Mikel Arteta: The Making of the new Invisibles?

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, has been in charge since December 2019 leaving back his position as an assistant coach in Man City and replacing Unai Emery, the three times Europa League winner with Sevilla. Since then has imprinted his tactical philosophy on the team. His approach is characterized by flexibility, innovation, high pressing, and a possession-positional style of play.

He has managed to turn a winning team and help the team to return to the Champions League stage and to have serious possibilities to finish first in this year’s title race. With his tactical brilliance and super managerial skills he managed to force Arsenal fans to fill again the Emirates Stadium.

On July 18, 2020, Arsenal secured a significant victory, defeating Arteta’s former club Manchester City with a score of 2–0 in the FA Cup semi-final. This Arsenal win, their fourth FA Cup final within seven years, showed to the world and Arsenal fans that it is only fair to consider him as a top-class Premier League manager. Subsequently, Arsenal clinched a historic 2–1 victory over Chelsea in the final, securing their 14th FA Cup title. Notably, Arteta achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first individual to win the FA Cup both as a captain and a coach of Arsenal.

Furthermore, Arteta’s managerial prowess was highlighted as he became the first head coach or manager to lead the club to a major trophy in his debut season since George Graham in 1986–87. On August 29, Arteta won another one trophy against Liverpool, winning the FA Community Shield with a 5–4 victory on penalties. Finally, on September 10, Arteta’s role within the club was officially upgraded from first-team head coach to manager, reflecting his expanded responsibilities and influence.

General Tactical Concepts

Arteta’s system often features or a 4 – 3 – 3 formation with a single or double pivot, allowing for fluidity and versatility in attack. The one or two holding midfielders provide stability, enabling the full-backs, Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko, to push forward and join the attack. This system also allows for quick transitions, with the wingers and attacking midfielders, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, pressing high to force turnovers. In cases where a single pivot is used and the starting lineup includes ball-oriented full-backs, the strategy of an inverted full-back is also used. This concept mostly appears when Zinchenko is in the first 11.

In defense, Mikel Arteta prefers a high line with an aggressive press. The aim is to recover possession as quickly as possible and prevent the opposition from building up play. This requires disciplined coordination and high levels of fitness from all players, as they need to maintain intensity throughout the match.

Arteta’s tactical approach at Arsenal is highlighted by the use of ‘overloads’. An example of this would be during a match against a team that employs a low-block defense. Arsenal might concentrate their players on the left flank, with the left-back, left-winger, central midfielder, and even the striker crowding that area. This forces the opposition to shift their defense towards the overloaded side to match numbers, leaving spaces on the opposite flank. This tactic is used as for Arsenal to take advantage of powerful and skillful on 1v 1 wingers such as Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Once the overload has been established, Arsenal might quickly switch play to the right flank where the right-back or right-winger has ample space to either take on defenders or put in a cross into the box. This tactic was crucial for Arsenal’s game against Liverpool where they frequently overloaded the left side before quickly transitioning the ball to Arsenal star, Bukayo Saka, on the right, who then had fewer defenders to contend with.

Another example could be seen in matches where Arsenal’s central midfielders and full-backs overload the central areas. This draws out the opposition’s midfield line, creating space behind them for Arsenal’s attacking midfielder or wingers to exploit with runs from deep.

These tactical overloads require precise timing and player understanding to be effective. They are a testament to Arteta’s detailed coaching and the players’ adaptability to his system.

Build up from the back

Mikel Arteta’s approach to building up from the back is a fascinating study of modern football tactics. His methodology emphasizes control and progression from defense to attack, showcasing a blend of technical skill and strategic planning. Arteta’s Arsenal often utilizes a 4 – 3 – 3 formation which very often transfors to a 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 by drooping back an attacking midfielder, allowing for fluid movement and positional interchanges among players. The key to Arteta’s build-up play lies in the composure and ball-playing ability of his center-backs and goalkeeper. For this exact reason, Arteta decided to bring in David Raya from Brentford with a loan, even though Aaron Ramsdale is considered as a top Goalkeeper who had an amazing last season.

The impact of Raya in Arsenal’s game is huge. The data from his last 5 games with Arsenal shows exactly this. From Matchday 23 until Matchday 27, Raya attempted on average 28 passes without taking into consideration the starting goal kick passes.

This is a big number that shows how often Arsenal players are using Raya during the possession phase and at the same time how much they trust him to take them out of pressure with a backward pass.

Until this moment, Raya has attempted in total of 650 passes in 22 games which equals 29.5 passes per game.

Their objective by initiating attacks from deep is to draw opposition players out and  create space further up the pitch. The full-backs push high and wide, stretching the opposition’s defensive structure and opening passing lanes.

Central midfielders drop deep to offer passing options, while wingers tuck inside to occupy defenders and facilitate overloads in central areas. This creates opportunities for quick combinations and forward progression through tight spaces. Arteta also encourages his players to be brave on the ball, making risky passes that break lines and disrupt defensive setups. Defenders have the freedom to drive forward with the ball whenever possible and create numerical superiority in the central channels.

Even though Mikel Arteta utilizes a very similar philosophy as Pep Guardiola, for the build-up up he has added one more option which is the direct long balls. This strategy is mostly used against teams that apply intensive high pressing and any loose ball near their goal can be dangerous. Teams such as Klopp’s Liverpool are logging for opportunities to regain ball possession higher up the pitch and score goals with minimum effort. For that reason, Arteta builds mechanisms during the build-up to minimize such risks.

Overall, Arteta’s tactical analysis in building up from the back is a testament to his vision for Arsenal’s playing style. It’s a system that requires technical proficiency, tactical awareness, and a collective commitment to a proactive brand of football.

Efficiency in the Final Third

Mikel Arteta’s approach to tactical analysis in scoring goals is a fascinating study for any football enthusiast. As the manager of Arsenal, Arteta has implemented a style of play that emphasizes creativity, control, and precision. His tactics often involve fascinating passing patterns, positional fluidity, and exploiting spaces in the opposition’s defense.

Arteta’s philosophy is rooted in his belief that football should be played attractively and effectively. He often sets up his team in a 4 – 3 – 3 formation that can be transformed into a 3 – 2 – 5 above-half line, which offers great attacking strength. The two holding midfielders cover the back four while also serving as a pivot for transitioning from defense to attack.

In attack, Mikel Arteta encourages his full-backs to push forward, overlap, or underlap with the wingers, creating width and stretching the opposition’s defense. This creates space for the attacking midfielder to operate and link up with the striker. The wingers cut inside to either shoot or pass, adding to the unpredictability of Arsenal’s attacking play.

One key aspect of Arteta’s tactical analysis is his focus on set pieces. He and his staff dedicate significant time to designing set-piece routines that take advantage of his players’ strengths. Their focus and hard work on this aspect have paid off.  Arsenal is the leading team in goa scored from set pieces with 18 goals.

Mikel Arteta in Defense

Mikel Arteta’s approach to defense has been a defining aspect of this year for Arsenal. His tactical analysis and strategic planning have transformed the Gunners’ backline into a formidable unit. It’s probably the reason they are at the top of the table. It’s important to mention that they have the best defense record with only 24 goals conceded. Except for the goals conceded, they are also the team that is threatened the least this season with a total Expected Goals Against (xGA) of 19.4 while the next best record is for Manchester City with 27.6.

He emphasizes the importance of pressing high up the pitch. His players are instructed to apply pressure on the opposition immediately after losing possession, aiming to recover the ball quickly and launch counter-attacks. This aggressive pressing system requires high levels of fitness and discipline from the players.

The Spaniard’s defensive tactics are characterized by intense pressing and quick transitions. He emphasizes the importance of winning the ball back as quickly as possible, often deploying a high defensive line to compress the space in which the opposition can operate. This aggressive style of play requires defenders who are not only physically capable but also tactically aware.

Arsenal is well known for its collective defense from the front. The forwards and midfielders are an integral part of the defensive setup, with Arteta expecting them to contribute to pressing and tracking back. Arteta often utilizes a 4 – 4 – 2  formation during the defensive phase (especially when pressing up) with Martin Ødegaard pushing up next to the center forward while the other #8 is creating a solid two-man pivot in front of the back four.

This team’s collective defensive effort has led to Arsenal becoming one of the toughest teams to break down in the Premier League.

Overall, Mikel Arteta’s tactical analysis in defense has been instrumental in Arsenal’s resurgence as a top team. His ability to adapt his tactics to different opponents while maintaining a solid defensive core is what sets him apart as a manager.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mikel Arteta has remarkably transformed Arsenal into one of the Premier League’s most formidable teams. The moment of glory for this season is the win against Porto where he secured a place for the last 16 in the 2023 – 2024 Uefa Champions league. Not even the accusations from Porto Manager Sergio Conceicao were not enough to through a shadow is this glorious moment.

The admiration of his work from Jurgen Klopp, one of the best managers in the world, shows everything. In his post-match interview after their game on December 23, Klopp couldn’t help but express his admiration for Arsenal’s playing style. “They are a team who cause chaos, they are so vertical and direct. They are the best in the world at doing that,” he exclaimed. His words echoed the sentiment of many spectators who witnessed the intensity of the game at Anfield.

Klopp marveled at Arsenal’s resilience, acknowledging their strength in not succumbing to the pressure. “Oh my god, how strong are they? The good news is we are good as well,” he remarked, highlighting the competitive spirit between the two teams. It was a testament to Arsenal’s prowess on the field and their ability to hold their ground against formidable opponents.

Through the organization, relentless teamwork, and unwavering commitment, Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, has helped the team to establish themselves as a formidable force, making it incredibly challenging for opponents to breach their defensive lines. This newfound defensive resilience not only enhances their chances of success on the pitch but also exemplifies the unwavering spirit and unity that defines Arsenal Football Club.