A platform for glory: tactical analysis of Arsenal 5 Chelsea 0

Arsenal boosted their confidence, goal difference and Premier League title prospects with this thrashing of a dreadful Chelsea. The impressive Gunners went three points clear of Liverpool at the top – and four clear of Manchester City, albeit having played twice more – with four games remaining for Mikel Arteta’s team. A first league title in 20 years is tantalisingly within reach for Arsenal.

By contrast, Chelsea’s desperate campaign cannot end soon enough. It is true that they travelled to north London unbeaten in their last eight league games, including a 6-0 win against Everton in their last Premier League outing. And yet, fresh from an FA Cup semi-final defeat and without their player of the season, Cole Palmer, any hopes of a morale-boosting derby win were emphatically dashed. Instead, Mauricio Pochettino’s team left chastened and stuck in an underwhelming ninth place in the table.

The scene was set soon after kick off, when Leandro Trossard put Arsenal ahead after four minutes. Chelsea did manage to compose themselves enough to make a game of it in the first half, but once Ben White doubled the lead on 52 minutes, the visitors collapsed. Kai Havertz duly bagged a brace against his old club, and White got his second to seal a crushing win.

How the managers saw it

“A big performance,” said Mikel Arteta. “Collectively and individually I thought we were really good against a really good team that was in great form. From the start of the game I think we were really determined, really flowing, playing with a lot of courage and making things happen.”

“We didn’t start the game in the way we were supposed to start,” said Mauricio Pochettino. “We conceded the goal too easy, we made things so easy for Arsenal, started the game losing the game and after that it was really tough. We were talking at half-time, saying it is not possible to start a game like that at this level, but we started in a bad way again in the second half and conceded two goals. Then I think the team gave up and we were not in the game.”

Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches highlight the key tactical themes from this free-scoring Arsenal display…

Arsenal’s 3-4-3

Arsenal converted into a 3-4-3 in possession, using a box-midfield shape, as Takehiro Tomiyasu inverted from left-back. With Havertz then dropping deep as the centre-forward, Arsenal overloaded Chelsea in the central areas (below), totally dominating the opening exchanges.

As Chelsea defended in a 4-4-2, with Conor Gallagher jumping out of midfield to support Nicolas Jackson in the first line, their double pivots were simply overrun – even as Noni Madueke followed Tomiyasu’s runs inside. Arsenal often found their spare, central player; usually the number eight furthest from the ball. Both Declan Rice or Martin Ødegaard connected well into their closest winger; Arsenal scored early through Rice driving forward and then sliding in Trossard.

White then joined Arsenal’s attacks from right-back, with Arteta’s team committing an extra player to their right side. This often occured prior to Tomiyasu inverting, with Thomas Partey screening and supporting underneath as a single pivot. Ødegaard then dropped, allowing Saka to dribble or run inside of Marc Cucurella, who was targeted as his frustrations increased. Ødegaard also found White’s overlaps with his superb passing, particularly when Saka was double-marked due to Mykhailo Mudryk dropping very deep. Centrally, Rice continued to take up aggressive positions when Arsenal’s right side progressed, working between Havertz and Trossard (below).

Chelsea’s right-side combinations

With White pushing forward so aggressively, Chelsea’s route to getting a foothold in the first half came via counter-attacks. Jackson – Chelsea’s often-isolated central forward – widened and made bending runs around Arsenal’s centre-backs, mostly targeting space left by White. One of Mudryk or Gallagher provided narrow runs inside, as Jackson used his pace to gain as much territory as possible. On the far side, Madueke provided similar runs off the ball, hoping to attack any cross at the back post (below).

Despite Arsenal’s initial dominance, Chelsea were well in the game while the score remained 1-0. Indeed, as the game approached half-time, the visitors had their best period of possession. Cucurella advanced from left-back, dragging Saka deeper, with Mudryk moving inside. Alfie Gilchrist held his position at right-back, only offering slightly inwards movements, as Madueke held the width on this side. Gallagher, as the number 10, widened where possible to Chelsea’s right. Here, he worked ahead of the double pivot, trying to free Madueke by occupying Tomiyasu. It was Chelsea’s right-side combinations that had the most purpose, with isolated attacks causing Arsenal some problems.

Arsenal’s counters and right-side overload

The difference between the two sides was seen in the second half, when Arsenal were ruthless. White scored from a set-piece to give the hosts a useful cushion. They then sat off in a mid-block, luring Chelsea out and springing counter-attacks from their 4-4-2 defensive shape.

Ødegaard dropped to link on the break, with Havertz stretching the other way. Wingers Saka and Trossard joined in, making bending runs inwards to support closer to Havertz where possible. Rice also moved forward, often central to support the withdrawn Ødegaard, leaving Partey as the cover underneath (below).

After Arsenal scored a third via an incisive counter-attack, Chelsea withdrew as the home side dominated. The Gunners focused on overloading their right side, with Ødegaard deeper, Partey across, and White moving forward from right-back. Tomiyasu no longer inverted, instead keeping a flatter back three to work the ball around Chelsea (below). Havertz and Saka also positioned themselves closer to one another, with Arsenal’s combinations flowing and penetrating in and around the box. Rice and Trossard were then available for any switches of play, as Havertz and White added further goals in a convincing second-half display.

It was another impressive result for Arsenal – the sixth time they have won by five goals or more, with a clean sheet, in the 2023/24 Premier League season. Whether it is title-winning form will be revealed in the final four games, but they have given themselves the platform to push for glory.

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