How much of this stylistic difference is due to pep adjusting team shape and strategy after signing Haaland? I feel like they used to be more aggressive in forcing high turnovers and had a higher press, while one of the things they've done to adjust those things is slow down in-possession play a touch to let the team take shape.
It's amazing what can be achieved when you outspend almost your competitors on genuinely good and slightly undervalued young players. Chelsea and United should take note. Also Liverpool, but for very different reasons.
I think what you are seeing is the benefit of focusing on youth in recruiting and committing to their development, as well as not selling academy prospects. Form a recruitment perspective, I think the only Arsenal players recruited who were anything but young were Trossard (27), Jorginho(31) and Partey (27). Everyone other key acquisition recently has been pre or at peak:
Rice - 24
Havertz - 24
Timber - 22
Raya - 27 (young for a GK)
Jesus - 25
Zinchenko - 25
Viera - 22
Kiwior - 22
White - 23
Odegaard - 22
Ramsdale - 23
Tomiyasu - 22
Gabriel - 22
Recruiting youth works, at least if your ownership gives you space to give them time to grow (*cough* Chelsea *cough*)
I do think the future is bright at Arsenal but they are all fit right now (compared to Liverpool) and I'm not sure how that squad handles a major injury in the run in, especially if they manage to turn around the Porto result. Their reliance on set piece goals has also been notable; curious if that regresses a bit in the spring or if they keep finding new solutions
Great write up as ever Grace, and very glad you're feeling better! I also just got my butt kicked by the flu, no fun!
How much of this stylistic difference is due to pep adjusting team shape and strategy after signing Haaland? I feel like they used to be more aggressive in forcing high turnovers and had a higher press, while one of the things they've done to adjust those things is slow down in-possession play a touch to let the team take shape.
It's amazing what can be achieved when you outspend almost your competitors on genuinely good and slightly undervalued young players. Chelsea and United should take note. Also Liverpool, but for very different reasons.
I think what you are seeing is the benefit of focusing on youth in recruiting and committing to their development, as well as not selling academy prospects. Form a recruitment perspective, I think the only Arsenal players recruited who were anything but young were Trossard (27), Jorginho(31) and Partey (27). Everyone other key acquisition recently has been pre or at peak:
Rice - 24
Havertz - 24
Timber - 22
Raya - 27 (young for a GK)
Jesus - 25
Zinchenko - 25
Viera - 22
Kiwior - 22
White - 23
Odegaard - 22
Ramsdale - 23
Tomiyasu - 22
Gabriel - 22
Recruiting youth works, at least if your ownership gives you space to give them time to grow (*cough* Chelsea *cough*)
I do think the future is bright at Arsenal but they are all fit right now (compared to Liverpool) and I'm not sure how that squad handles a major injury in the run in, especially if they manage to turn around the Porto result. Their reliance on set piece goals has also been notable; curious if that regresses a bit in the spring or if they keep finding new solutions
Great write up as ever Grace, and very glad you're feeling better! I also just got my butt kicked by the flu, no fun!