Amrit Rai

49 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

Why did Aaron Ramsey divide Arsenal fans so much?

This was first written in the summer of 2017. It's striking how little needed to be changed 18 months later but with the news...

How Arsenal’s intelligence, intensity and structural integrity saw off Spurs

An assured Arsenal side rose to the occasion and turned in their best performance of the season to comfortably dispatch a much-fancied Tottenham Hotspur side who didn’t even land a body blow.

Why Wenger’s Chelsea gambit didn’t work against Man City

Arsenal succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City side who were both profligate and fortuitous, but also clearly superior in every department.

How Arsenal’s recent approach invited an overdue defeat

Arsenal’s recent approach to games and poor in-game adjustments finally came home to roost against Watford in Saturday night’s late kick-off.

Cohesive Arsenal earn comfortable point against Chelsea

An astute and assured Arsenal side avoided defeat at Stamford Bridge for the first time since October 2011 in yesterday’s lunchtime kick-off.
Arsenal tactics

How Wenger’s tactical tweaks inspired Arsenal’s comeback against Cologne

Arsene Wenger’s half time adjustment proved the difference as a stuttering Arsenal overturned a first half deficit en route to a 3-1 win over a Cologne team who were lacking the enthusiasm of their supporters.

How Ramsey and Ozil inspired Arsenal against Bournemouth

Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil were instrumental as a sharper Arsenal side dispatched an abject Bournemouth 3-0 on Saturday at the Emirates.

How Wenger’s tactics set Arsenal up for a fall at Anfield

Arsenal’s third Premier League game of the season saw them again pick the wrong players in the wrong positions, and it was no surprise they were on the receiving end of the wrong result.

Long read: Why Aaron Ramsey is such a divisive figure amongst Arsenal fans

It's almost impossible to discuss Aaron Ramsey without it turning into a blazing argument. Why is that?
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: Özil and Xhaka pull the strings as Arsenal beat Sunderland

Mesut Özil and Granit Xhaka evidently didn’t read the script that Tuesday night’s home win over Sunderland was to be an end of season dead rubber played at walking pace by both sides.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics How Arsenal’s new system helped Alexis and Özil shine

Arsenal professionally rode the wave of a 15 minute second half Stoke effort before putting the game to bed and earning a first win in the Potteries since 2010.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: How Arsenal’s system is allowing Ramsey to shine again

Arsenal’s professional and drama-free away display earned them their first league win at St Mary’s since Southampton’s return to the top flight in 2012/13.
Arsenal tactics

Midfield masterclass helps Wenger beat Mourinho again

Arsenal’s midfield outshone their United counterparts and provided the perfect platform for Sunday's 2-0 win, which leaves Jose Mourinho still searching for his first league win at the Emirates and first win in any competition against a current Top 6 side since November 2014.
Arsenal tactics

3 years v 3 weeks: Tactics and why Arsenal lost at Spurs

Arsenal held on for 55 minutes, before they succumbed to two second half goals against a Spurs side they never looked like beating.
Arsenal tactics

How Arsenal’s new formation spells trouble for some

Do these players have a future at Arsenal under the new system?
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: How Arsenal’s resilience and Wenger’s innovation beat Pep and City

Arsene Wenger’s decision to adopt a back 3 paid dividends as The Gunners were able to overcome Manchester City in extra time at Wembley and advance to yet another FA Cup Final.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: How Arsenal used Middlesbrough as their Manchester City testing ground

There are two schools of thought regarding Arsenal’s formation switch ahead of Monday night’s 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: Arsenal’s Palace performance indicative of deeper problems

A gameplan, no matter how elaborate or simple, stringent or fluid, can only be as effective as the players tasked with implementing it. At Selhurst...
Arsenal tactics

How Arsenal’s throwback tactics got them back to winning ways

An Arsenal side inspired by Mesut Özil and captained by Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey got back to winning ways against West Ham, while also turning in a solid performance they can build upon moving towards Wembley.
Arsenal tactics

Tactical long read: Arsenal end losing streak after strange tactical battle

Arsenal broke their Premier League losing streak with a well-earned point in what transpired to be a strange tactical battle against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: Arsenal pay price for loss of control

‘Control’ in a footballing context is an almost subjective word that means different things to different people. Whatever it is, Arsenal lacked it against West Brom
Arsenal tactics

Long read: How Wenger’s tactical tweaks can give Arsenal a fighting chance until May

In March 2013, Arsene Wenger used a dead rubber Last 16 2nd Leg against Bayern Munich to experiment with a new line-up that would click and ultimately get Arsenal over the line and help them achieve that season’s minimum requirement of retaining Champions League football for the following season.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: What went wrong for Arsenal at Liverpool

Rather than persist with something that was proven to not work at Anfield, Arsene Wenger instead tried something different in an attempt to come away from one of this current Arsenal team’s bogey grounds with an unlikely victory.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: The best laid plans of mice and Weng(er)

Arsenal’s fundamentally sound gameplan was undone by a series of individual errors in a 10 minute period as the Gunners slumped to a very different 5-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena than the one they had suffered last season.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: How disjointed Arsenal stifled Mesut Özil against Hull

A disjointed and unconvincing Arsenal side achieved what they ultimately needed to against Marco Silva’s rejuvenated Hull on Saturday, but there is cause for concern moving forward.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: The fundamental flaw at centre of Arsenal’s limp display at Chelsea

Arsenal were found wanting yet again at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in a defeat that finally ended a title challenge that had been running on fumes.
Arsenal tactics

Self-sabotaging Arsenal set themselves up for a fall against Watford

An Alex Iwobi inspired Arsenal were well on their way to staging a second half comeback and digging their way out of a hole that was completely of their own making, but instead dug their way back into it, while Watford watched on.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: Ox stars as Arsenal’s makeshift midfield marches into 5th round

When the teamsheet came out on Saturday, some worried Arsenal may have to continue their wait before getting a first win at St Mary’s since Southampton’s return to the top flight in 2012.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics long read: Things to get ugly for Arsenal in Granit Xhaka’s absence

Two moments of madness from central midfielders nearly saw Arsenal throw away what had looked like a safe three points in an accomplished performance against Burnley but how will they cope without Granit Xhaka?
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: How Arsenal reverted to Wengerball to destroy Swansea

Saturday’s performance in the 0-4 win at Swansea was Arsenal’s most aesthetically pleasing display in the league since the win over Chelsea back in September, so what did they do differently?
Arsenal tactics

How Aaron Ramsey sparked Arsenal’s resurgence at Preston

Football matches turn on moments.
Arsenal tactics

Tactical long read: What went wrong for Arsenal at Bournemouth?

For the fourth straight year, Arsenal’s festive fixtures featured a frustrating display on the South coast.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: Arsenal’s late show smashes through West Brom’s parked bus

After being frustrated for 86 minutes, Arsenal finally broke the deadlock against a dogged West Brom side thanks to an Olivier Giroud header.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: Arsenal’s pressing concerns v Manchester City

Arsenal’s second half performance in the defeat for Manchester City was a cause for great concern.
Arsenal tactics

How Arsenal’s tactics came unstuck at Everton

Arsenal came away empty-handed from Goodison Park after playing well for approximately two of the final 60 minutes against Ronald Koeman’s resurgent Everton side, who had only won one of their last 10 matches.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics – For whom the Bellerín tolls

All players take an undetermined amount time to return to their best form after coming back from injury.
Arsenal tactics

Tactics: Xhaka, Ramsey and the return of Wengerball

The enduring memory of Tuesday night’s triumphant trip to Basel will be the scintillatingly slick move for Lucas Perez’s second goal but it should also be of the Xhaka-Ramsey partnership
Arsenal tactics

How Wenger’s tactical tweaks get the best out of The Ox

He makes things happen but he's high-risk, high-reward player. Just how has Wenger got the Ox flying?
Arsenal tactics

Tactics – How Xhaka helped Arsenal back to winning ways

Arsenal managed to both play fairly well and also make life unnecessarily difficult for themselves against a very competent Bournemouth side. Here's how Granit Xhaka played his part.
Arsenal tactics

How Ramsey’s revival can revitalise Arsenal’s season

Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka could be a formidable midfield pairing for Arsenal, here's why