Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: 4 key Vieira tactics & how to stop them

What is more exciting: the return of Arsenal in the Premier League or the chance to see Patrick Vieira in the Emirates Stadium back among his people?

One of the greatest players ever to grace English football let alone north London, while Vieira left the club before the move from Highbury happened, it’s going to be a special occasion being so close to the man many consider their hero.

The technical areas featuring two FA Cup-winning former captains of this club? It’s strange to think.

As the season reaches its eighth round of fixtures, Crystal Palace pose an inviting opportunity for Arsenal to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to six matches and potentially move up to seventh – if results kindly fall their way.

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: 4 key tactics implemented by Patrick Vieira and how Mikel Arteta’s side can exploit them in Premier League meeting

The Eagles have only won one game this season, that 3-0 demolition of Tottenham, yet there have been marked changes in how they play compared to the previous tenure of Roy Hodgson, so naturally there will be plenty of learning on the way. After all, in his first season at the club and after the outstanding squad turnover in the summer, staving off relegation will do just fine for Vieira.

They’re most fans’ second team in the division. They can’t not be.

But there are only two matches where we want Palace to lose; this is one of them. Mikel Arteta’s side can continue building on the results they’ve accrued over the past four league fixtures and this is an opportunity to show the weary supporters that Brighton was merely a blip.

That doesn’t mean it will be easy. Palace are a completely different side under Paddy and the tactical nuances he’s introducing are having a positive impact. They may only be 14th, but the performances have warranted more points than they’ve gained.

So, what tactical changes has Vieira made, and how to Arsenal combat them?

1. 4-3-3 Shape Out of Possession

The tactical change: Under Hodgson you always knew what rendition of Palace you were going to get, especially away from home: they were a side heavily centred on long balls into the channels where the likes of Wilfried Zaha could use individual flair as the foundation of rapid counter-attacks.

Vieira has changed the Eagles’ approach, which is visible in their shape. No longer dropping into a 4-4-2, his side maintain a 4-3-3 shape that is narrow out of possession as they look for high turnovers that can then exploit open spaces and attack with pace.

It’s a drastic alteration to that Hodgson adopted as it’s distinctly more front-footed with a change in emphasis on where the ball should be won back.

How to exploit it: The 4-3-3 is often considered the pinnacle of football setups as it covers all grounds both in and out of possession: width in the press, midfield can’t be overloaded, back four protected and positionally set up to add additional cover out wide.

Working around a 4-3-3 is something Arsenal inadvertently already do. When building up with a three-man defence there is a numerical equality between forwards and defenders, so moving one of the central midfielders wide, say Sambi, to offer an option with Tierney on the other flank means Arsenal can create numerical advantages out on the flanks. Play around, not through the press.

If this were the approach it would see Thomas Partey act as a solitary central midfielder in the first phase, but would allow Arsenal to heavily outnumber on either flank and remove the three Palace forwards from the game with the first progressive pass. From there combinations can work through the lines and the midfield can drift back into a two to offer stability and cut lanes to the opposition forwards.

Continued…