3 key tactical principles that will help Arsenal improve in 2022/23

While many have questioned Mikel Arteta’s capacity to lead such a daunting rebuild in his first managerial post, his status as one of the sport’s brightest young tactical minds can’t be debated.

The Spaniard’s proficiency in this regard has manifested ever since his first game in charge as Arsenal boss away at Bournemouth in late 2019. Arteta has evolved considerably in the years following that 1-1 draw at the Vitality in which Mesut Ozil wreaked havoc between the lines.

Those were the days, eh?

Arteta, however, is not an idealist in the mould of Marcelo Bielsa. Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph in the manager’s first season at the helm was made possible thanks to a healthy dose of pragmatism. It wasn’t all swanky build-up patterns and high-pressing. Mid-blocks and transitions did the trick, too, and such ploys were necessary considering the qualitative inferiority of Arteta’s first Arsenal team.

Personnel improvements have allowed the boss to let loose from a tactical perspective over the past 12 months, and we’ve reached the stage, following the arrivals of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, where Arteta’s project is ready to boom.

3 key tactical principles that will help Arsenal improve in 2022/23

Arsenal have always been tactically competent under Arteta, and further evolution has taken place ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. The Gunners blew away Chelsea on tour before returning to north London for the Emirates Cup where they were simply too much for an undercooked Sevilla side.

Three key principles have been on display this summer, and each will ensure Arsenal improve in 2022/23.

1. Relentless high-pressing

The importance of pressing in this day and age has been documented countless times. Every elite side aims to win the ball back as high up the pitch as they can.

Since taking over as boss, Arteta has employed a popular 4-4-2 pressing structure which seeks to regain possession in the opponent’s third. Typically, the most advanced midfielder joins the striker in the first pressing line with the primary aim being to limit central progression and trap teams in wide areas.

And while Arteta’s structure is fine, the Gunners haven’t had the personnel to press relentlessly. They’ve been able to sustain pressure off the ball in spurts, typically at the start of contests, before fading and dropping off. Up until now, Arsenal under Arteta haven’t been physical nor aggressive enough to emerge as a pressing juggernaut.

Last season, Arsenal’s PPDA (passes per defensive action) ranked 11th lowest (13.6) in the Premier League. Although, they did register the fifth-highest number of ‘high turnovers’ (321) which shows they were an efficient pressing side – if not a relentless one.

However, there have been signs in pre-season that could change in 2022/23. With Jesus coming in and Eddie Nketiah rising to prominence, Arsenal now boast a young, athletic and agile front line that’s capable of harassing opponents for more prolonged periods. A subtle tweak or two has been made to the pressing structure, too.

Chelsea were forced to revert to their back three in the Florida Cup as they couldn’t cope with Arsenal’s intensity, while Sevilla were overwhelmed by the ferocity of the Gunners’ press – exemplified by the fourth goal.

The increased physicality of this Arsenal side will allow them to press higher up the pitch for longer periods this season, thus aiding their ability to control contests.

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