Arsenal v Forest Eight Observations: 2-3-2-3, Saka’s Left-Robben, Martinelli’s Pirouette

TotalArsenal

Our first game of the season and three points in the bag. Where we at our best? No. Did the boys show glimpses of what is to come? Yes. What is clear is that Arteta is making changes and a bit of sweaty rust needs shaking off.

Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest: Eight Observations:

  1. In these sort of home games Arteta may be choosing to play three (or even two) at the back and push one of the full backs forward: 2-3-2-3?. Both Partey and Timber pushed up into midfield a lot, and especially Thomas was often high up supporting the attack. I really liked this yesterday: both gave us extra cover behind the attackers and had lots of the ball. The risk is of course that we are a little narrow this way with the flanks exposed for a blistering counter-attack. We got truly stung by one of those. It did not cost us in the end but we need to learn from it: teams will be trying to do this at the Emirates all season long.
  2. Of all the three signings Timber has adapted the quickest. What a shame then that he got injured and I fear we may be missing him for a while. Declan is slowly playing himself into the team as the deeper laying midfielder and Kai is also finding his feet in the team. Integrating these three clearly gifted players will take some time it seems, and I did miss Granit quite a bit yesterday.
  3. I thought the team played very mature in the first half. It did not rush but gradually turned the screw and started to create chances. We use the wings better than most teams and with Martinelli and Saka we just have two formidable weapons. Through the centre we remain a work in progress, and we really missed Jesus’ mobility to open up space and create chaos from there. Eddie is not that sort of player but he will take a chance quicker than the Brazilian, and that’s goes a long way in football. Martinelli’s pirouette and Saka’s speedy reacting to get himself in a shooting position with his formidable ‘Robben left foot’ won us the game. I was also pleased with Eddie’s goal: rather than snatching at the first opportunity, he moved the ball more centrally before hammering it home. Yes, there was a slice of luck with a light deflection but Eddie maximised the opportunity, and it would have been some block to stop him from there.
  4. What to do with Kai Havertz? Kev mentioned a few days ago that he looked a bit like Giroud in our game v Man City. I thought that too and I wonder whether playing him as a CF with his back towards the opponent’s goal is the best way forward. He has presence and good upper body strength, is a threat in the air AND can turn and add nr10 sort of attacking passes for those who move into the space behind him. Playing him in the ‘Xhaka position’ is not really working yet, especially with Timber (and soon the Zinch) pushing high up into his area. His partnership with Martinelli also remains a work in progress, but then many struggle to build one with the somewhat single-minded Brazilian. Early days, but one to watch and I welcome your thoughts on this.
  5. What happens to the team once a comfortable lead has been established? We do seem to become less intense once we go 2-0 up, and then it all looks like we cannot get back into it again. Last season we played some of the best half games I have ever seen, only to totally underwhelm in the second half. We need a way to deal with this and I think Declan Rice, and better use of our subs, is the answer to it. Now, I think the players have been told to preserve their energy better this season; it is going to be a long one and we don’t want burnout five games before the end of the season again. I could tell the players were trying to do so in the second half, but it does not work with pushing up our opponents into their own half. This requires high levels of pressing and movement, and they were not doing that. We need to sit back more after going two or three up and preserve energy, whilst playing a bit more on the counter. This is where I believe Rice, who should really become our captain, will start making a difference going forward.
  6. Another observation is that Arsenal look to have more physical presence on the pitch now. Timber, Havertz and Rice are all big, tall and athletic and it shows. I remember seeing the Invincibles at Goodison Park many years ago and their on-pitch physical presence was just awesome. (You don’t notice it as much on TV). I don’t think anyone will bully this team anymore.
  7. The Ode is getting back to his best. Martin always works hard but he looked a bit rusty and unfocused in pre-season. Not so yesterday. He made some fine passes and created space for himself and others with clever moves with and without the ball. I also noticed that he was trying to involve the left flank as much as the right one, whilst also using the middle to create danger.
  8. Leaving out Big Gab was a surprise. Maybe it was a little punishment for allowing Man City a couple of too easy chances from his area in defence (one went in) a week ago. Or maybe Arteta is planning to rotate the CBs more regularly this season. It is really good to have so many quality defenders to pick from now, and why not experiment a bit to see which duo/trio at the back works best?

Remember it is all about getting fitter and sharper at this stage, and as long as we are not dropping (too many) points it is all good. So well done the boys and bring on Palace.

By TotalArsenal.

56 thoughts on “Arsenal v Forest Eight Observations: 2-3-2-3, Saka’s Left-Robben, Martinelli’s Pirouette”

  • I didn’t see the gam3 so I can’t comment, but the tumbleweed video was fascinating.

  • Solid observations, TA, as always.

    Despite the BBC’s line-up I felt that it is more of a 3-2-2-3 (or even 3-2-3-1-1), and in attack only Saliba stays behind so Timber, Rice, Partey and White form an impenetrable line of support behind the 5 attack-minded players.

    And the 82%:18% ball possession showed what that formation is capable of, but let’s not forget that it was a home game against a team expected to struggle to stay in the top tier. So that should not be a basis for extrapolation just yet, but a promising aspect. Unlike the 10 attempts, which was a bit disappointing give the ball possession. In contrast Aston Villa made the exact same number of 13 key passes in a game when they were trashed by 5:1, and Brighton made 22 attempts out of which 12 were on target.

    As TA mentioned, it is still the old Arsenal but with improved players. We tend to drop our intensity when a comfortable lead is established, and have a tendency to struggle translating ball possession into goal scoring opportunities. Since there is no reward for being the team with the most passes (successful or otherwise) we need to unleash the creativity of the boys – exactly as it did lead to the opening goal.

    Conceding a goal from nowhere is also signature Arsenal from the last quarter of the previous campaign, I truly wish to see it less frequent in the upcoming weeks and months.

    Finally I think there are plenty of success-hungry lads in the team, so I think substituting more and earlier would bring more benefit than the disadvantage of changing the on-pitch dynamics. With games lasting 100-105 minutes this would have a positive effect on both outgoing and oncoming players alike.

    Our net game against Crystal Palace will be tougher, but hopefully not too hard.

  • Although I agree about Marti’s single-mindedness I’m not so concerned about Kai who is getting better with each game and will soon develop stronger relationships with those around us.

    We need to find a way to press on and kill off games when we can, then we can conserve energy.

    I like Arteta’s tactical tweaks which I think shows that he’s now looking for ways for the way we play to be less predictable. He’s certainly got the resources now!

  • TA,
    So many great points to agree with. I’ve been telling friends Ødegaard was not himself in preseason, I know he missed a couple weeks with a calf issue though. I had faith that he would be able to flip a switch to turn it on for real games. Luckily I was right. I have unlimited faith in Øde character. No need for Declan as the captain. We have a Captain committee and he will be on it when the time comes. A brilliant decision by Arteta and erases any chance of Captaincy problems. Allows him to recognize anybody that he feels deserves it at the moment. Eddie being Captain for a game recently must have felt a nice reward to him.

    Disagreement:
    Much too quick to say Kai won’t make a good midfielder for us before he’s had any time at all. 1 game and a preseason with 2 goals and some good pressing and tackles. Doesn’t add up to me.

    Saying he can’t do the job at 8 is completely at odds with Arteta’s strong conviction. No way he would have been bought at that price to be thrown in haphazardly as a forward just like at Chelsea. The price we paid says that Arteta believes he can be an elite midfielder for us. I agree, and I trust his judgement too.
    I think he has a very unique upside potential with his physique, pace, and pressing ability. Also love him as a target man for Rambos long balls.
    I’d say to give him time, but it’s not even necessary, because he looks very good to me so far.

  • Thanks Total. Love the tumbleweed vid. I am constantly enthused by the design features we find in creation. My six month old grand daughters nick name is “Talitha tumbleweed”, due to her propensity to roll around the floor from room to room.
    I don’t think you were at all harsh on Kai, but do agree with Ox and J’s comments that our new BFG is going to prove a fine signing. I sense that he will link and interchange well with Jesus. He reminds me of George “Stroller” Graham with his languid style of running.
    I also agree with PB’s call for bringing in fresh legs earlier. We were sucker punched at the crucial moments of last season, and those hits seemed to occur as our intensity level dropped.
    But, lads I am hugely excited about this developing squad. What wonders Mikel, Edu and the club have performed.

  • My 3 observations on the game
    1. I have been very clear in this and I would love an English captain just to make sure that the referee gives us the Kane/Trippier treatment. So it’s better if we have Rice captain and Ode leading our press and infield game mgmt
    2. We have to fix this attitude of slacking once we go 2-0 up. It’s a chronic disease that needs to be addressed immediately. It’s not a one off we have enough sample size and we were lucky yesterday
    3. We have 5 subs and a large squad. Subs have to be done earlier to freshen up the squad and inject more energy toward the latter half of the game. We have to utilise the whole squad much better.

  • Week 1 competition results – and Stuart races away leaving everybody in his wake!!

    1st Stuart with 4 correct predictions plus 3 correct scores and most correct predictions = 14 points
    2nd OX10 & PB with 3 correct predictions plus 1 correct score = 5 points
    4th Madhu with 2 correct predictions plus 1 correct score = 4 points
    5th Kev & GN5 with 2 correct predictions = 2 points
    7th Total & Eris with 1 correct prediction = 1 point
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    To the best of my knowledge a score of 14 points is the most we have ever had in a week – I want to meet whoever Stuart has in his corner. Well done my friend it looks like we will all be chasing after you this season. However you have some formidable opposition who have proved to be most adept in the past plus PB our new comer to the competition who should not be over looked.

  • Here are next weekends selections:-

    Fulham v Brentford *
    Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United *
    Manchester City v Newcastle United *
    Aston Villa v Everton *
    West Ham United v Chelsea *
    Real Betis v Atlético Madrid *

  • Premiership wages.

    1. Manchester Utd – €248,333,772 (£214,100,000)
    2. Manchester City – €245,691,531 (£211,822,000)
    3. Arsenal – €208,085,373 (£179,400,000)
    4. Chelsea – €186,040,387 (£160,394,000)
    5. Liverpool – €167,674,590 (£144,560,000)
    6. Tottenham – €140,412,390 (£121,056,000)
    7. Aston Villa – € 121,232,346 (£104,520,000)
    8. Newcastle Utd – € 118,095,988 (£101,816,000)
    9. Everton – €97,607,584 (£84,152,000)
    10. West Ham Utd – €85,043,586 (£73,320,000)
    11. Nottingham Forest – €68,596,259 (£59,140,000)
    12. Fulham – €66,315,904 (£57,174,000)
    13. Wolves – €62,692,388 (£54,050,000)
    14. Crystal Palace – €61,574,247 (£53,086,000)
    15. Brighton – €54,438,566 (£46,934,000)
    16. Bournemouth – €50,634,107 (£43,654,000)
    17. Brentford – €39,837,793 (£34,346,000)
    18. Burnley – €26,628,897 (£22,958,000)
    19. Sheffield Utd – €16,427,380 (£14,162,800)
    20. Luton Town – €6,769,156 (£5,836,000)

  • Yes Kev and Stu, tumbleweeds are amazing. If nobody wants to eat and disperse my seeds then I will just do it myself! I cannot believe they were introduced inadvertently from the Ukraine.

  • Cheers for the stats, PB. I think they tell a fair story. It was a good first half but altogether a bit disappointing, and more shots on goal was warranted given the possession stats. Ah well, upwards and onwards. Palace will be a good test indeed.

  • OX10, J,

    I like Kai and it is indeed early days, but an observation is an observation and that’s all what is to it. I am missing as yet the mobility and intricate passing required for a number 8 position, but it could all change.

  • J, the Ode will remain the official captain but Rice, like Xhaka before, will become the natural leader, whether he is the official captain or not. A leader cannot be ignored and Rice just is the natural one.

  • Yeah the use of subs remains a challenge. They often don’t really make a positive difference and often disturb the flow of the team. Yet they also make sense, at least on paper.

  • Fulham v Brentford * 2-1
    Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United * 1-1
    Manchester City v Newcastle United * 2-1
    Aston Villa v Everton * 3-0
    West Ham United v Chelsea * 2-2
    Real Betis v Atlético Madrid * 1-2

  • The Lord favours me in many ways, but the simple truth is, I found the keys to Kev’s taxi…

    Total, that book is in production for Talitha’s first birthday in November. Working title: “The travels of Talitha Tumbleweed”.

    Wolves robbed this morning. Cast iron penalty.

  • Fulham v Brentford * 2-1
    Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United * 2-2
    Manchester City v Newcastle United * 2-1
    Aston Villa v Everton * 2-1
    West Ham United v Chelsea * 0-1
    Real Betis v Atlético Madrid * 1-3

  • Haha Stu, what else did you find in Kevski’s motor home? Fig biscuits, Yorkshire tea, the biography of Henry 8 and a copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? I hope you made him your finest cupper and left him a few biscuits on a plate?!

    What a great book it is going to be for Talitha. 🙂

  • I found a few crumbs, Total. The only books I found were a well thumbed copy of Tom Anichini’s “Win that pool! Your starting point for winning the office football pools” and Sun Tzu’s “The art of war”.

  • Fulham v Brentford 1:0
    Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United 1:1
    Manchester City v Newcastle United 2:0
    Aston Villa v Everton 1:0
    West Ham United v Chelsea 0:0
    Real Betis v Atlético Madrid 1:1

  • I knew somebody had been there when I was down the shops getting some more fig rolls, it was that rugby ball I found in the kitchen…

  • Gabriel to Saudi… Surely somebody putting 2 & 2 together and coming up with 3, surely? How on earth could Arsenal ever consider letting one of our defensive mainstays leave on the back of a season destroyer on Timber? It would be risky, no it would be suicidal leaving us seriously light in quality and numbers at the back.

  • Fulham v Brentford 1-1
    Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United 1-2
    Manchester City v Newcastle United 2-1
    Aston Villa v Everton 2-0
    West Ham United v Chelsea 1-1
    Real Betis v Atlético Madrid 0-1

  • Ah, that was the exotic fragrance I discerned in the back of your taxi… 🧐

  • Stuart, if I told you about some of the things that have gone on in the back of my cab it would put you off of your fig Rolls… 😬

  • Fulham v Brentford * H (2-0)
    Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United * D (1-1)
    Manchester City v Newcastle United * H (2-0)
    Aston Villa v Everton * D (1-1)
    West Ham United v Chelsea * A (1-3)
    Real Betis v Atlético Madrid * A (1-2)

  • Been a while guys; catching up and seen some hilarious quips and exchanges on here. Haven’t laughed so hard in two weeks, thank you. 😝

    Poor Jurien Timber. May be out for half the season, or more. ACL is the dread of sportsmen. Hope he returns in time to receive a medal. Is Tierney leaving because I am not sure where the rumours about getting a replacement are coming from?

  • Here goes, GN5:

    Fulham v Brentford * 1-0
    Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United *. 2-1
    Manchester City v Newcastle United * 3-1
    Aston Villa v Everton * 2-1
    West Ham United v Chelsea * 2-3
    Real Betis v Atlético Madrid * 1-2

  • You won’t be hearing from Kev. I nicked his play book and left him a rugby ball…

    Fulham v Brentford * 1-1
    Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United *. 1-2
    Manchester City v Newcastle United * 1-1
    Aston Villa v Everton * 0-0
    West Ham United v Chelsea *
    Real Betis v Atlético Madrid * 1-2

    Harsh news for JT and the club. If we don’t keep KT, we may be in for Laporte to fill the gap?

  • C$ty have been reported to have accepted an offer from Al Nassr for Laporte so I don’t see us going in for him. I’m not sure that the Northern Oilers would want to sell to us unless they had no other takers. It might be different if Laporte doesn’t want to take the Saudi money however.

  • Fulham vs Brentford….. 2-1
    Tottenham vs Man Utd…2-1
    Man City vs Newcastle….2-2
    Aston Villa vs Everton…3-0
    West Ham vs Chelsea…2-1
    Betis vs Atletico….1-3

  • Cancelo might still be an option, but his wages would be prohibitive.

    I’m sure that we can pick up someone in the £25/£30m region from Europe as we havespaces in the squad if the right business is done?

  • I’m available. Played left back a few times. Save the club a bob or two…

    Thanks for the heads up, Total.

    Fulham v Brentford * 1-1
    Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United *. 1-2
    Manchester City v Newcastle United * 1-1
    Aston Villa v Everton * 0-0
    West Ham United v Chelsea * 1-2
    Real Betis v Atlético Madrid * 1-2

  • I was actually also a left-back and I’m right-footed, does that make me a trailblazer as one of the first inverted full-backs?

  • Sorry for putting on the broken record again, but why on Earth would we want to buy a player to be the deputy of a substitute? (I know that Timber already seems good enough to start, but we didn’t sign him to squeeze White, Zinchenko or Saliba out of the first team in the first place.)

    We don’t know how long will Jurrien be out. (It’s funny or crazy – depending on your temperament – that the club’s website posts a “medical update” that informs us that “Jurrien will undergo surgery in the coming days and will be out of action for a period of time”.) Medical statistically the rehabilitation takes 2-6 months. Usually for athletes it’s closer to the 2 month, but even if it’s 4, what would we do with Cancelo (or Fresneda) when Jurrien returns to full fitness? Mikel keeps reminding the journalists that Tierney is in his plans, but from other sources Edu is keen on selling him. If TBR comments it as “a move away would be the best thing for him; he’s too good to be a back-up”, then why are we trying to buy even better back-ups? For the “not so good” category we still have Tavares and Cedric, but even if the former is loaned and the latter is sold, White, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko and Tierney are more than enough to cover both flanks in multiple competition even for half a season.

    And that is not only the full-back issue. The recent rumor is about Arsenal being interested in Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba, a tall yet quick right-footed center back. The Burkina Faso international is a fine player no doubt about that, but based on the opening game we might not be able to field Saliba and Gabriel into the same line-up (in 3-2-2-3 formation). We have Kiwior and Holding, and many our full-back are more than capable of playing CB (Tomiyasu, White, Tierney), so why are supporters so keen on hoarding players? It is not FIFA Manager 23, for Pete’s sake.

    Players need minutes to develop and improve physically and tactically, also for their ambition, pride and mental health. Overlooked players are understandably disappointed, and that undermines the dressing room morale as well as training efficiency – not to mention their transfer value.

  • So, no room for me or Kev, PB? 😁

    I agree with your sentiments, mate. However if KT goes, a season loan for Laporte could be a fine investment.

  • Spoiler alert: there is post incoming, possibly tomorrow.
    Arsenal could really go all the way – in my opinion – but needs to reduce the squad by 8-10 heads.

    Regarding Laporte (or Tapsoba), well I’m not sure they would be interested in being CB #3, but hey, I was dead wrong regarding Raya…

  • Didn’t I read that Laporte is off to the savour the riches of the Saudis? They made a bid and city accepted so rule him out, I guess. I am not sure what Arteta sees in training and is thinking, but I’d keep Tierney in that squad and give him game time in the cups and as late sub.

  • PB iam with you on buying defenders. On Timber he won’t be available this season. It’s done for him. He has a full tear and rehabilitation will be 6-9 months. He won’t be available this season.
    I would in fact look to integrate one of Ruell Walters or Norton Cuffy or Sousa into the squad. We have to use academy effectively. We haven’t seen anyone integrated properly after the saka-esr batch. There are few highly rated once there and may be it’s time to integrate. We have a strong squad and it’s probably the best time to integrate someone from the academy.

  • Guys I would.recommend to watch two part series on Arsenal.com about academy youth FA cup run. It’s a good watch. Also coming up is a 5 part series on our womens team last season run.

  • No problem at all.
    Same of my line-up predictions are no longer valid, but there is no time-stamp on the squad assessment.
    I still stand by my prediction, especially the 1-3 (not necessary in sequence), the 4-6 and the 7-8.

  • Tottenham vs Man Utd is like watching two pub teams over the Hackney Marshes.
    TrueType appalling although I reckon Man Utd should have had a pen.

  • The spuds do look good value for their win over man united tonight. We play united in week 4 and Spurs in week 6; if we get the points in those games, we could set the marker for the season, but I guess I am getting ahead of myself.

    Bissouma’s confidence is back too and he was so instrumental to spurs getting the result they did.

    Can’t wait for Monday night and another 3 points.

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