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

3. Fluidity in possession

While Arteta’s build-up structure has always been impressive, the manager has come under scrutiny in terms of chance creation. In 2020/21, Arsenal ranked 12th in the Premier League with just 45 ‘big chances created’ and they created even less in 2021/22, ranking 17th with 39.

Admittedly, ‘big chances created’ is a pretty arbitrary term, but there’s no denying that the Gunners haven’t excelled from a creative perspective since Arteta took over. Although, there are multiple factors as to why that is. It’s not merely the manager’s rigid patterns and predictability in the final third.

There was a point where Arsenal were worryingly reliant on Kieran Tierney’s cut-backs as a means of chance creation. The emergence of Martin Odegaard last season, however, diversified their attack. The Gunners could reliably attack and create from the right half-space and both flanks.

Now, we’re seeing even greater variety when Arteta’s side reaches the final third. The triangular rotations down the left and combinations between Odegaard and Saka look to have been taken further. With the additions of Jesus and Fabio Vieira, Arteta now boasts a host of forward-thinking players that are comfortable with operating in multiple zones.

Thus, the front five in the 2-3-5 structure are all interchangeable and the players have the freedom to rotate with each other at will. This fluidity was on show against Sevilla as Jesus frequently drifted wide to disrupt Julen Lopetegui’s defensive block.

The mutual understanding between Arsenal’s young attacking stars should see them evolve further in 2022/23 and make them one of the most watchable sides in the Premier League, if not Europe.