Mikel Arteta,the Media Puntas and the False 9s

A month ago,i came across this brilliant article by Phil Ball,on the power and rise of the media puntas.He explains the reasons behind its importance and states that with an abundance of media puntas,Spain can dominate the world in the years to come.
In that article Ball mentioned that,Arsene Wenger was the only manager in England who tried to introduce the media punta and in Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri,Arsenal had two of the best in the business.When they lost them both in the summer,Wenger bought Mikel Arteta from Everton.So can Arteta play between the lines as Fabregas and Nasri before him did?

Arteta about to take a corner for Everton,his former club
against Arsenal,his new club.

A media punta essentially is someone who acts as a link between the midfield and attack,someone who can receive the ball with his back to the defence.This role isn't easy to play and only the players of the highest  technical quality can play this role.Cesc Fabregas was a master,playing behind the strikers,receiving the ball,turning and then providing the killer pass with ease. These players playing in between the lines are the ones who generally create the most chances. So Arsenal had a big gap to fill when they lost both Fabregas and Nasri,they did have Andrei Arshavin who could play that role,but the Russian has been out of form for quite sometime now. So when Arteta arrived at Arsenal,people expected him to fulfill the void left by Fabregas. Arteta is someone who could play between the lines,as he did at Everton

But Arsene Wenger chose to play him in a deeper role,someone who could feed the wingers.For example against Fulham his average position is deeper than Ramsey's and almost at the half way point,clearly showing that he isn't playing the "in between the lines" role anymore.

The below chalkboard shows the difference in roles of Arteta when playing for Everton and for Arsenal.

Chalkboard showing the difference in Arteta's style of play for Arsenal
and for Everton.

So has Arsene Wenger gone back on his philosophy of playing with media puntas,and adopted a more English way of attacking through pacy and skillful wingers?. Maybe,because of the excellent form of Theo Walcott,we may see more of Arsenal's goals created from the right,but Arsenal's main source of goals still comes from a media punta,RVP. 

Robin Van Persie is a different type of media punta,he is a false 9 or a nine and a half. RVP drops back into space to create play,he is one of the few players who can both score and create. This season more and more Premier League teams have started playing a false nine,Rooney,Aguero,Suarez and RVP himself have all both created and scored.

One advantage that the False 9 has over the traditional media punta is that he can either choose to play as a normal stiker and score goals,or if he is not getting enough of the ball,he can then drop between the lines and look to create. Fabregas's move from Arsenal might have made them more solid,as Arteta is a more defensively aware and solid player than Fabregas,Arsenal's midfield has less chance of being overrun. And with RVP(and Ramsey too) playing the creator's role with ease,Fabregas's transfer maybe a blessing in disguise.

All the top Premier League teams have these "between the lines" players. Here Chelsea's case is an interesting one,although Ball points out that Frank Lampard is a media punta,Lampard is more of an attacking midfielder with a good finish.He is someone who does at times play as a media punta,but one can't call him a pure media punta. In Juan Mata they have someone who can play as a media punta,but AVB prefers to start him on the left. Tottenham Hotspur who have a enjoyed a great start to the season,have in Emmanuel Adebayor who has gone from a traditional center forward to someone who drops deep and tries to link up with the midifield

Chalkboard showing the difference in Adebayor's style of play for Tottenham
and for Arsenal .

One can clearly see the change in Adebayor's playing style, here at Tottenham he looks more determined and wants to get involved in the build up play as well. 

Coming back to the situation at Arsenal, Van Persie is someone,as we have seen over the past few seasons who is injury-prone. As Arsenal depend on him a lot to create and score,Wenger needs a back up plan. With Wilshere out with injury,Arsene can either play Arteta or Arshavin in the hole with Chamakh/Park up front.Or Else even a 4-6-0 with Arshavin,Arteta and Ramsey switching the striker's role with each other.

Barcelona have already experimented with the 4-6-0 this season,although it has not been very successful,it does make the game tactically more interesting. The La Liga and the Serie A as always have been more attractive and intriguing for lovers of the tactical side of the beautiful game,i hope the Premier League too comes up with it's share of tactical innovations.

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North London Derby - A Preview.

This Sunday, Spurs host Arsenal in what could be one of the defining games of both clubs’ seasons. Harry’s Hotspurs missed out on Champions League football last season, but are still one of england’s most improved teams over the last few years. One of at least six teams fighting it out for the coveted top four slots of the league. Arsenal on the other hand, are close to the wilderness. Losing big names over the summer such as Fabregas, Nasri and Clichy would hurt any team – the replacements signed by Wenger have a lot to live up to, and in Arteta’s case a hell of a lot. Wilshere’s extended absence has also hit the club hard.

Wenger’s policy of bringing through young players with bags of potential has also taking a pounding recently – epitomised by the young Manchester United team (Jones, 19; Welbeck, 20; Smalling, 21; Cleverley, 22; among others) thrashing their rivals 8-2. Perhaps it’s a better indictment of Arsenal’s predicament that they’re better described as “former-rivals” of Manchester United – it would be a big surprise to see them challenging for the title this year.

Arsenal have been lining up in a Barcelona-esque 4-1-2-2-1 formation this season, and they can be expected to put out a similarly shaped team on Sunday. Injuries, suspensions and woeful performances have meant that Wenger has fiddled with his back four more than is healthy for a defensive unit. Alex Song was played at centre-back against Olympiakos in the Champions League, as the only fit centre-back is the lumbering Per Mertesacker who is still settling into the Premier League. Vermaelen, Koscielny, Djourou and Squillaci are currently keeping each other company in the treatment room. Song had previously been playing in (to continue the Barcelona comparison – ha!) in the Busquets role, screening the back four, but if he’s played at centre-back again, expect the effervescent Frimpong to return, and promptly get himself sent off for snapping Modric’s back in two, or kicking him 20ft into the air.  Wenger has declared that Squillaci should be fit fro the Spurs game, and Djourou and Koscielny are rated as doubts, so it might not come to that. Regardless, Wenger will be forced to name a 7^th different back four in 8 games.

Further up the pitch, the injury woes continue for Arsenal. Abou Diaby is definitely out, Benayoun is a big doubt, but Gervinho and Walcott could make a return. Arsene Wenger will hope to have at least one of those two wingers back, and will soon face a selection decision over whether the emerging talent of Oxlade-Chamberlain should play in front of the strangely detached Arshavin.

Ramsey and Arteta will be doing their best Xavi-Iniesta impersonations – nwever an easy one to pull off, but they’re both good technical players with great passing skills. Surely Wenger would prefer to have either kept Fabregas at the club or to have Wilshere back from injury, but Arteta isn’t a bad signing at all, and Ramsey seems to be relishing the extra responsibility. Any captain of their national side should be able to step up to the mark mentally.

At least up front, Wenger has a player who isn’t susceptible to injury – Robin Van Persie… oh. He’s fit at the moment, keep those fingers crossed Gooners.

Interestingly, both the 8-2 defeat to Manchester United and the 4-3 loss at Blackburn followed Champions League games – suggesting that Wenger’s heavily depleted squad is struggling with the fixture list very early in the season. Tottenham Hotspurs have no such worries before this crunch game – a trip to Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League will simply give Redknapp the chance to rest first team players as he gives some of his squad players such as Danny rose and Giovanni dos Santos a run out.

Not that Tottenham aren’t without their own injury concerns, Dawson, Kranjcar and Defoe are all expected to return from injury, or at least report fit by the 2nd of October, but Gallas and the Hudd are both out.

Redknapp has also been fairly consistent with his formations so far this season. A good old English 4-4-2, varied on occasion to 4-4-1-1 to accommodate Rafael van der Vaart. Redknapp has been using the 4-4-1-1 in games which could be perceived as “bigger” – away to Manchester United, and at home to Manchester City, as well as the potentially tricky trip to Wigan, which has actually been the only time spurs have gained any points in the league with van der Vaart in the team. Redknapp will view this derby game as a big one, therefore, expect van der Vaart to be dipping the metaphorical arrows in poison and placing them in Adebayor’s quiver. Ah yes, Adebayor… a departed forward might normally expect a tough time from former colleagues, but looking at Arsenal’s defence, it’s him that will be dishing out any rough stuff. Redknapp’s renowned personal management techniques seem to be paying off with the roaming hitman.

Redknapp’s team are perhaps one of the most archetypal “traditional English” sides in the Premier League at the moment. Whether 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, he generally deploys out and out wingers on either flank (Although sometimes Modric and Krancjar have played on one wing or another) and his first choice central midfield partnership is a creative player in Modric and a destructive harrier in Scott Parker. Lennon hasn't been the most productive of players, and two whizkids on the wing might be considered a bit of a risk for the Arsenal game - Harry might be tempted to go with a more rounded player on one of the flanks.

Kaboul has been an ever-present in the league for Tottenham, and looks set to man the barriacades with the incredible Ledley King, who will be one of those rested ready for this game.

Brad Friedel has been as reliable as anyone between the sticks this season, but in fairness despite some shocking results, Szczesny has generally played well.

Expect a poor tempered game with plenty of cards, a patched-up Arsenal back line, and a Tottenham win.

By @ffootballer

Premier League Week #2-Chalkboards

Picture Courtesy-Graeme Bandeira

David Silva-Premier League's best Playmaker?

Now that Cesc Fabregas has gone back to Barcelona,the best playmaker in England title is up for grabs,David Silva against Bolton showed that the title is most likely to be his.More importantly he was full of energy during the game against Bolton and the chalkboard below shows that he was all over the pitch. There is no particular area of the pitch where his passing is concentrated.

Arsene Wenger has a lot to worry

Both the Arsenal wingers had a horrid time against Liverpool.Walcott and Arshavin,neither of them managed to have any effect on the game.The Arshavin of Euro-2008 is long gone and exciting new talent like Ryo and Oxlade-Chamberlain puts his future in doubt.The Chalkboard below shows that none of their crosses into the penalty box managed to find the target.
 Note-The First top Chalkboard is of Arshavin's and not Theo's as shown below.

Some reason to cheer for Wenger

Emmanuel Frimpong had a great game before being sent off.He is exactly the kind of player whom Arsenal desperately have been missing all these years.
Note-The first chalkboard shows the interceptions of Frimpong and not the tackles as mentioned.

 



Bosingwa-A Natural Wingback

The following chalkboard illustrates how much a natural wing back like Bosingwa contributes to the attacking play of Chelsea.The period when Bosingwa was injured,Ivanovic played at right back,although a reliable player he doesn't have the same attacking thrust as Bosingwa. Chelsea since the days of Mourinho have relied on their wing backs for width.(this chalkboard courtesy a certain 'personalfowl' from the guardian site)

Charlie Adam has become more responsible

Just last week we mentioned on our blog,about Adam becoming more responsible at Liverpool and stop hitting those long "hollywood" balls.He certainly has adjusted his game and slowly but surely he is changing his game for good.

Pennant Vs Etherington

Even though Pennant is enjoying a new lease of life under Tony Pulis,Stoke's attacks mainly come from the left as shown below in the second chalkboard.And in the match against Norwich,we see that the passing is more on the right side,this is due to the fact that Pennant was injured and Etherington shifted to the right.


 by Guardian Chalkboards

 

Arsenal Vs Liverpool-Report

-Ihsan Budaly

Liverpool recorded their first ever win at the Emirates after a good display against an under-strength Arsenal. Missing the likes of Gervinho, Wilshere and Djourou, Wenger had to field youngsters Carl Jenkinson,Emmanuel Frimpong and the (maybe) outgoing Samir Nasri. Kenny Dalglish, meanwhile, chose to leave Luis Suarez out of the starting line-up.

Arsenal were immediately in trouble as Laurent Koscielny came off with a back complaint, adding to their injury woes. Spain under-19 international Ignasi Miquel came on for his league debut, but he and Jenkinson looked shaky under pressure from the Liverpool forwards. Arsenal were kept in the game for a long period due to towering displays from their experienced defenders, Vermaelen and Sagna, while Emmanuel Frimpong provided energy in front of them on his first Premier League start.

But Liverpool undoubtedly had the better of the first half. They played what could loosely be called 4-4-2, but very fluid with lots of drifting from Kuyt, Henderson and Downing. Kuyt in particular was impressive, often dropping off into the channels while working tirelessly off the ball as always, sometimes occupying both Miquel and Sagna. However, Liverpool failed to create any clear chances in the first half, with their best effort being Andy Carroll’s header from Jose Enrique’s cross.

Arsenal are not used to the away team dominating possession at the Emirates and didn’t offer too much threat on the counter. Their trio of attacking midfielders failed to create much; Walcott was quiet, Arshavin was off-colour, though Nasri was bright and looked as likely as any Arsenal player to make an impact.

In the second half, Arsenal started to have spells of possession but still didn’t create much. Their best chance of the game came when the otherwise mediocre Arshavin won the ball of Martin Kelly and squared for van Persie, who should have done better.

But Liverpool still looked the more likely to score, especially after Frimpong’s sending off for a second booking on 70 minutes. Suddenly, Arsenal had less protection for their defence, which was exacerbated by the introduction of the energetic Meireles and Suarez for the tiring Kuyt and Carroll, injecting the fluidity back into Liverpool.

The immediate beneficiary of Frimpong’s exit was Charlie Adam, who slipped through a couple of glorious through balls to Downing and Suarez; both denied by the impressive Wojciech Szczesny. But the breakthrough did come, with the Liverpool substitutes combining. Suarez played a one-two with Meireles, which was intercepted by Miquel, but ended in heartbreak for the debutant whose clearance cannoned in off Aaron Ramsey.

The substitutes combined again for the second goal; Lucas marauded forward and found Meireles running into the box, before he squared for Suarez to get an easy tap-in. The exclusion of Suarez from the starting line-up may have been something of a surprise, but it paid dividends as he came off the bench to give Liverpool the win.

Liverpool will have been delighted to not only defeat Arsenal but effectively dominate the game, finishing with 55% of possession. Charlie Adam contributed to this; look at his chalkboard for this match compared to last week’s outing against Sunderland. He seems to be playing more simple, effective passes instead of the “Hollywood” balls he’s been lambasted for, and his pass completion rate is better (78%, up from 70%). With him and Lucas confidently keeping the ball moving, the Reds’ midfield could be a real force to be reckoned with.

 by Guardian Chalkboards

Newcastle Vs Arsenal-Tactical Analysis

Arsenal went away to Newcastle in Saturday’s televised late game – TV producers no doubt hoping for something approaching a repeat of the fantastic 4-4 draw in the corresponding fixture last season. Sadly there were no goals, but plenty of talking points. Newcastle came out in a rather predictable 4-4-2, what wasn’t predictable was the inclusion of everyone’s favourite violent philosopher Joey Barton. True to reputation Barton was involved in the major flashpoint – a scuffle with Arsenal debutant Gervinho which resulted for a yellow and red card respectively.

Arsenal – preparing for life without Fabregas and Nasri – set themselves out in a 4-1-2-2-1 formation. If that’s not clear by numbers, it’s essentially how Barcelona play. Flat back four with two attacking full backs in Kieran Gibbs and Bacary Sagna; Alexandre Song with a fearsome new haircut playing as a shielding defensive midfielder in front of the defence, - the Busquets role, if you will; two central midfielders – Ramsey and Rosicky; Gervinho and Arshavin cutting in from the wings; and Van Persie with the captain’s armband leading the line up front. Man for man they’re not as good as Barcelona, but to be fair without exception no team are. Last year Arsenal more often than not played a 4-2-3-1.

The game was tight, and bad tempered. Song perhaps taking his destructive duties a little too literally when he cynically stamped on Barton’s calf with Barton on the floor. The referee didn’t see the incident, otherwise he would have surely seen red. It may be that he would’ve been better off getting punished on the spot though, incidents like this are reviewed by the authorities and Song is in line for a ban. Joey Barton later had his moment of madness, reacting badly to what he perceived as simulation by Gervinho (replays showed contact) and pulling the Arsenal player up by his shirt. A melee ensued, and Barton threw himself to the floor after Gervinho gave him a slap. Let’s put that in the simplest terms possible – Barton, incensed by a dive, took a dive. It’ll be worth tracking him on twitter to see whether he can google a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche or George Orwell to explain that!

Man United Vs Arsenal Tactical Preview

Manchester United’s game against Arsenal on Monday the 13th of December promises to be an exciting tactical battle with two of the most experienced managers of the premier league at helm.

In this post we look at Arsenal and the possible formation they can line up with on the 13th.Of course all this depends on whether Fabregas is fit for the game or not.

This season Arsenal have generally lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Arsenal’s in form player this season is obviously Samir Nasri.The Frenchman has eclipsed Fabregas with his scintillating displays this season.His two goals against Fulham showacased his brilliance and what he can do with a ball at his small feet.The problem for Wenger is that if Fabregas is deemed fit to play against United then Nasri wont have much of the ball as he would like to have,this problem becomes clear against Tottenham in the second half

The following pictures show the line ups in the first and second halves

The real tactical action here happened at half-time. Redknapp could have taken a few players off, but he made an astute substitution, removing Aaron Lennon and introducing Jermain Defoe as a second striker, with Rafael van der Vaart moving to the right.

The Dutchman is not famed for his defensive work or positioning (although he did put himself about today, conceding four free-kicks), and so Redknapp knew he would be weaker defensively down that side of the pitch in the second half. He was wise to ‘concede’ his right-hand side, rather than the left-hand side that Arsenal had often threatened down.

Spurs narrow

The key to Spurs’ revival was not necessarily the change of formation, but the change of positioning of the side as a whole. Spurs were much narrower, with van der Vaart inevitably drifting into the middle and Bale doing the same from the other side

-Zonal Marking

Problems For Wenger

1.Centerbacks-with both Kosceilny and Vermaelen not available for this fixture,Djourou and Squillaci will be expected to start.Even though both of them are not bad defenders,whether they can perform at the top level remains to be seen with Rooney beginning to look like last season’s Player of the year,this is going to be a tough test for both of them

2.No Width-Unless Wenger suprises us and starts with Walcott,Arsenal play quite narrow if the full backs are stopped going forward.Both Nasri and Arshavin have a tendency to come inside rather going on the outside and pulling crosses back in.

3.Tendency to attack down the right-Arsenal usually build up play from the right hand side with Fabregas,Song,Nasri and Sagna
http://www.guardianchalkboards.com/guardianchalkboards_embed.swf?chalkBoardID=LtnZiX2fQWkMSr66T65v
by Guardian Chalkboards

But their counter attacks usually are down the left with Clichy bombarding down the left.The problem against United is that,United have got a very strong defensive left side and a pacy right side.This comfortably  counters Arsenal’s threats down both the sides

Park and Evra both are very good defensively especially Park  with his endless energy keeps running for 90 minutes.Nani’s good form this season should peg back Clichy and Rafael this season looks like he is matured and ironed out his defensive mistakes

Having said all this,Arsenal have a very creative bunch of players who can create chance from thin air,but whether they can do it in the big games and can they defend resolutely remains to be seen.