Arsenal vs Villarreal: The key to beating Unai Emery’s side

Arsenal Must Build Through the Thirds Faster Against Villarreal

There is method to every motion in the build-up play, starting from the back.

This rigid nature could be impacting the decision-making in the final third, as previously noted, but getting to the stage where choices are to be taken in and around the box has to be quicker. Arsenal are far too slow building out from the back.

Pre-calculated from back to front, Arsenal give the opposition too long to settle. Thus far it’s been a difficult balance the strike, although the absences of players such as David Luiz have made an impact.

Rob Holding, Pablo Mari and Gabriel have their strengths but none of those lie in moving the ball with pace. That may come for the latter.

Arsenal are at their best when the forward line is interchanging. It forces opposition players out of position and instills doubt into defenders. From here they can overload wide areas, have someone run in between centre-back and get bodies in and around the box.

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Lose the ball, or have it returned in some manner, and the process restarts: another measured, slow building back through the thirds. Said pressure rarely counts for anything as the process of restructuring invites the same of the opposition.

Luiz will not solve this issue outright. He most certainly can help but if he’s not around against Villarreal then it relies on other parties to embrace the economy of touches and seek the forward option with pace.

Especially given the first leg is away from home, Arsenal have the chance to set a marker. They failed to do so against Benfica and only took a marginal advantage having fallen behind to equalise, and the importance of scoring in Spain is heightened by their struggles in front of goal at home.

Villarreal will invite a slow encounter that allows the likes of Gerard Moreno to be effective on the break. Arsenal mustn’t let them settle. Play with speed and with a structure that isn’t restricting through the thirds. Get Thomas Partey on the ball and give him multiple passing lanes; have two men drop into the half-spaces with runners beyond; encourage the centre-backs to fizz the ball into feet in fewer touches.

Bottom line: pick up the pace.