Arsenal: 5 tactical improvements during unbeaten run

Arsenal's Brazilian defender Gabriel (L) and Arsenal's English defender Ben White (R) celebrates their win in the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 26, 2021. - - 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 Ben STANSALL / 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. / 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 BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal celebrate after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

2. Well Organised High Line With Perfect Central Defenders

Perfect? For what Arsenal want to do, they most definitely are.

In terms of where they are and where they can be then Gabriel and Benjamin White are not ‘perfect’ yet, but they are two well-scouted centre-backs who’ve been brought in to aid Arsenal’s quest for more front-footed football.

What is excellent about both is that they’re as capable playing in their own box batting out crosses and blocking shots as they are pushing high up as Arsenal compress the pitch. Both quick across the grass, agile and able to pick a pass, sometimes they look more like central midfielders than central defenders. That’s a compliment.

Considering the profiles of both it’s bizarre how long it’s taken the manager to decide to start pressing with more intensity higher up the pitch. The whole team is suited to it. And now that they are, there is the insurance policy of Gabriel and White (who did an excellent job on Jamie Vardy in the opening 25 minutes of the Leicester win, for example) in behind to have that platform.

A lot of work has been done on the training pitch to see those two in sync, and that is not ignoring the role of Takehiro Tomiyasu, whoever is at left-back, and Aaron Ramsdale in forging this as a unit.

However, as a high line, the White and Gabriel combination is looking increasingly well organised.

Continued…

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