Arsenal Vs Valencia: Here comes the counter-attack

On Thursday, Arsenal travel to Valencia for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with a 3-1 lead. What better game than to unleash their counter-attack.

Unai Emery has played his Arsenal team in a whole variety of systems, shapes and approaches this season. From a flat 4-4-2 to a 3-4-3, from the orthodox 4-2-3-1 to a box 4-2-2-2 shape, Emery has tried almost anything and everything at different parts of the season to get the best out of his squad. Inevitably, it has had varying degrees of success.

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But there is one element that we have not really seen mastered during the whole campaign, a particular tactic that this make-up of players should be able to master: the counter-attack. Well, perhaps on Thursday night, we might have a chance to witness it.

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Arsenal travel to Valencia for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final. It is a tie that they are in full control of after a 3-1 win at home in the first leg, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s third putting crucial daylight between the two teams. That first-leg result puts the Gunners in the perfect position to play on the counter-attack, knowing that they can approach the game fairly conservatively with a lead to sit on.

Emery has been keen for his team to press at the Emirates, but when on the road, has used a little more of a defensive set-up. That has predominantly failed, most notably against Leicester City two weeks ago, in large part because there has not been a consistent out-ball for the defenders and midfielders to find and release pressure. Lumping a long, aimless ball up to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to jump against a six-foot-plus defender, surprisingly, is not the wisest strategy.

There is nothing wrong with playing defensively, especially away from home, if you can do so without sacrificing your own attacking threat. Under Antonio Conte, Chelsea won the Premier League because of excellent counter-attacking — that was the beauty of the 3-4-3 shape that is now widely used throughout world football.

But if you play with a deep defensive line and concede possession to your opponents and you lack a pressure-releasing valve, you will get yourself in trouble. Quickly. And when Arsenal have played defensively, they have largely lacked that release ball that is so important. This, I am sure no one is surprised to learn, is what happens when you do not have any wingers — Eden Hazard and Pedro/Willian were Chelsea’s, for comparison.

Given the pair of strikers that Emery has at his disposal, however, you would think that this team might be better equipped to play on the counter than it has shown for much of the season. The speed and directness of Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette should cause issues on the break, as proven in the first leg with the opening goal. Those countering glimpses have been present this season, but they have not been consistent throughout the year.

I will be interested to see how Arsenal take on Valencia on Thursday. They are in the position and they have the ability to play defensively with a vicious counter-attack. But will they actually execute it? We will all find out in less than 24 hours.