Arsenal vs Brentford: 3 key tactical areas to exploit

3. Reliance on Ivan Toney’s Aerial Ability

Brentford are a side that like to build their attacks from the back. Boasting a goalkeeper in David Raya who is excellent with the ball at his feet (rather frequent mistakes aside) helps them do so and it’s little wonder why Arsenal were keen to bring the Spaniard in to the club prior to signing Aaron Ramsdale.

When they don’t have the avenues to progress the play through the thirds they instead aim for the head of one Ivan Toney. Watching the Bees try and replicate this miserably with Mbeumo and Wissa against Palace further highlighted their reliance on the 25-year-old.

Despite standing at under 5’9″, Toney is a monster in the air. He’s got the better of almost every central defender in the division this season, including Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip, who he dominated when the Bees drew 3-3 at home to Liverpool.

If Arsenal do seek to press in the way they do, which is more focussed on cutting passing lanes and blocking options as opposed to being aggressive in pressing the ball, then they have to be wary of the threat that Toney provides. The way he uses his body and times his jumps is quite unique and his height is merely a decoy for the aerial ability he possesses.

The ideal route to take would be to have Tomiyasu drift in from right-back and man mark him – which isn’t going to happen for a multitude of reasons – so instead it will come down to individual performance and defensive structure. Even if the header isn’t won Arsenal need to get bodies around Toney in the right areas to pick up second balls and take advantage of Brentford’s positioning in that phase.

Not only can the Gunners cut off the main supply for their visitors, it can also be used to their advantage when they have men committed forward.