Tactical Insights: Everything we learnt from Arsenal's pre-season matches
A full rundown of all the key tactics from Arsenal's three pre-season games.
Introduction:
Compared to last season's absence of a proper pre-season, Arsenal have had significantly better preparations this year. They began with a US tour, facing NWSL side Washington Spirit and local rivals Chelsea. They concluded their pre-season with a match against Southampton back in the UK, just before their midweek Champions League qualifiers.
ARS v WAS:
Arsenal took on NWSL side Washington Spirit in their first pre-season match, part of their USA tour. Two goals from Alessia Russo saw Arsenal achieve a 2-1 victory.
Key Tactical Insights:
Jonas Eidevall experimented with the midfield, starting Little, Maanum, and Kühl, with Maanum pushing forward while Little and Kühl played deeper.
Kafaji excelled in the number 10 role behind Russo, using her passing range to dictate play and becoming a key outlet.
The frontline featured Godfrey, Mead, and Russo. Godfrey showed promise driving forward but sometimes lacked in final decision-making. Mead struggled to influence the game from a wide position, often dropping deep to find the ball.
Russo was in excellent form, scoring the opening goal with sharp positioning and demonstrating strong hold-up play, proving clinical in front of goal.
Michelle Agyemang contributed well after coming on, linking up effectively with Kafaji and aiding in build-up play with her strength.
Arsenal’s defense struggled with runs in behind, causing issues throughout the game. Zinsberger had difficulty playing out from the back under Washington Spirit's pressing.
In central defence, Katie Reid and Leah Williamson grew more assured as the match progressed, with Williamson’s passing and Reid’s mature performance proving vital.
Eidevall’s wingbacks, Lia and McCabe, pushed forward but struggled defensively against Washington Spirit’s wingers.
Wubben-Moy provided composure off the bench, steadying the defence but made a few errors when playing out from the back.
Naomi Williams replaced the injured Zinsberger, making a crucial intervention but struggling with set pieces.
ARS v CHE:
Arsenal faced off against local rivals Chelsea in their second pre-season match, part of their USA tour, narrowly losing 1-0.
Key Tactical Insights:
Arsenal faced significant challenges in their defensive efforts, particularly when it came to closing Chelsea down in the box. The team struggled to apply consistent pressure, allowing Chelsea too much space and time to manoeuvre, which put Arsenal at a disadvantage in critical moments.
Caitlin Foord had a crucial opportunity to score but was not clinical enough in front of goal. She found herself in a one-on-one situation with Musovic but was unable to convert, missing a key chance that could have altered the course of the game in Arsenal's favour.
Arsenal’s defensive lapses were evident as they repeatedly failed to clear their lines effectively. Chelsea capitalised on this by winning the second ball on multiple occasions, maintaining pressure and creating additional scoring opportunities that Arsenal struggled to defend against.
Although Arsenal were successful in getting the ball out wide, their efforts were undermined by a lack of quality in the final cross. The team consistently reached promising positions on the flanks, but the delivery into the box often fell short, diminishing their attacking threat.
Alessia Russo was presented with several promising chances in front of goal throughout the match. However, she was unable to capitalise on these opportunities, missing out on the chance to significantly impact the scoreboard and swing momentum in Arsenal's favour.
Rosa Kafaji continued to shine in the number 10 role, demonstrating her skill and vision. She consistently threaded precise passes through to her teammates, unlocking the Chelsea defence, while also showing confidence in taking on defenders. Her ability to drive Arsenal forward and create opportunities was one of the standout aspects of the team's performance.
ARS v SOU:
In their final pre-season match before the Champions League Qualifiers midweek, Arsenal took on Southampton, achieving a 3-0 win.
Key Tactical Insights:
Arsenal demonstrated exceptional proficiency in their set-piece execution, which proved to be a key element of their success. This tactical strength was clearly evident as Laia Codina capitalised on these opportunities, scoring two crucial goals. Following the recent addition of a new set-piece coach, the team has already shown noticeable improvement in this area, and Arsenal will undoubtedly aim to build on these positive developments moving forward.
Kyra Cooney-Cross and Kim Little are beginning to form a promising partnership in the midfield. Their on-field chemistry is becoming increasingly apparent, and as they continue to play together, their connection is expected to strengthen, contributing to more fluid and effective team play.
Caldentey showcased her high footballing IQ on the wing, making smart decisions and executing well-timed movements both with and without the ball. Her understanding of positioning and ability to influence the game from wide areas added a significant strategic dimension to Arsenal's attacking approach.
Katie Reid continues to make a strong impression with her performances. She displays remarkable confidence when in possession and consistently delivers solid defensive work. Her reliability and growing influence have been recognised by Jonas Eidevall, who has confirmed that she will remain with the senior squad, further highlighting her importance to the team’s defensive setup.
Frida Maanum was heavily involved in the match, frequently finding herself in possession of the ball. However, to elevate her game further, there is a need for her to adopt a more ruthless and decisive approach, particularly in critical moments, to maximise her overall impact.
Stina Blackstenius showed signs of developing a promising relationship with Rosa Kafaji, with the two players beginning to link up effectively on the pitch. This emerging partnership has the potential to become a key aspect of Arsenal's attacking strategy as they continue to build their understanding of each other's play.
For full details of things learnt in the Southampton game, click the link below to read Freddie Cardy’s full article on the Gooner, featuring post-match words from Jonas Eidevall 👇🏻
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