Arsenal: Mikel Arteta can learn from Jurgen Klopp game management

Jurgen Klopp has implemented a greater game management at Liverpool. Mikel Arteta must now do the same at Arsenal, while still maintaining his hell-to-leather approach.

It sounds ridiculous to say given that they have not lost a match yet this season and have failed to win only one all year, but this year’s Liverpool team is not playing at as a high level as previous iterations under Jurgen Klopp. Their goal difference is only four better than Manchester City’s, they have not demolished teams like in previous years, and of their 20 victories this year, ten have been by just one goal.

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But while the performances might not be as exhilirating or heart-thumpingly raucous as previous years, the results have been historically brilliant. They now have more points over a 38-game span than any other team in the Premier League era, are on their way to bettering Manchester City’s 100 points two seasons ago, and could still go the entire season unbeaten.

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The reason for the improvements is their enhanced game management. While they may not be playing in the same rip-roaring fashion as last season or the year before, they are much more controlled and consistent. They know when to accelerate and when to simply contain matches. They do not have to push their foot to the floor in every minute of every match. Sometimes, Liverpool play within themselves, manage the game, and win as a result.

This is what Mikel Arteta must master at Arsenal. Obviously, at this early stage, he and his players are a long way off Klopp and Liverpool. The chasm has only grown this year. And there are plenty of foundational, philosophical, tactically-identifying processes that Arteta must first instil before he begins thinking about results. But as Saturday’s draw to Crystal Palace proved, this Arsenal team still need to learn how to manage games.

Arteta himself admitted as much after the much. Speaking to Arsenal.com this week, Arteta conceded:

"“I asked them to go 100 miles per hour to chase the ball, to be very aggressive when we didn’t have it, to win it back as quickly as possible and they tried to do that. We need to know that there are certain areas we can do it <…> It’s game management, it’s game moments, and we’ll get better at it. We need to know that at this type of ground, that we don’t want to put ourselves on the back foot in set-piece situations because they are really good and work a lot on it.”"

The Gunners were excellent in the opening half-hour. As has been the case in every Premier League match under Arteta thus far, they started very strongly. Palace were pushed deep into their own half, the ball moved throughout the pitch quickly and cohesively, the pressing was intense and coordinated. It looked like every Arteta-led performance thus far. And then it fell apart.

Arsenal did not take advantage of their dominance in the opening stages, failing to find that crucial second goal, and then they were unable to keep tabs on the game once Palace started pressing higher up the pitch. The equaliser came from a set-piece that they were not ready for, cheaply squandering yet another lead, and the team lacked professionalism and a ruthless, clinical streak to ensure the victory.

As the Arteta progresses, playing at ‘100 miles an hour’ cannot be the consistent strategy. It simply is not possible. Games must be managed; seasons must be controlled and navigated. To win trophies, restraint is required. Just ask Jurgen Klopp and his all-conquering Liverpool team.