Arsenal: 4 tactical mistakes Arteta made vs Crystal Palace

Here we are again. Discussing a football match where Arsenal made mistakes. It’s getting rather tedious and in a week that could have been huge for the side’s fortunes this season, they came up short.

After an international break that dragged on and a weekend of Premier League football where supporters could only watch on and wait, Monday came around with expectation and belief in the air.

On one hand, the limp display at Brighton had reasons aplenty to head into this game with trepidation. On the other, it extended the unbeaten run and was just one of ‘those’ days. A solitary laboured performance can be forgiven. Two in a row sets off alarm bells.

Starting the game precisely how everyone of an Arsenal affiliation would have liked, Mikel Arteta’s side were good value for their 1-0 lead. Neat combination play between Takehiro Tomiyasu and Nicolas Pepe forced the opener, one Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang coolly fired home.

4 tactical mistakes Mikel Arteta made against Crystal Palace as Arsenal were fortunate to snatch a 2-2 Premier League draw with Lacazette’s equaliser

When taking a lead and controlling the match, clearly the best form of attack is defence. At least, that’s what Arsenal thought. They curled up and decided to sit on their lead for the remaining 80 minutes. Like all good teams do, of course.

Worst of all is that Crystal Palace weren’t great. They were the better side and Patrick Vieira outdid his opposite number with some football more closely resembling what Arteta is hoping to instill, but as for chances they didn’t create many without a helping hand.

Both their goals came as the result of the two players deemed the most press resistant in the side being caught in possession. Thomas Partey was first to succumb before Sambi Lokonga followed suit, and while there are faint cries for fouls in both instances, that is a path we will not head down.

Alexandre Lacazette pinched a draw at the death. Celebrations quickly turned to realisations; this was not a point to savour. This was a display to mourn. How much of that falls on the manager’s poor tactical errors? Quite a lot.

1. Playing Bukayo Saka & Emile Smith Rowe Out of Position

Mentioned once, mentioned twice, mentioned thrice and likely to be mentioned quarce and beyond, Arteta has to put a halt to his decision to playing his two Hale Enders away from their strongest respective positions.

Emile Smith Rowe is capable of playing in the No. 10. It’s not like he’s being shoehorned in there. What you do run the risk of in fielding him where his passing is more central than his carrying, is widening the margins for inconsistency. Some of his decisions in possession were wrong on Monday, whereas his runs and movements weren’t.

Play him as a forward where you cater to his skillset. Why stick him in the right-hand pocket when the left side is where he’s been developing over the past six months? Reduce the amount of unnecessary risk that can follow.

As for Bukayo Saka, he too is absolutely capable of playing on the left. But when your right side is flailing and feeble, the delightful out-to-in runs that your Player of the Season makes coming in off his favoured side have to be utilised. He’s at his best there for England, just as he is for Arsenal.

The same applies to Martin Odegaard who was a ghost against Palace. He comes deep, which is fine when Arsenal are dominating the ball. No qualms there. When control is relinquished and the opposition push on, he gets lost in that midfield and provides no cover for his fellow teammate, in this case Thomas Partey. Arsenal become simple to play through and physically unable.

Play your best players in their best positions. It’s frustratingly straightforward.

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