Arsenal came into the Emirates Stadium for their midweek Premier League match against Everton with one thing on their mind: win and remain the “boss” in the title race. And what a way to achieve it. An astonishing 4 – 0 win over Sean Dyche’s Everton.
Starting Line ups
Source: whoscored.com
Arsenal was formatted in a 1-4-3-3, with Jorginho as a single pivot and Xhaka higher in the pitch.
Everton was formatted in a 1-4-5-1, with Onana, Gueye & Doucoure in a very compact shape, far away from Maupay.
Arsenal Analysis
ARSENAL IN ATTACK
On the attacking phase, Arsenal tried to build up from the back, using progressive passes through the central channel and the halfspaces. Jorginho operated as a single pivot who controlled the build-up of his team, while White and Zinchenko were providing width. When reaching the middle third, White and Zinchenko were placed as central midfielders. This move created numerical superiority and stability against ball losses centrally and gave more space to Saka & Martinelli to go 1vs1.
Arsenal used a short passing possession game, completing 698, having the control of possession (73,1 % vs 26,9 %), with 88% passing accuracy. The result is presented in the huge number of touches in the middle third, trying to penetrate the opponent’s lines. Xhaka and Odegaard ( 77 touches, 93% passing accuracy, 2 key passes) usually operated beside Trossard in a 2-3-5 formation. These players were crucial for Arsenal’s ball possession because they could offer an option in half-spaces, they played 2vs1 in flanks, and they were creating a 3vs2 against the 2 central defenders.
When on attacking third, 5 players were in the box positioning themselves for a cross or a quick combination that could give them the opportunity to shoot. Arsenal had 15 attempts with the 80% of them from inside the box.
Arsenal was using the right side when attacking, trying to exploit the ability of Bukayo Saka in 1vs1 situations and the creating ability of Odegaard when receiving the ball at half-spaces.
ARSENAL’S DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
Arsenal was very well organized and didn’t have problems during the defensive transition phase. White and Zinchenko were positioned in a way that in every loss of possession, they could intercept immediately to regain the ball. They provided stability and safety to their team and this was crucial against a team who tried to exploit their attacking transition.
The only problem that they could face was in the defensive third with their fullbacks wide and the central midfielders higher on the pitch when there was a large space without any option.
ARSENAL ON DEFENSE
They were not pressing high as their opponent used long balls. Their defense was orientated to the ball, with the 3 central midfielders in a compact shape they had covered the vertical channels of the pitch and forced Everton to play wide or long. Arsenal’s wingers had very good defensive behavior, supporting their fullbacks. The whole defensive behavior was very efficient because they haven’t faced many threats when they were in organized defense.
ARSENAL IN ATTACKING TRANSITION
They tried to exploit the speed and the technical ability of their attackers in 1vs1 situations and open space. Xhaka and Odegaard usually joined immediately in the transition, offering many options to the player with the ball. The key point was to find a safe option for the first progressive pass and after that, the immediate support and runs to receive the ball.
ADVANTAGES
- A very good percentage of possession at the opponent’s half
- Use of halfspaces – creating superiorities at the central channel
- Attacking from the right side.
DISADVANTAGES
- Sometimes they faced problems in defensive transition due to the large number of opponents reaching the defensive third
KEY POINT
Xhaka joined the attack in a free role. This move offered one more option in attacking third and made the penetration of the opponent’s lines easier.
Carlo Ancelotti
Marcelo Bielsa
Everton Analysis
EVERTON IN ATTACK
Everton used long balls and a direct style of play to reach the attacking third. They have attempted 61 long passes with only 31% accuracy. They had also tried to receive deaf balls and start again their attack from the middle third, having fewer meters to reach the goal. As we see they had 6 attempts in open play with only 26,9 % of possession. This means that their style of play had as its main purpose to shoot when they had the opportunity to do it. They had an average of 3 pass streaks, which reveals the immediacy of their style of play. They didn’t waste much time creating scoring opportunities and as we see in the graph, they tried to score with mid and long-range shots too.
We can confirm this stat with a heatmap that reveals the total number of touches for Everton. As we see they couldn’t reach attacking third and create opportunities after keeping ball possession in there.
EVERTON’S DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
When in defensive transition they couldn’t regain the ball, so they tried to be balanced and compact until they set their defensive organization. As Arsenal had the superiority of possession, it’s obvious that there were not many times that Everton faced a defensive transition. Based on stats, Arsenal didn’t make a shot in a counterattack, which means that Everton defensive organization at this phase of the game was immediate and efficient.
EVERTON ON DEFENSE
Everton didn’t press high up on the pitch, as Maupay was the only forward and when they tried to press, Arsenal could break the pressure and attack with more options and more space. They adopted a medium-block defensive behavior. This defensive style of play created them many problems, for they couldn’t anticipate the opposition’s numerical superiority centrally and their ability in 1vs1 situations, usually at flanks. This fact forced them to defend lower and finally defend against crosses and box penetrations. Of their total of 23 clearances, 22 of them were based in the defensive third. This reveals the continuous defensive role that they had in the game. They have operated also 13 out of 18 total tackles, on their half.
EVERTON IN ATTACKING TRANSITION
Everton’s main purpose in the game was to exploit open space in attacking transition. At this phase, they ran immediately in transition to support with options for the ball holder. Sometimes, they created numerical superiority in attacking transition but they couldn’t be more effective and score a goal. They had created 2 goalscoring opportunities from counterattacks with shots inside the box.
ADVANTAGES
- Trying to exploit the attacking transition phase.
- The direct style of play guided them to the opponent’s half and gave them opportunities to shoot without having a great amount of possession.
DISADVANTAGES
- They couldn’t be effective and finish with a goal their opportunities.
- They lost possession very often and they were always in the defensive position.
- Many individual mistakes
- They couldn’t defend well against Arsenal’s attacking style of play.
KEY POINT
Everton had 2 great opportunities to score in the first 10 minutes. If they scored, they might win or even don’t lose. They could have the mental and physical strength to defend and exploit counterattacks.
CONCLUSION
Arsenal won easier than it seems, having patience and good ball possession. They were decisive and effective in attacking third, exploiting superiorities due to their vertical style of play at this part of the pitch. Everton could have scored a goal as they used well the attacking transition phase but they weren’t effective when they had the opportunity
