Tactical implications of Arsenal's new strategy against Manchester City

Alexis Sanchez with a crucial goal against Manchester City

The transfer business had been done and dusted. Some teams had resolved previous shortcomings. Some had bulked already well-stocked positions. For others, it had been a case of deficiencies remaining unaddressed. The Arsenal and Manchester City players walked onto the smooth turf of the Emirates Stadium, satisfied and encouraged by their respective transfer activities. The crowd, bathed in red, were expectant and unusually loud. As they prepared to rile the players from Manchester, they welcomed into their ranks a lad from the same city who was about to lead the Gunners’ attack-Danny Welbeck.

The display of football at the lush-green, sun-bathed turf was dazzling. Citizen’s manager Manuel Pellegrini, who had used the 4-4-2 formation with great success in the previous title-winning season, deployed Sergio Aguero as the lone striker and positioned David Silva as a No. 10. Fernandinho resumed his duties at the base of midfield while Frank Lampard made his City debut in the absence of Yaya Toure. Jesus Navas and James Milner covered the right and left flanks respectively. Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, changed his usual 4-5-1 formation to a 4-1-4-1. Mathieu Flamini was the defensive midfielder while both Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere were given starts as box-to-box midfielders. Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were positioned as wingers.

The Match

With pace on their side, the Gunners attempted to take the match by the scruff of it’s neck by playing a high-tempo game. They outnumbered the Citizens in central midfield 3 players to 2. Wilshere and Ramsey’s drive and energy coupled with the fact that Lampard was not anywhere near his physical peak ensured that the North Londoners won the battle in central midfield, at least in the initial phase. Sanchez was a terror on the right flank.

Ozil drifted in to allow left-wing back Nacho Monreal to roam the left touchline. The Gunners’ efforts seemed to have borne fruit when Silva’s flawed back-pass found Welbeck facing a one-on-one situation with Joe Hart. The England international expertly chipped over Hart only to see the ball bounce futilely off the goalpost.

Their right flank was always going to be the area which the Blues would target. Ozil was poor at tracking back and Monreal didn’t have the pace to outrun Navas. The Citizens hit the Gunners on the counter in the 28th minute. The Spaniard intelligently waited for Aguero to arrive before perfectly timing his cross. The Argentine forward effortlessly slotted the ball into the net. Pellegrini removed the ineffective Lampard during half-time and replaced him with Samir Nasri on the left flank. Milner dropped to central midfield.

Wenger had earlier swapped the positions of Sanchez and Ozil. The Gunners came back in the 2nd half with two wonderful goals from Wilshere and the talismanic Sanchez but errors in man-marking and concentration allowed Martin Demichellis to head home from a set-piece.

How the strategy worked

The Question is- What possibilities do the 4-1-4-1 formation hold for the Gooners in future? Their defensive problems were exposed but the Gunners certainly put in one of their best attacking displays in recent memory. This was possible because of the presence of two box-to-box midfielders in Ramsey and Wilshere. The duo displayed incredible work-rate as they tracked back and assisted the defence when the team was attacked.

After winning the ball back, they were quick to wriggle out and distribute the ball to the wingers. Both were willing to enter City’s penalty area. This formation also seemed to suit Sanchez. The Chilean was given the freedom to roam. He responded by bamboozling the City defense with his dribbling and pace. He made untiring runs around the pitch and scored an exquisite volley in the 74th minute.

An important pre-requisite for the 4-1-4-1 formation is that the lone striker must have enough pace to track both the opposition centre-backs. Off the ball, the two wingers can make diagonal runs inside to increase pressure on the defenders.

When the two box-to-box midfielders also move higher up the pitch, it creates a high pressing game. With this formation, the North Londoners were able to press effectively and win the ball in dangerous areas. With their pacy runners moving quickly behind the defense, they were able to keep the City goalkeeper busy.

Conclusion

The Gunners do have the resources to make a success of the 4-1-4-1 formation. In Walcott, Sanchez, Chamberlain and Joel Campbell, they have enough wingers with power and pace. Wenger might be tempted to use a 4-3-3 formation once Walcott returns to action. In such a formation, Sanchez would vacate the right-wing for the returning Walcott and occupy the left-wing.

Also, a 4-1-4-1 would not look very feasible with Olivier Giroud as the focal point of attack as the Frenchman doesn’t have the pace to track both the opposition centre-backs. A 4-5-1 or a 4-3-3 would be then a better option. Until Giroud recovers from his foot injury, though, Saturday’s strategy against the Sky Blues would be worth emulating.

The biggest misfit in such a system is obviously Ozil. The German playmaker loves to play in a central role and doesn’t take well to the defensive duties associated with a winger. But, whether he plays on the right or left-flank, Ozil has the freedom to drift inside and cause problems for the rivals. Ozil considers his football a work of art. The problem is that he focuses more on the ‘art’ than on the ‘work’.

The Turkish-origin German International must learn to graft, must be alert enough to try and win the ball back and cope with the physicality of the Premier League. The day he realises that a great painting involves dirtying one’s own hands too, he probably can claim his spot among the wide pantheon of Premier League heroes.