We fans often talk about “tactics” and seem to disagree about their meaning and usage, so I decided to delve into this subject a little deeper.
The official explanation about football is as follows:
“The specific actionable plans and procedures a team uses to win a match, aiming to exploit their opponents’ weaknesses, while maximising their own strengths.”
Now I read that a couple of times in order to digest and understand it, and the thing that leapt out more than anything was the need to approach each opponent differently.
- Are we doing that under Mikel Arteta?
There are also different set-ups to use, such as 4,4,2, 4,3,3, and 3,5,2 for example, depending on the players we have and the opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.
2. Are we doing that under Mikel Arteta?
One of the earliest and best-known systems was that adopted by our revolutionary manager, Herbert Chapman, and was called the W system.
One could break down those systems to suit these particular headings:
A. Movement and patterns.
B. Attacking with the ball.
C. Attacking without the ball.
D. Defending with the ball.
E. Defending without the ball.
F. Transition, when either winning or losing the ball.
- Are we doing any of that with Mikel Arteta?
There are also different words used to describe these tactics.
Here are the ones I can think of:
A. Tika taka.
B. Sweeper usage.
C. Long ball.
D. Counter attack.
- Are we doing any of that with Mikel Arteta?
Finally, there were a couple of quotes from professionals within the game that I think should be remembered when we discuss the way our club plays under Mikel Arteta, along with the tactics he uses.
Joe Matip, the Liverpool defender, said the following in 2019:
“We have to control the ball. If we have the ball, the other team cannot score.”
Vic Buckingham, who managed Ajax and Barcelona, while also playing over 200 games for Tottenham Hotspur, his only club, said the following:
“If you’ve got the ball, keep it. The other team can’t score then.”
- Are we doing any of that with Mikel Arteta?
It will be interesting to see other Gooners’ views from questions one to five, and I have not given mine in order that I do not confuse the issues.
Ken1945
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Ken
Great article and comments from you, a very interesting read; both of your article and upcoming comments.
1. Yes Arteta does in my opinion, but only around the edges. He focuses on our strength primarily, (speed is wasted in our slow build-up focused on possession), and content to deny opponents the ball.
I don’t see him targeting their weaknesses, instead trying to gain “control” by possession and static positioning.
2. Some different looks, but Arteta loves his 4-3-3, but teams rarely play set in stone to their formations.
3. Yes, oh Hell yes. Static positioning, initiating the press, who and from where, and the been sussed inverted LB.
4. No style to Arteta’s system, he favors organization and static positioning to movement; therefore creativity suffers or falls into predictible patterns. Arteta favors philosophy I believe, hence often times we get a lead and go into a shell and defend, regardless of opponent.
5. In my humble opinion, too often we fall into possession over purpose; retaining the ball, but ineffective in attack due to slow buildup focused on possession/control over trying to exploit opponents weaknesses.
It is all my opinion of course, people may agree or disagree.
Arteta has made us competitive with his “system,” however we explain it. However, it yet remains to be seen if it is successful or not, time will tell. So far it has capped out at finishing 2nd three times in a row, and zero trophies; let’s hope this year is different.
For Ken 1945
I have been critical of MA’s tactics in the past.
Possession wise, I think he is doing well as the stats suggest. He has been changing systems and experimenting. Cannot complain about him trying to be inventive.
But the great teams always knew how to change the tempos in games (Liverpool of the 80’s, Man Utd and AFC in 90’s/noughties and MCFC from 2015 onwards). This is where I am not sure that he has succeeded.
Football is basically a simple game, made complicated by over thinkers, was once how I heard it described.
Players playing off the cuff so to speak seem to be getting their flair coached out of them, with the rigid ways that a lot of managers want them to play these day. Nit good for football, in my humble opinion.
Clearly tactics can make a big difference – can make average teams great (mourinho’s Porto were a great example of this). Also, guardiola’s approach is hardly simple, and he’s got to be one of the most successful managers of all time. I do think a lot of these seemingly complex tactics have made teams better (as in, better at winning).
I do agree with you though – it can be very stifling. I do prefer the football from 10+ years ago compared to now. Much more interesting in general (few notable examples like last night aside)
OOPS!, Not. There I go again hitting the wrong letter. 😂
When you are in the stands and you do not care how the table updates go the next day, Leeds under Bielsa is the epitome of football but pause and think about me, a gooner, who last saw a title with our name when Vieira hoisted it Obama won a presidential election!!
Arteta’s cautious approach is at times nervy but then Ian Wright and I and other gooners have some 3 more points to show. Our system is Defend, Possess, Get a surprise Goal. I personally do not care a whit as long as the luggage shifts forwards
“who last saw a title with our name when Vieira hoisted it Obama won a presidential election!!”
Sorry to tell you, I think it was before even that
You’ve watched too many re runs of ‘ello, ‘ello on U and Yesterday, Derek
SueP,
I shall say dis (this) only once.😂👍
We have seen Arteta evolve in his tactics, a couple of seasons ago he was playing some scintillating football, pressing high hitting teams first half and controlling the ball. Now rather this season in particular his possession based control as much as he has managed getting us fighting for titles to some extent hasn’t got him maximizing on creativity.
We are too slow in the final third and players seem not want to take risks and play the safer pass. And the positional micro- managing isn’t sustainable and limits players from freely expressing themselves.
Kenya001,
I hear you. 👍
Personally, i think we go overboard in stressing the importance of Managers, and to a lessor extent, tactics in modern day football.From what i have seen, virtually every professional Club in the English Leagues is now intent on playing out from the back by using their Keeper as an additional outfield player, with a view to retaining possession and hitting the opposition in transition,to use a word I don’t particularly like , but it seems to have superseded “counter attack” for some reason.In any event, the role of Keepers, and centre backs have changed dramatically since I played, but whatever formations are used, whether they are successful largely depends on the quality of the PLAYERS available to the Manager.In the case of Arsenal, as fans we are quick to throw in our twopence when discussing the strengths and weaknesses of our squad, but at the end of the day where we fall short in my opinion is the lack of top quality front three players.We lack a natural attacking left back, and energetic box to box operators, but the fact is ,not one of our front three players would start for PSG nor Bayern Munich.After watching their epic battle last night, which was one of the best matches I have ever seen in terms of attacking football,i found myself yearning for Arsenal to acquire forwards of the calibre on display in Paris..At the end of the day , the enjoyment and excitement we all get from football stems from the skills of players rather than from excitable Managers on the touchline, VAR, or pundits and presenters , many of whom are inarticulate and horribly repetitive.On the subject of VAR, the referee last night did very well apart from changing his decision and awarding a penalty to PSG for a ludicrous hand ball award.This rule needs to be changed asap .
In my opinion, Grandad, the Officials in Europe are much better than in England.
Agree ken1945, it’s like night and day.
Agree wholeheartedly Ken but don’t you think the hand ball rule needs changing?It’s getting to the stage when most defenders in their penalty area, and beyond in fact,have their arms in an unnatural position behind them to avoid being hit when their arms are in a natural position which is essential to be balanced?Absolutely crazy to me.
Agreed Grandad, like the current off side ruling, it’s farcical.
I’m sure the people who make up these rules have never played the game or officiated in one either.