The Regista - Chelsea vs Arsenal tactical review: Sanchez howler; Palmer promise; Saka brilliance
Tribalfootball.com's tactics expert Connor Holden examines Arsenal's fight-back at Chelsea on Saturday and insists the Blues only have themselves to blame for dropping two points,..
In a 2-2 draw between struggling Chelsea and title challenging Arsenal, it was actually Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino who got the better of the Gunners tactically, and if it wasn't for a big mistake from Robert Sanchez, and a piece of brilliance from Bukayo Saka, the result would have shown that.
But what adjustments did Pochettino make to startle Mikel Arteta's Arsenal and why did it work so well?
POCHETTINO'S PERFECT PLAN
Pochettino set up differently in this game, playing Cole Palmer as a central striker, however his role was more of a false 9 role, to create a 4-4-2 out of possession to stunt Arsenal's build-up play and force them to find another route.
Chelsea set up out of possession in this 4-4-2 set block, with Palmer and Gallagher as the two “strikers" in the press. However both of these players are naturally attacking midfielders, and therefore they carried out their jobs in a likewise manner.
The two “strikers" and two pivot players (Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo) formed an initial box press in the middle to stop Arsenal midfielders picking up the ball, and progressing in this way. Instead they allowed Arsenal to move the ball between their back four, and left the open routes down the flanks, with the wingers slightly tucking inside to show the ball towards the touchline.
The idea here was to stop the likes of Martin Odegaard getting on the ball and hurting Chelsea in dangerous areas between the lines, and instead opting to make the Gunners go wide where they can then double up with the fullback and winger on
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