How Arteta, Vieira and Gerrard have brought change with youthful approach

A trio of talented young managers are in the process of putting their playing backgrounds to good use in the Premier League.

Between them Mikel Arteta, Patrick Vieira and Steven Gerrard, all outstanding midfielders, amassed a total of 1,095 Premier League appearances. Collectively they also won 15 domestic trophies.

Can any of them seek to emulate Roberto Mancini, who thanks to five matches for Leicester City, remains the only former Premier League player to have claimed the title as a head coach?

Here’s a look at how each of the three new boys is trying to implement ideas that are in part fuelled by their knowledge and experience of the level.

Lowering the average age

Widely regarded as the fastest and most frenetic domestic league in world football, all three seem to share a common view that young, hungry players are an essential part of their team's make-up.

Gerrard has immediately shown faith in Aston Villa Academy stars Jacob Ramsey, 20, and Carney Chukwuemeka, 18, who have both enjoyed regular game time since he took charge in November.

Arteta and Vieira have consciously reduced the age of their starting XIs.

All six of Arsenal’s summer signings were 23 or under and, by blending them with Academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, the Gunners boast the youngest average starting XI in the top flight.

Youngest average starting XI 

At Crystal Palace, the introduction of new faces Conor Gallagher, Michael Olise, Marc Guehi and Odsonne Edouard has provided a similar impact at Selhurst Park.

One of Vieira’s immediate priorities was to refresh the side with younger talent. And he has successfully brought down the average age of his line-ups from just shy of 29 under Roy Hodgson, to 27 years and 345 days. You can expect that process to continue in the coming months.

Arteta, Vieira and Gerrard want to build their plans over the medium to long term and, having all played under managers who  did the same, this is perhaps no coincidence.

Not long out of retiring as players, the trio may also feel it is easier to work with younger, more impressionable talent who are still of developing both tactically and technically.

Intensity and aggression

As Liverpool captain, Gerrard demanded intensity from his team-mates, embodying that style himself as an all-action central midfielder.

Those core values are evident in the organised but aggressive way he is setting Villa up as a side.

Perhaps the greatest contrast between Gerrard and his predecessor Dean Smith is in the co-ordinated and structured way Villa now close down opponents inside the middle and defensive thirds.

Gerrard has backed off from a high press but, as reflected in the table below, they have ultra-keen to deny space to rivals when defending their own 18-yard box in their eight matches under the new boss, compared wit the first 11 of Smith this season.

Villa pressures per 90 in 2021/22

Applying almost double the number of pressures in that zone than they did under Smith, Villa are making it harder to create chances against them. Facing 3.2 fewer shots per match under Gerrard, they are also conceding fewer goals.

At Arsenal and Palace there has also been a visible change to their off-the-ball work this term.

Aided by younger legs, but also a desire from the coach to perform in a more dynamic manner, Vieira’s side are ranked seventh in the Premier League for possession won inside the final third.

Under Hodgson, who preferred to set up a lower block, the Eagles were ranked 15th in this department.

Arteta’s team have made similar changes, pressing with far greater intensity in advanced areas of the pitch. They have risen from 13th to sixth.

Positive, front-foot styles

In his Arsenal heyday Vieira was a progressive, bold central midfielder and he has brought that sense of adventure to the Palace job.

His team has been encouraged to play out from the back with increased confidence, with Palace raising their average share of possession from 40 to 52 per cent.

By adopting a more front-footed approach, they are also posing a significantly greater attacking threat.

Modernising their style of play, the Frenchman’s coaching has had a transformational effect.

Palace's change under Vieira 

It has taken a while for Arteta’s blueprint to fully take shape but in 2021/22 his Arsenal side has also performed with more purpose.

Inspired by a gifted but industrious batch of youngsters, plus a focus from the Spaniard on being more progressive with their distribution, they are far tougher to contain.

Arsenal’s attacking numbers indicate that they are genuine top four contenders.

Arsenal's change under Arteta

This trio’s understanding of the core principles required to achieve Premier League success, coupled with a modern approach to ideas, has really caught the eye this season.

All three are tactically astute and keen to play in a positive manner, but above all else they demand high standards in and out of possession too.

Highly driven as players, they have taken that steely focus into top-flight management.