Arsenal: 4 things we'd like to see vs Watford in the Premier League

Arsenal: 4 things we’d like to see vs Watford

Arsenal's English goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (3L) exchanges words with Leicester City's Northern Irish defender Jonny Evans (2R) after contact between the two during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Arsenal at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on October 30, 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 JUSTIN TALLIS / 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 JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston Villa. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Maintaining Control Even Without Pressing

This Arsenal team can’t press relentlessly for 90 minutes. They just can’t. However, when they don’t, they need to find a middle ground between high intensity pressure and just dropping off into a low-block.

Keeping the ball in effective sequences is one way to do it.

When they do sink deep they lose all out-balls and struggle to create the patterns they need to maintain control. Too often it is a case of trying to go back to front with too much speed and it in turn results in turnovers and invites pressure.

Now, Watford aren’t Leicester. The gulf in quality between those two teams is vast. But Arsenal can be the victims of their early success by taking early advantages and then backing off, which even the weakest sides can take advantage of.

Getting distances right, being positioned to build triangles and keeping the pitch stretched will aid them on the day. As young and prone to inconsistency as this team will be, this is an occasion where they should be able to wrestle a certain degree of control for the majority of the afternoon.

Sambi and Partey running the show would make for pleasant viewing.

Continued…

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