On-field units, relationships and connections have been key to Arsenal’s progression under Mikel Arteta over the past 18 months. The havoc Oleksandr Zinchenko, Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli caused sides last season with their constant rotations is the best example of one of those teams-within-teams units, which Arsenal have not benefited from nearly as often in the early months of this one.
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Their football this term has been less free-flowing, more considered. More hard-working, less instinctive and exciting. Arsenal have been just as dominant in games but have got there in a very different way. An uncharacteristic ‘body on the line’ header from Leandro Trossard and two goals from defenders secured their 3-1 win over Burnley, for example, but those different solutions were what was necessary.
Burnley, like Sheffield United two weeks ago, came to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday aiming to frustrate Arsenal.
Manager Vincent Kompany was gesturing to his players to remain compact throughout the first half. When Arsenal defenders had the ball near halfway, it meant Burnley’s back line restricted space to just 12 yards inside their own half. When Arsenal advanced further, we saw all the visitors’ outfield players retreating to defend their penalty area.
Teams’ reactions to Arsenal’s attacking exploits are not the only reason for these seemingly slower starts.
“There are many factors,” Arteta said before the Burnley match. “We had other units that we have conceded (lost)… there are certain units that are working really well. We have to have a lot of runs with availability of players — especially with the attacking areas and the five players we put in the last line. Having that chemistry, playing minutes and being together is very, very important, because timing is everything. Especially when you’re attacking small spaces.”
Whether it be due to absences, units not clicking or the opposition closing off spaces, that timing has been difficult for Arsenal to perfect in the 2023-24 Premier League. It should not come as a surprise that they look closest to their ‘old’ or ‘usual’ selves when their most technically gifted players start buzzing around. Trossard and Zinchenko were goalscorers as well as the side’s two main problem solvers against Burnley.
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Before scoring the game’s opening goal in first-half stoppage time, Trossard made sure he was involved as much as possible. He dropped deep to circulate possession, ran in behind to stretch Burnley’s back line, occupied his usual left half-space and also floated over to the right of the visitors’ box to combine with Bukayo Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Constant off-ball movement paired with quick decisions on it were vital to Arsenal maintaining pressure on Burnley’s penalty area as the first half progressed, and it is a theme of Trossard’s play whenever he is on the pitch. That is why there has been clamour, in Gabriel Jesus’ absence, for the Belgian to return to the centre-forward berth he had at points last season.
The 2-0 Champions League win against Sevilla in midweek was his first start there this season, but the 28-year-old was similarly involved across the width of the final third. A scorer in both games, Trossard took his tally to six for the season (and seven for Arsenal), all of which have been assisted by Saka. Four of them have been first-time finishes from low crosses/cutbacks, another first-time finish came from a deep cross at Chelsea, he made his own space after a lay-off against Manchester City and their most recent combination was the two headers on Saturday.
Also having 12 assists to his name since his transfer from Brighton 10 months ago (10 last season, two this), Trossard is the epitome of efficiency in this Arsenal side. In the Premier League, only Saka (20) has been involved in more goals than him (15) and the understanding they have built to play on instinct has saved Arsenal many times in 2023.
“Very happy with him (Trossard),” Arteta added. “I think every time you ask him to play, whether it’s wide or as a No 9, it flows and he has a real threat. So I’m really happy with him.
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“That’s the word — I think he connects everybody. He’s so intelligent. I think he moves in ways that attract people, that generate spaces and options for people. Today he did that really good, because it was so difficult and the spaces were so small to attack. He gave us a lot of threat and possibilities to connect and find spaces for us.”
Zinchenko’s impact was equally important, both in deeper and more advanced areas. Space was not a luxury for him early on when Kompany’s ‘compact plan’ was working, but the Ukraine international soon found his groove. Similarly to last season’s 4-0 win over Everton, when his ‘initiative’ unlocked the game, he was moving out to the right to link up with Saka. This time, however, it was with fancy backheels to create more space for his winger inside a packed box.
Zinchenko had more touches (166) and passes in the final third (45) than any player against Burnley, but his influence went beyond what happened on the ball. He also won more aerial duels (seven) and tackles (five) than any player and was particularly important when Arsenal went down to 10 men after Fabio Vieira’s red card on 83 minutes.
Asked about the 26-year-old, Arteta said: “Very happy with him. Especially against these teams, the fluidity, threat that he brings, the spaces that he occupies and opens for other players is critical. I really liked how defensively committed he was today.
“The goal is a really good example of how he’s living the game. When the ball is far from him, he’s the first on the ball, that’s why he scores the goal. That’s what we need from him.”
That fact Arsenal still entered the November international break as champions City’s closest competitors (before Liverpool edged ahead on goal difference yesterday), despite a flurry of injuries and not looking like the team who took last season by storm shows this team are a solid Premier League outfit.
They are not as vertical in their play as in 2022-23, but the foundations they have set in terms of defensive organisation, attacking set pieces and principles are a good platform to build from.
Their two chief connectors have been a big part of that.
(Top photo: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
