Arsenal’s new attacking prolificacy highlighted by key stat

Earlier in the season there was growing unease over this team’s struggles in creating chances. Fewer chances to score invariably means fewer goals, and Arsenal became a side who no longer excited.

Mikel Arteta couldn’t find a solution. He chopped and changed with personnel, fielded two strikers and dabbled with the 4-3-3, all in an attempt to make Arsenal are more potent attacking force.

This was an issue that carried over from the previous season, during which the emergence of the left-sided bias crept to the fore. Granit Xhaka would funnel the ball out wide to Kieran Tierney who’d whip a delicious cross in for nobody to get on the end of. It was predictable football easily countered by the opposition.

But Arsenal have developed. They’ve tweaked details in their attacking patterns of play, handed Thomas Partey more responsibility to control play from deep, and had Martin Odegaard in sparkling form.

Arsenal’s attacking prolificacy highlighted by key stat as Mikel Arteta’s side create more chances in central areas, with balance across the front

The change has been drastic, with Arsenal recording an average of 15.5 shots per game, their highest amount since 2017, and scoring goals even without the aid of a centre-forward who…scores goals.

Every element that has been worked on has played its part in a huge improvement in Arsenal’s attacking metrics. As noted by The Analyst, Arsenal have create 46.3% of their chances through the middle third of the pitch this season, more than any other side in the division.

Already in the 24 matches played the Gunners have created 14 more chances form open play in the middle third than they did in the entirety of the 2020/21 campaign (98). Last season Arsenal ranked second worst for central attacks, now they’re the most prolific. The numbers are balanced out with 28.5% coming down the left and 25.2% down the right.

That’s quite the transformation.

Looking for reasons as to why, there are plenty. Firstly the use of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard operating out on the right, two players who like to cut infield onto their left foot respectively, has seen a rise in the numbers – inverted options on the opposite side do likewise.

There has also been a noticeable improvement in rotations. The players understand the importance of movement in the final third, which has been aided by the greater numerical overloads brought on by the 4-3-3 shift. With Partey at the base of it, and the field of play in front of him, his variation helps tremendously with the balance.

He’s got teammates either side, and when patterns of play build further forward the prolific use of third man runs in and around the box opens passing options for the man in possession.

Overall it’s a huge increase in fluidity, positional intelligence, and ultimately practice, that has gone into the improvement. One can see what Arsenal are building and how well they are coached, and all of this comes without a dynamic central point in the attack.

Source that replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, upgrade on the left-sided No. 8 and there is a even more scope for development.