Arsenal: 3 tactical mistakes Mikel Arteta made vs Chelsea

2. The Midfield Vacancy in the Opening Spell

The opening period of the game was always going to be the deciding spell of the match. With the scoreline goalless and the Arsenal fans back in a packed Emirates Stadium for the first time since March 2020, the crowd’s energy had to be maintained with some level of equality on the pitch. Nerves had to be settled.

Thus, the way Arteta set up the team in those early exchanges was a misguided approach to keeping Arsenal in the game for as long as possible.

Opting for a back four, that shifted into a back five on occasion as Xhaka dropped into defence to form a back five.

If it were three central defenders then the numerical advantage could have been made up still boasting Xhaka as the screening option in front and the wing-backs taking up wide berths. Instead, the midfield turned into a barren wasteland that presented the central Chelsea players with the freedom find Lukaku at feet.

Much like Tierney, Xhaka was asked to do too many roles. He can’t be a fifth defender and a holding midfielder, meanwhile Tierney can’t hold the advanced width and be tasked with covering for Pablo Mari’s many limitations.

All of which follows into the final tactical mistake.