Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: 5 things we’d like to see vs West Brom

By Ross Kennerley

Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (L) and Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang take the knee during the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England on March 6, 2021. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (L) and Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang take the knee during the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England on March 6, 2021. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Mikel Arteta
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Brentford and Arsenal at Brentford Community Stadium. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. A Well Drilled and Cohesive Unit

Arteta has numerous reasons to be under the cosh from supporters and one area of his management that is fairly unarguable is that he’s struggled to coach a cohesive press.

One notable exclusion is the 4-2 victory over Leeds last season in which Arsenal counter-pressed superbly, but as witnessed against Chelsea, facing strong opposition and trying to press high has left the side brutally exposed in midfield and disorganised in defence.

Now, West Brom are obviously not Chelsea. No surprises there. Nevertheless, it will be important to see that under the kinds of pressure at this minute that Arteta can drill his players positionally to know which spaces can be left unattended and where others must be occupied.

This summer and this season has seen Arsenal press flimsily, with one body moving while others are static, and the wrong players moving out of positions to leave others horribly exposed. These are coaching errors and ‘even if it’s only West Brom’ (which is 100% not a phrase that can be used at this moment in time) there has to be some improvement in that regard.

Will the players looks befuddled or regimented? This is a key point, regardless of the opposition.

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