Arsenal: 4 mistakes Mikel Arteta made vs Man City

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal gives instructions to their side during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on August 28, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images ) /

2. Arteta Can’t Coach A Working Press

This has been evident during his tenure and was screamed into everyone’s ears when facing Chelsea: Arteta does not know how to coach an effective press.

On Saturday he instructed his forwards to stand high on the edge of the City box in bemusing static fashion. In such an instance you have to apply pressure on the ball or it may as well be cones stood in red and white.

Having such an expansive and open shape with Aubameyang and Saka wide apart allowed Ederson to thread balls into feet as if they were open invitations.

Hired as the first team coach before his premature promotion to manager, simple aspects that are utterly paramount to a team that wants to play a high line, such as instructing a working press, should be a given. They’re not.

Ederson was given the freedom to stroll out of his box and pick out any number of highly technical midfielders to hold, turn or release. It’s structurally disproportionate all over the pitch and allows opposition full-backs to run into open spaces and overload all over the pitch.

This is not top-level coaching.

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