đź”´ RETRO TACTICS - Episode 3 : Arsenal - Manchester United 2007-2008
Two great teams, two immense coaches, with innovative tactics
One of the best games of this rivalry
Two great teams, two immense coaches, with innovative tactics
One of the best games of this rivalry
Arsenal, for this game, has implemented a 4-4-1-1, with Adebayor as the main link play in attacking third, Eboue as false right midfielder who cut back inside out of possession, and Flamini-Fabregas with close distances.
Concerning Manchester, that 4-4-2 to guarantee quick projection on lanes, a strong defense stability, and also to easily form a compact and central block to prevent Arsenal vertical build-up.
I. PRESSING APPROACH
Both teams had different pressing strategies, given the fact each team had different structures in build-up therefore not the same pressing structure.
Concerning United, the goal was to trap Arsenal ball carrier on the left side.
Both teams had different pressing strategies, given the fact each team had different structures in build-up therefore not the same pressing structure.
Concerning United, the goal was to trap Arsenal ball carrier on the left side.
However, Arsenal had a key asset to counter that high pressing : close distances from double pivot Fabregas-Flamini. As United players trapped DP on one lane, having close distances allowed Arsenal to espace from it by finding free player at the opposite.
Arsenal had a different approach, less aggressive than United, oriented in a 1-3 structure, with Fabregas jumping out on Anderson. That move was key because Vidic or Ferdinand tended to start build-up with him to orientate wide after.
the way Arsenal players position to prevent Anderson or Hargreaves to spot lanes quickly has been successful during first half, because Anderson had few passing angles available, and certainly not in direction of lanes. Consequence : retreat or play long balls.
Hleb has been utilized to facilitate ball progression, thanks to Arsenal counter pressing and Fabregas passing skills. When Adebayor and Hleb ended up between the lines with close distances, that was the most dangerous situation to deal with for Manchester.
BUILD-UP APPROACH.
As I said, Arsenal first and main build-up pattern was created from United’s pressing process. Moreover, Arsenal uses Adebayor as link player, due to the fact he was strongly man-marked, with Flamini or Fabregas.
As I said, Arsenal first and main build-up pattern was created from United’s pressing process. Moreover, Arsenal uses Adebayor as link player, due to the fact he was strongly man-marked, with Flamini or Fabregas.
We will see later on this thread, but Man United defensive line was too sound. To break it down, Kolo Toure didn’t hesitate, as Gallas, to conduct build-up, even ending up near penalty box to attempt a shot.
Verticality in build-up was the common pattern of Arsenal, thanks to incredible ability from Rosicky or Fabregas to find vertical passes, and Adebayor who regularly dropped off. However, Brown perfectly man-marked him 1st half and made Arsenal build-up more difficult
A quick illustration of how Adebayor’s ball retention and back to goal game have been useful for Arsenal, espacially for the equalizing goal
Again, when Hleb was found between the lines, Manchester could not compensate in midfield due to the first high line of pressure, Arsenal consequently had a close passing circuit.
Manchester United’s build-up had also innovative aspects. One of them was to invert positions with Giggs and Evra, who ran in behind after Giggs dropped off to receive and target French fullback. Arsenal defense has been in trouble with that passing circuit.
In addition, United used Rooney in a withdrawn position to draw out central defense and take advantage with Giggs/CR7 deep runs. At this period of time, these Rooney’s drop offs were forecasting a switch into the role of false 9
Man United, with such an asset they had on the right, naturally targeted Ronaldo to make huge 1v1 differences through dribbles or runs. However, he frequently ended up in numerical inferiority, making his runs less efficient.
But when United decided to espace from Arsenal counter pressing in a risky way, they managed to eliminate 5 players thanks to the 3rd man run model, and reach Ronaldo and lanes easier.
III. DEFENSIVE APPROACH
United’s defensive approach, with that sound 4-3 structure to have two close defensive lines, in order to control and reduce moves opportunities for Adebayor and Fabregas.
This was made possible thanks to Giggs’s repositioning.
United’s defensive approach, with that sound 4-3 structure to have two close defensive lines, in order to control and reduce moves opportunities for Adebayor and Fabregas.
This was made possible thanks to Giggs’s repositioning.
Concerning Arsenal, they defend up on the pitch, trying to prevent fast transitions from United, and cover shadow their double pivot when United had the ball in defensive third.
FOCUS : United off the ball structure and how it affected Arsenal build-up
First, implement (as we could have seen earlier) a high line of pressure, mostly to watch on Fabregas drop offs which could be dangerous for United given his pass quality.
First, implement (as we could have seen earlier) a high line of pressure, mostly to watch on Fabregas drop offs which could be dangerous for United given his pass quality.
Moreover, United also switched its structure into a diamond in midfield to cut as many passing angles as possible.
Thanks to that diamond, Hargreaves or Anderson easily jumped out on ball carrier without being under the threat of Fabregas-Hleb moves, because they were manmarked. That’s why Arsenal had difficulties to implement its traditional vertical passing schemes.
I hope you enjoyed this 3rd Episode of Retro Tactics, don’t hesitate to give me your feedback about it, and your memories of this game.
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