On the numbers and the tactics, Arsenal dominated territory, chances and control. A derby that underlined both the gap in structures on the day and Arsenal’s evolution into a side that can manage big games on its own terms.
On the numbers and the tactics, Arsenal dominated territory, chances and control. A derby that underlined both the gap in structures on the day and Arsenal’s evolution into a side that can manage big games on its own terms.
Off the ball, the press and counter-press turned Spurs’ buildup into long clearances. Arsenal’s rest defence hoovered up those balls, and Tottenham’s front three were left surviving on scraps aside from Richarlison’s moment of magic.
Off the ball, the press and counter-press turned Spurs’ buildup into long clearances. Arsenal’s rest defence hoovered up those balls, and Tottenham’s front three were left surviving on scraps aside from Richarlison’s moment of magic.
The pattern repeated: draw Spurs to one flank, recycle, then hit the opposite half-space with a vertical pass and a blind-side run. Trossard’s goal from Merino’s drop-and-chip is the clearest example of how that movement shredded their back five.
The pattern repeated: draw Spurs to one flank, recycle, then hit the opposite half-space with a vertical pass and a blind-side run. Trossard’s goal from Merino’s drop-and-chip is the clearest example of how that movement shredded their back five.
Merino as a drifting “9” removed Spurs’ reference point at the back, while Eze occupied the half-spaces where nobody wanted to step out. That’s how Arsenal kept finding free men between the lines to feed Saka and Trossard.
Merino as a drifting “9” removed Spurs’ reference point at the back, while Eze occupied the half-spaces where nobody wanted to step out. That’s how Arsenal kept finding free men between the lines to feed Saka and Trossard.