Arsenal Vs Leicester City: 5 things we learned – Positives despite disappointment

2. The high press is back

Mikel Arteta has been keen to implement a high-pressing defensive structure at Arsenal. As he stated after the victory over Wolves, however, in which the team stepped off the gas in the second half, he does not yet have the quality of personnel to play in that manner for a full 90 minutes. They have to manage the game in a more conservative manner.

On this occasion, though, the high press was back in full force. The front three worked immensely hard, pressing every Leicester touch. The back three pushed up, the wing-backs matched up against their opposite number, and Arsenal suffocated Leicester throughout the entire pitch. They became very difficult to play through and forced numerous turnovers through panicked, poor clearances.

In the second half, Arsenal dropped off a little more, especially following Eddie Nketiah’s red card. But it was noticeable how much more eager and intense they played without the ball before the break. Arteta wants his team to press high, and this was their most effective high press since the restart.