Arsenal have shown significant improvement across their previous two matches, and their season appears to have been revived after a period in which their momentum looked to be fading.
The Gunners have now reached the Champions League final and have also moved closer to winning the Premier League title following another setback for Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side have regained confidence at a crucial stage of the campaign and are once again being viewed as favourites to secure major honours before the season concludes.
Arsenal know the importance of maintaining their current level in the remaining fixtures, particularly with both domestic and European success still within reach. If the club continue performing with the same consistency and intensity they have shown recently, there is a growing belief that they could complete a memorable end to the season.
Tactical Changes Paying Off
The team have made several tactical adjustments during recent weeks, and those changes have produced positive results. Arsenal appear more balanced in midfield and have looked more comfortable in possession, which has allowed them to control matches more effectively against difficult opponents.
Arteta will now hope the side can continue building on that momentum rather than disrupting a system that has started to deliver strong performances again. The manager is expected to keep refining the tactical structure as Arsenal prepares for the decisive matches that remain in both competitions.
Carragher Highlights Rice Role
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes one specific tactical decision has had a major influence on Arsenal’s recent improvement. The pundit pointed to Declan Rice’s deeper midfield role as a key factor behind the team’s stronger displays and greater control in matches.
As quoted by the Metro, Carragher said: “‘In the last week they’ve sorted themselves out and I think the decision to move Declan Rice a little bit deeper has had a huge influence.
‘I thought he was really good out in Madrid and got the Man of the Match award in the second leg as well. In-between that Arsenal beat Fulham and it was the first time we’ve really seen them look at ease and play free.’
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If we need to improve a part of our play just put Rice there. A bit of a stretch I know but I said it long long ago that he is one of those special players you can put virtually anywhere and he will perform at a high level.
Having Lewis Skelley in the middle gives Rice the trust and confidence to move forward. Because he knows that in his absence, Lewis is able to break counters as compared to Zubimendi who allows opponents to have free space and ride to destroy Arsenal. I have been crying in the name of Zubimendi and Eze who most often do not give priority to crucial games. Perhaps they lack energy and speed, and very slow on the ball which opponents take advantage of.
Hasn’t he been playing deeper for quite a while? I think, maybe, when zubimendi started flagging, rice started dropping deeper to support and was getting overwhelmed himself trying to do too much, and eventually arteta realised there’s continuing to tire them out and switched it (give zubimendi a rest and give rice one role instead of two!).
Have to say, Ive never been for Rice playing that deeper role, but he has been fantastic in the last few games – he looks like he’s an adult playing against kids a lot of the time to me. I think importantly he hasn’t played it like partey or someone like busquets or pirlo, he hasn’t just sat in front of the defence and acted as a playmaker in the same way (although he has played some brilliant passes) – I think he’s playing in a way that works best for him, moving the ball quickly and making use of his athleticism.
Despite my misgivings about him in that rule, I have to hold my hands up – this is the best I’ve seen him play.
Caragher should just say zubi has been shit and skelly is miles better hence ice rice baby and d team is doing much better now
Of course he would not even be close to being correct as opposed to simply pointing out the role Rice has played for at least the last month.
Declan Rice is a Rolls Royce in the DM role, who would have thought that? His best role for the team was as a DM, and now that he is sitting back we have found an edge to our play.
Hopefully this is the new way going forward, Leave Rice as the DM and let him shine I say.
Rices best position, end of. Plus MLS has given the role more dynamism.