Arsenal: 4 tactical mistakes Arteta made vs Crystal Palace

3. Unwillingness to Press the Opposition

Aubameyang, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Saka and Pepe. All five of these players are either effective pressers or dangerous in broken play. But they aren’t used that way.

Odegaard is one of the most infectious pressers of the ball when he’s in the No. 10: he played deep.

Smith Rowe is a valiant counter-presser: he was asked to press only briefly, and from too deep.

Pepe is an inside forward best around the box: he only received the ball deep and wide.

Saka has such quick feet advanced in the final third: he too was deep and wide.

Aubameyang scores goals in the penalty box: he ran his socks off almost solely.

With a group of players who thrive on the front foot and pinching the ball off the opposition in broken game states in areas where invention reigns supreme, asking them to perform in less threatening zones without engaged pressing limits their output. Why play five attacking players with a remit that sees them try to create at their lowest ebb?

Be more explosive. Be more daring. Press the opposition, especially when they play a high line, and inject some imagination into the team. Arteta just can’t manage a press.

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