Tactics Board | Arsenal vs Newcastle 17/01/2021
Stephen Bradley is back for Daily Cannon with a much more enjoyable game to analyse, looking at how Arsenal beat Newcastle United 3-0 on Monday night.
How Emile Smith Rowe can save Mikel Arteta a LOT of money
Tactics: What did Mikel Arteta change at half-time to take Arsenal from dour to delectable? How important is Emile Smith Rowe to this side?
Tactics: Why Arsenal vs Crystal Palace was so awful
Stephen bravely returns to dissect one of the most dour matches of the season as Arsenal's winning run came to a boring end against Crystal Palace.
Tactics: How Smith Rowe’s introduction changed Arsenal against Newcastle
Arsenal made their way to the fourth round of the FA Cup but they needed extra time and Emile Smith Rowe to do it.
Arsenal tactics: How Mikel Arteta destroyed Big Sam
Starting with Arsenal's thumping of West Brom at the weekend, Stephen talks formation, Bukayo Saka's ability to play anywhere, substitutions, timing and much more.
Do we have drones? Behind the scenes Mikel Arteta shows glimpses of his obsession
If you want an idea of the level of detail Mikel Arteta goes into when analysing and preparing for matches, then what follows will give you exactly that.
Aubameyang left: How Arsenal will play under Unai Emery & predicted XI v Atletico...
Unai Emery has announced a commitment to playing “The Arsenal Way” since his introductory press conference. He has expressed his commitment to exciting and attacking play—but just what will that look like with him at the helm?
How Granit Xhaka helped Switzerland topple the Serbians
Since his move from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2016 Granit Xhaka has split opinion but his improvement is undeniable.
Leave him alone: Lacazette misses against Tottenham harder than Harry Kane miss
Alexandre Lacazette had Arsenal's two best chances against Tottenham, but they were more difficult than fans seemed to realise.
Three words and 900 words to dissect Arsenal's win over Tottenham
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.
Granit Xhaka: Bad player or just a bad spell?
In just over a year at Arsenal, Xhaka has shown signs of being a quality midfielder, yet further improvement is needed.
The definitive reason why Arsene Wenger failed to thwart Pep Guardiola on Sunday
Arsenal succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City side who were both profligate and fortuitous, but also clearly superior in every department.
This is how Arsenal earned a 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.
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 these two Arsenal midfielders inspired victory over Bournemouth
Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil were instrumental as a sharper Arsenal side dispatched an abject Bournemouth 3-0 on Saturday at the Emirates.
This is what Arsene Wenger did that has ruined Arsenal
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.
Tactics: How Ozil and Xhaka were able to destroy 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.
Why Arsenal’s new tactics aren’t working as well as you think
Since moving to the 3–4–2–1 system after losing 3–0 to Crystal Palace, Arsenal have played six games, won five and conceded only four goals.
Tactics: How Arsenal's system is allowing Ramsey to star 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.
How Wenger's tactics outdid Manchester United to leave Mourinho still winless at the Emirates
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.
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's new system means these players could be sold
Do these players have a future at Arsenal under the new system?
Tactics: How Arsenal's resilience and Wenger's innovation beat Pep and Manchester 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.
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.
Tactics: Arsenal's pathetic 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...
How Arsenal's throwback tactics against West Ham got the best out of Mesut Ozil
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.
Tactics: Explaining went wrong for Arsenal against West Brom
‘Control’ in a footballing context is an almost subjective word that means different things to different people.
Someone who didn’t watch Saturday’s match at The...
Tactics: What went wrong for Arsenal against West Brom
‘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
Long read: How Wenger changed Arsenal's tactics against Bayern to secure top four
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.
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.
4 brilliant players who could replace Santi Cazorla at Arsenal
When Arsene Wenger said that “you wouldn’t necessarily find a Cazorla even if you wanted to,” I thought, “Sounds like a challenge!”
Tactics: Why this Arsenal humiliation was more worrying than the last one
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.
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 player focus - Who broke mesut Ozil?
Mesut Ozil's performance against Hull at the Emirates one once again disappointing.
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.
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: How Oxlade-Chamberlain made his case for a new contract against Southampon
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.
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?
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 player focus - Is this man still a pass master?
As a centreback, it's somewhat unusual for Shkodran Mustafi to consistently complete the most passes out of anyone on the pitch.