Alex Keble takes a look at what tactics Arsenal used to edge past Manchester United.
Declan Rice’s stoppage-time goal put Arsenal on course for victory in a wild and breathless encounter at Emirates Stadium that could have swung either way.
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Man Utd’s goal overturned for offside just a few minutes earlier, when Alejandro Garnacho finished off a swift counter-attack, was inches from redrawing the story of this match – and the analysis ought to reflect those fine margins.
See: Late goals seal dramatic Arsenal win
A stodgier first half of tactical chess – defined by a lack of fluency for either side – gave way to a more conventional battle of possession versus counter-attacks in the second 45 minutes. And although Arsenal’s growing pressure eventually forced the winner, Man Utd were dangerous enough on the break to spare them from criticism for the change in strategy.
We analyse how the action unfolded – and how the substitution of Kai Havertz for Fabio Vieira ultimately decided the outcome.
Arsenal conservatism makes for tense first half
Arsenal’s win was all about breaking the tension, about shifting the rhythms of the match in the second half. But before then, it’s worth explaining how things had looked in a tense and wary opening.
Man Utd refused to press high on to Arsenal, which was a strategy designed to prevent the hosts from weaving around the press and arriving in space in the final third.
Given that Erik ten Hag has generally chosen to sit off, tempt the opponent forward, then counter-attack in behind when up against the top teams, that was hardly a surprise.
But Arsenal’s decision to do something similar certainly was not expected.
Perhaps fearful of opening themselves to a fast Man Utd transition, they didn’t harass the United defenders, which is why the match was mostly played in a congested middle third of the pitch.
Arsenal’s PPDA (passes per defensive action, which measures the intensity of a team’s pressing) of 19.2 and United’s PPDA of 23.9 were incredibly high figures, and far greater than their respective averages this season of 7.5 and 9.4.
Marcus Rashford’s goal on the break (which was United’s first touch in the opposition box, and first shot, of the match) was proof that Mikel Arteta’s fears were well placed.
Those scenes at the North Bank 🤩
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However, there was another reason why things were a little blocked up.
Havertz, once again, looked a little lost in his left-central midfield position, struggling to link with Gabriel Martinelli and leading to Arsenal moves often breaking down.
The below average positions graphic shows just how far away Havertz (No 29) was from Martinelli (No 11), leading to the logjam.
Tactical changes and Vieira make difference
The second half was notably different, with Man Utd dropping deeper and enjoying the odd counter-attack while Arsenal controlled possession and territory.
It’s impossible to know for certain whether this was by accident or design, but United especially seemed to make a deliberate change.
They went from 55 per cent possession in the first half to only 34 per cent in the second, pumping long balls forward in the hope of finding substitute Rasmus Hojlund.
As for Arsenal, they cranked the pressure once Vieira came on for Havertz. Suddenly the ball flowed down the left and Arsenal, moving from side to side, could push United back – as they did to force the corner from which Rice scored.
Vieira had 13 touches in 22 minutes on the pitch compared with Havertz’s 25 in 76 minutes. If replicated over a full 90 minutes, Vieira would have hit 53.2 touches and Havertz 29.6.
It wasn’t just about the volume of Vieira’s engagement, but also the positions he was taking up. He was higher and wider than Havertz, interchanging with Martinelli to put United under pressure.
But we shouldn’t focus too much on Vieira’s influence.
After all, Garnacho was very close to winning it for Man Utd with what would have been their second breakaway goal - and one justifying the change in strategy that led to United dropping deeper to play a more direct counter-attacking match.
Instead, a somewhat messy contest ended with Arsenal snatching victory at the death, with Gabriel Jesus's goal on the counter in the 11th minute of stoppage time adding gloss to the scoreline.
Arteta will want to stop winning matches in this manner and bring calm back.
To do that, he might consider starting Vieira ahead of Havertz.
