ACHRAF

This is the 2nd minute, Arsenal presses zonal in a 4-4-2 mid-block. A pass from Gray to Drăgușin triggers Havertz to pounce, forcing him to go toward the touchlines. Only options vertically on the same line with Drăgușin are available: Kulusevski....

...Lewis-Skelly jumps over from Kulusevski's right side to regain the ball, Arsenal turnovers. Ødegaard, Havertz & Rice attack the right side to vacate the center for MLS to move inside. Gray is forced to shift across to cover Drăgușin space leaving Sterling behind.

This is where Tottenham's advanced FBs cost the team as Gray is obligated to shuffle across. As a result, the RHS is free for Sterling to exploit. Tottenham are 4v5 as the numerical advantage is in Arsenal's favor. MLS targets Sterling in free space. the 1st chance is missed.

Here, Kulusevski dispossesses Trossard. Arsenal maintains a 3+2 rest defense shape. Gabriel and Timber protect the HS, Saliba covers the central corridor whereas Partey and Rice adjust their positions to support the play, cover the LHS and the center, also to counter-press.

Rice intends to cover Lewis-Skelly zone (wide channel) & Partey closes off the passing lane on Kulusevski to find Son. -> Kulusevski is forced to play backward to Pape Sarr, So Tottenham is obligated to go wide to allow Arsenal to arrange. Porro tries to find Kulusevski behind.

In this example, Arsenal cages the Spurs who just played the throw-in. Spence can play to Drăgușin but he opts for Bissouma. When receiving, the latter cannot turn to face the other side of the pitch as Declan Rice jumps over. Bissouma is forced to feed H. Son.

Once Timber regained the ball, Arsenal went on transition. Havertz and Trossard attacked the back post, Rice behind near the spot as the same line as Ødegaard who picked out Sterling who headed toward the byline to play the cross. But, he failed to deliver a neat pass across.

You can notice here Gray points to Spence with his hand to play to Drăgușin. However, once he passes to Bissouma Arsenal players swarm & block off all the passing lanes across and behind, forcing Bissouma into an unfavorable situation ahead. Timber wins the duel vs H. Son.

Arsenal kept forcing Spurs to go wide or to play long. Kinsky here feeds Pape Sarr, but Rice jumps onto him from his strong foot side to close off Sarr's right side and keeps running if he plays backward. Notice how Arsenal blocked off Pape Sarr left options. Kinsky plays long

Gabriel steps up sticking to Solanke who drops in ->Arsenal regains the ball. Tottenham problem in covering channels quickly after they lose the ball is what hinders their poor OOP. Also, Arsenal fast execution & swift attack after regaining contribute to Spurs' feeble shape.

Here, Solanke opts for going up to cover the center instead of blocking off the lane on Gabriel. Son realizes the situation but the distance is too long for him to do the task. As a result, Gabriel can access Ødegaard. Then, Sterling, Havertz & Rice attack the 3 central lanes.

This scene happened nearly 3 times between 16 min & 20 min & could result in a GA. It's where Havertz curves his run to block off the angle on Kinský to find Drăgușin. Ødegaard & Rice stick to Bissouma & Sarr to prevent the bounce pass to Drăgușin. Kinský stresses out.

Kinský either launches a long pass, So Gabriel strives in the air, gets shaky until Havertz arrives and cuts the ball off, or plays a miscued pass that can result in a turnover. Below, Timber (out of shot) jumps over but he gets doubled up by Spence and Bergvall.

Postecoglou instructed Bergvall to drop (below). Tottenham could access Drăgușin through Bergvall bouncing the pass off to him. But, Kinsky played toward his right where Sterling went to dispossess him near the touchlines.

Arsenal's 2nd goal was the cherry on the cake. You can see Ødegaard telling Sterling to shift his attention toward Spence. He does and Spence is forced to play backward or to Bissouma. He opts for the 2nd choice. Partey & Ødegaard swarm & regain the ball.

Pedro Porro advanced position vacated the LHS for Trossard to exploit. In addition, Pape Sarr didn't shift toward Trossard to cover. So, once the ball was cut off, Havertz dragged Spurs CBs toward the right freeing the left for Trossard. Trossard finds the back of the net.

Tottenham seemed to have a solution to Arsenal Press. Maddison drops off to play a bounce pass to Drăgușin. Spurs recycle back. Arsenal ditches the idea of maintaining +1 in defense so, Timber jumps onto Spence. Bergvall moves toward the ball side. Pass & Move was was the key.

Spurs gave some hints to solve Arsenal's press through wide positions interchanges but they surrendered which gave Arsenal the upper hand to suffocate Tottenham in their half. Arsenal was top in all defensive phases: Rest defense, high press (zonal->man-to-man), def transitions.

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