Arsenal: Calum Chambers, David Luiz the Mikel Arteta beneficiaries

Mikel Arteta is helping Arsenal to play out from the back more effectively. The main beneficiaries? Calum Chambers and David Luiz, the two best passing centre-backs.

If there was one serious problem of Arsenal’s performances over the past few years, it would be the way in which they have played out from the back. Under Arsene Wenger, and then under the tutelage of Unai Emery, too, the Gunners consistently struggled to control matches as a result of their inability to break out of the high press.

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From the combinations that were instructed to the inability of the players themselves, Arsenal consisted of a series of underperforming elements that all comprised a team utterly unable to deal with, evade and eventually play through pressure.

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So, when Pep Guardiola assistant and coaching prodigy Mikel Arteta arrived in north London, someone steeped in playing out from the back successfully, it was hoped that the team would improve in this area. And, while the sample size is still very small, Arteta having been in charge for only two matches, the early signs are very positive indeed.

There were times in the draw to Bournemouth and defeat to Chelsea that Arteta saw his side stumble, the wrong pass made at the wrong time, an ill-advised decision committing a turnover, or a lack of quality inviting the opposition to intercept the ball, but on the whole, playing out from the back was conducted at a much higher level.

Most noticeably, the ball has moved at a much higher tempo than under Emery and Wenger. First-time passes are more prominent, there are greater options for the man in possession, who thereby does not hesitate to play forwards, thus increasing the speed of play, and the quality of the passes has improved, each individual playing them with zip and purpose, not rolling the ball across the pitch, taking two or three seconds longer to reach their intended target.

This improved playing out from the back was most prominent in the opening half-hour against Chelsea. It was Arsenal’s best period for some time. They dominated Chelsea, the high press suffocating Frank Lampard’s side’s efforts to progress play and their smart possession building attacks from deep and allowing them to control the game without turning over possession time and again.

Two players benefitted from Arteta’s influence most prominently: David Luiz, who has been excellent in both of Arteta’s matches thus far, and Calum Chambers, who played terrifically before suffering a nasty knee injury early in the Chelsea game which could keep him on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

While Sokratis might be a more natural defender and Rob Holding offer more composure and aerial dominance, the distribution skill of both Chambers and Luis makes them the ideal pair to execute Arteta’s system. Chambers’ prospects will be dented substantially by the injury, of course, but his approach to the position, one that focuses on excellent passing, composure on the ball, and progressive play in possession, as well as aggressive defensive decision-making and athleticism to cover the space, is one that Arteta will surely seek to find in the transfer window.

If Arteta can solve Arsenal’s playing out from the back, as the initial signs suggest he can, he will help the under pressure centre-backs no end. And Chambers, bar the injury, and Luiz will be the biggest benefactors of that.