Town during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Arsenal FC at John Smith’s Stadium on February 9, 2019 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /

5. Benefits of a one-striker system

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not travelling with the squad through illness, Unai Emery was able to play with a system that aligned more with what he wants to do: a lone centre-forward with proper width and control of the midfield. It was clear to see.

Arsenal’s most threatening attackers were Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. They benefitted from the freedom that the 3-4-3 shape affords them because of the foundation that a back three and a midfield provides and the presence of a lone centre-forward to play off. When a front two is used, space can become cramped and the efficacy of the wingers is diminished. Not here.

Arsenal were far from their best, but they did attack with great speed, clinical in the final third with neat interplay and fluent movement off the ball. It is no coincidence that this came in the first game that Emery played with a true lone striker. This summer may bring some difficult decisions.