Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be vital in Matchweek 28.
Player analysis: Sergio Reguilon & Mads Roerslev (Brentford)
Only six points clear of the relegation zone, Brentford travel to Arsenal looking over their shoulders in urgent need of an uplifting result.
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Facing the league’s most in-form side it will not be easy, but Thomas Frank’s men do have a weapon up their sleeve that can cause the Gunners problems at Emirates Stadium.
Threat out wide
In the Premier League, the Bees are the best crossers this season.
No team delivers more successful crosses from open play than Brentford and they are the most accurate with their deliveries too.
Best sides from open play crosses 2023/24
| Team | Succ. open play crosses | Team | Open play crossing acc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford | 94 | Brentford | 26.11% |
| Man City | 83 | Bournemouth | 25.27% |
| Everton | 79 | Newcastle | 24.49% |
| Aston Villa | 78 | Man City | 22.68% |
| Fulham | 75 | Aston Villa | 22.29% |
Keeping good width and sending quality deliveries into the box from both wings form a key aspect of Brentford’s play, so they are sure to attack down the flanks whenever they get on the front foot in north London.
Aside from Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, who are fighting it out for this season’s title, Sean Dyche’s Everton are the only side to send more passes or crosses into the penalty area than Brentford, who currently average 30.74 per match.
Stopping crosses and defending balls that make their way into the box, will be of crucial importance to Arsenal.
Beware of Roerslev
Right wing-back Roerslev is capable of being a thorn in Arsenal’s side on Saturday evening.
He scored his first goal of the season last time out against Chelsea, in a match where his crossing shone brightly.
A poachers finish 👊
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) March 2, 2024
Mads Roerslev following in to level this afternoon 🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/bmfu3olDpQ
All five of his deliveries found their intended target, with opposite wing-back Reguilon coming closest to scoring from one of the Roerslev’s crosses.
Roerslev did supply assists for Keane Lewis-Potter and Neal Maupay against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest respectively.
His perfectly whipped in ball for Lewis-Potter at Selhurst Park was virtually unstoppable.
Over the course of the season, Kieran Trippier and Pascal Gross are the only players to have delivered more successful crosses in open play with 29 and 22 respectively than Roerslev's 21.
And on a per 90-minute basis, he is second only to Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne, producing 1.43 each match.
Players with most successful open play crosses 2023/24
| Player | Succ. open play crosses | Player | Open play crossing acc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin De Bruyne | 2.33 | Adam Smith | 55.56% |
| Mads Roerslev | 1.43 | Marcos Senesi | 46.67% |
| Reece James | 1.38 | Mads Roerslev | 44.68% |
| Lucas Digne | 1.2 | Ivan Toney | 40% |
| Kieran Trippier | 1.16 | John McGinn | 37.04% |
*Min 10 open play crosses
A lot of Brentford’s players are competent crossers, with four of them ranked inside the division’s top 25 for accuracy. (min 10 open play crosses)
Roerslev and Ivan Toney are entrenched in the top five (see above) but Vitaly Janelt (ranked 11th) and Reguilon (ranked 21st) are also highly proficient.
With the likes of Toney, Maupay or Yoane Wissa attacking those balls with conviction, Brentford always carry a threat from those situations.
If you give any of them time and space, they will pick out a fellow team-mate inside the area.
Testing Ramsdale
David Raya is unavailable to face his parent club because he is on loan, so Aaron Ramsdale will play instead.
He is not quite as confident as the Spaniard at claiming crosses, catching just two in 450 minutes of Premier League action so far.
So do not be surprised if Frank asks his players to test Ramsdale as often as possible with balls flashed across the face of goal.
They are not easy opponents for him to face on his return to the starting XI.
Wing-backs have huge roles to play
For Brentford to come away with anything against Arsenal, Roerslev and Reguilon will need to be at their very best with and without the ball.
As you can see on their season pass maps (below), they will fly forward to support attacks, with Roerslev often the most advanced Brentford player when it comes to the touches he takes.
Keeping the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus quiet will be their main priority, but in Frank’s 3-5-2 formation, they will also be required to push on and show enterprise inside the opponent’s half.
Reguilon, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, is excellent in that department.
He got into the box to have three attempts on goal against Chelsea and has been largely impressive across his seven league appearances to date.
The Spaniard, who swapped Manchester United for Brentford in January, wins 6.88 duels per match and is also an excellent crosser.
Reguilon's head-to-head with Saka is sure to be a terrific watch.
