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Arsenal: 3 ways Mikel Arteta masterplan came to fruition

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Mikel Arteta (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Mikel Arteta (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 18: Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City and Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal battle for the ball during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matthew Childs/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 18: Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City and Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal battle for the ball during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matthew Childs/Pool via Getty Images) /

2. The Maitland-Niles inclusion

Mikel Arteta was aware of the threat that City’s two brilliant wide players, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, pose, especially when in one-on-ones.

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This season, Mahrez has been particularly brilliant. His speed, agility, skill, and balance make him extremely difficult to contain in one-on-one situations. His left foot is deadly when he cuts inside, but he is also able to use that threat as a bluff, sometimes cutting inside before then shifting the ball back to the outside, unbalancing the defender and skipping past.

To counter this, Arteta dropped Sead Kolasinac from the starting XI, moved Kieran Tierney into left centre-back, a full-back who is used to one-on-one battles with opposing wingers, and, most impactfully, inserted Ainsley Maitland-Niles, not Bukayo Saka, at left wing-back. Maitland-Niles had hardly been used since Hector Bellerin returned to fitness, but Arteta was keen to use the midfielder in this instance, and for excellent reason.

Maitland-Niles boasts terrific athleticism. He is quick, explosive, strong, and hugely agile. When up against the shifty, squirmy Mahrez, he has the speed and quickness to mirror the Algerian’s movements and deny space in behind. Maitland-Niles executed this role brilliantly. Mahrez beat him just once, when Emiliano Martinez made an excellent save down to his left. Otherwise, Maitland-Niles entirely contained the brilliant City winger.

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