Why Are Arsenal So Good?
Part of it is 'the basketball rule.'
Mikel Arteta and his team of young ballers are drawing inspiration from basketball to power themselves to an unprecedented title challenge against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
A Mighty Thread ๐.
Part of it is 'the basketball rule.'
Mikel Arteta and his team of young ballers are drawing inspiration from basketball to power themselves to an unprecedented title challenge against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
A Mighty Thread ๐.
Why Basketball?
Basketball and football share a few similarities. Both are categorised in general as invasion sports: that is sports that require you to invade the opponent's territory while scoring points, keeping the opposition's points to a minimum, within a defined period.
Basketball and football share a few similarities. Both are categorised in general as invasion sports: that is sports that require you to invade the opponent's territory while scoring points, keeping the opposition's points to a minimum, within a defined period.
There are different rules, circumstances and incentives in different sports, so one sport may be ahead of another in a particular area and vice versa.
As a result, the best thinkers in football often resort to learning what they can from other sports and other fields.
As a result, the best thinkers in football often resort to learning what they can from other sports and other fields.
At Arsenal, basketball seems to be a great influence. Not just from the coach, but also from among the players.
So what have Arsenal adopted from basketball that has contributed to making them so good?
So what have Arsenal adopted from basketball that has contributed to making them so good?
Hear Reiss Nelson tell it concerning Arsenal's quick turnovers:
โWe call it the basketball rule. In basketball thereโs a lot of rebounds so thatโs something the boss has incorporated into our style.โ
Both basketball and football are transitional in nature, but basketball is way
โWe call it the basketball rule. In basketball thereโs a lot of rebounds so thatโs something the boss has incorporated into our style.โ
Both basketball and football are transitional in nature, but basketball is way
heavier on that aspect. As a result, the transitional game has advanced further and football can learn from it.
Mikel Arteta has been using basketball principles to control and dominate transitional situations against the best teams in the country.
Liverpool, Tottenham and even
Mikel Arteta has been using basketball principles to control and dominate transitional situations against the best teams in the country.
Liverpool, Tottenham and even
Manchester City have been stung by this.
Consider this goal from last season against the reigning champions:
Consider this goal from last season against the reigning champions:
Pep Guardiola once quipped that โThe faster the ball moves forward, the faster it comes back the other way.โ
This clearly reflects in the sequence above.
But then, Arsenal move the ball quickly up the pitch without conceding chances! Ramsdale also goes long a lot of the time.
This clearly reflects in the sequence above.
But then, Arsenal move the ball quickly up the pitch without conceding chances! Ramsdale also goes long a lot of the time.
So, how does this work in Arsenal's favour, rather than the opposition's, since they also move the ball up the pitch quickly, too?
The key is in ORGANIZATION and PREPARATION.
In this goal against City, for example, KDB was running into a defence where he was outnumbered.
The key is in ORGANIZATION and PREPARATION.
In this goal against City, for example, KDB was running into a defence where he was outnumbered.
Yes, it was a transition situation against Arsenal. But they still had superior numbers in the defensive lines.
City were attacking, in that moment, a 'well-prepared' backline.
What makes for a well-prepared backline?
City were attacking, in that moment, a 'well-prepared' backline.
What makes for a well-prepared backline?
โGood recovery (from the team)
โGood positioning.
โGood anticipation.
This is what translates into having numerical, dynamical or positional superiority for the defensive situation.
Players who can read and anticipate very well off-the-ball have good value for those situations.
โGood positioning.
โGood anticipation.
This is what translates into having numerical, dynamical or positional superiority for the defensive situation.
Players who can read and anticipate very well off-the-ball have good value for those situations.
Once Arsenal recover the ball against City and move to the sides, City's midfielders are forced to overcompensate to block progression on that side, but of course, this opens up the middle for Arsenal to move into.
And by the time Arsenal arrive in their third, the situation is
And by the time Arsenal arrive in their third, the situation is
favourable for Arsenal to attack.
Compare these two situations with one another. Arsenal's is much better. On par numerically and very well structured.
Depending on the numbers, whenever Arsenal strike back in situations like this, they move forward in a very organized way.
Compare these two situations with one another. Arsenal's is much better. On par numerically and very well structured.
Depending on the numbers, whenever Arsenal strike back in situations like this, they move forward in a very organized way.
This is also something you see in basketball coaching, with rules on how to attack a disorganized defence in an organized manner.
Arsenal do not have a numerical advantage but they have a positional and dynamic one with Odegaard and Saka.
Arsenal do not have a numerical advantage but they have a positional and dynamic one with Odegaard and Saka.
Part of this is the structure instilled on the training ground. How to optimally occupy spaces, even in chaotic moments.
Part of it is that they have incredible players handling the ball in the transition moment. Players who are calm, patient, good passers and good carriers.
Part of it is that they have incredible players handling the ball in the transition moment. Players who are calm, patient, good passers and good carriers.
The KDB turnover is why Pep said, โIf there isn't a sequence of 15 passes first, it is impossible to carry out the transition between defence & attack. Impossible.โ
Is it that Pep doesn't want fast breaks?
No. It's all about recognizing the situation and knowing when to go.
Is it that Pep doesn't want fast breaks?
No. It's all about recognizing the situation and knowing when to go.
Some players, naturally, always want to go. Some are more patient and calm. KDB is one of those players who always wants to go. Pep has described him as a 'Knife'.
In basketball, the player who handles the ball in transition must be a good decision maker ๐
In basketball, the player who handles the ball in transition must be a good decision maker ๐
At Arsenal, that is usually Odegaard or Saka. At City, it was mostly Kevin De Bruyne.
This is not to say Kevin De Bruyne is a bad decision maker. Even if he was, his prodigious passing and carrying capacity helps him to pull off 'impossible' events in those situations.
This is not to say Kevin De Bruyne is a bad decision maker. Even if he was, his prodigious passing and carrying capacity helps him to pull off 'impossible' events in those situations.
The key thing for Arsenal, however, is that Odegaard is both a good passer and decision-maker. He can also drive for short distances very well with the ball. Saka also is very strong at these things.
These two are Arsenal's hubs during fast breaks.
These two are Arsenal's hubs during fast breaks.
In Martinelli's goal against Liverpool, you see the same principles at work.
Liverpool play a long ball and try to overload the last line with runners (a key tactic for them in a bad season). Arsenal win both the first and the second ball.
Liverpool play a long ball and try to overload the last line with runners (a key tactic for them in a bad season). Arsenal win both the first and the second ball.
Liverpool force this man-to-man situation against Arsenal's backline, but this situation depends on them winning the ball against Arsenal's defenders, which is not a bad tactic when you have athletic monsters like Salah and Nunez.
But Arsenal had athletic monsters, too.
But Arsenal had athletic monsters, too.
Arsenal played a backline of Benjamin White, William Saliba, Gabriel Maghalaes and Takehiro Tomiyasu that day.
Average height?
189 cm.
All of them can also be well-described as duel monsters who can defend high up the pitch.
Average height?
189 cm.
All of them can also be well-described as duel monsters who can defend high up the pitch.
Basically, Arsenal were well-prepared against Liverpool's long ball tactics and also well-prepared to counter them.
Liverpool had a different approach to City in that they tried to block the central area, first, leaving the wide area as the only means of progression.
Liverpool had a different approach to City in that they tried to block the central area, first, leaving the wide area as the only means of progression.
However, Arsenal are extremely well-organized. They always have wide players and every single available route is good enough.
Please note that Arsenal were not immediately in a numerically superior position to counterattack.
But they will arrive to be. Like a game of basketball
Please note that Arsenal were not immediately in a numerically superior position to counterattack.
But they will arrive to be. Like a game of basketball
โWe want to have the ball on one side and finish the attack on the other side.โ
โ Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal smell their moment and go for the kill. Liverpool are not well prepared to handle the dynamic and numerical overload on the far side. And they are finished off.
โ Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal smell their moment and go for the kill. Liverpool are not well prepared to handle the dynamic and numerical overload on the far side. And they are finished off.
โWe want to have the ball on one side and finish the attack on the other side.โ
โ Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal smell their moment and go for the kill. Liverpool are not well prepared to handle the dynamic and numerical overload on the far side. And they are finished off.
โ Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal smell their moment and go for the kill. Liverpool are not well prepared to handle the dynamic and numerical overload on the far side. And they are finished off.
This same principles apply for Odegaard's goal against Tottenham.
Tottenham go long with the ball, but they were only spelling their own death.
Watch carefully how Arsenal recovered quickly and dunked on them.
Tottenham go long with the ball, but they were only spelling their own death.
Watch carefully how Arsenal recovered quickly and dunked on them.
Here is Odegaard on his celebration afterwards:
I am not the most knowledgeable authority on basketball but the similarities have been repeated over the course of the season
The cut-pass in basketball looks like this
And so on and so forth.
Arsenal are so good because they are a marginal-returns team: from setpieces to transitions and even player recruitment, Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff seek the slightest advantage possible in every phase of play.
Arsenal are so good because they are a marginal-returns team: from setpieces to transitions and even player recruitment, Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff seek the slightest advantage possible in every phase of play.
From simulating the Anfield crowd experience in training and using light bulbs to demonstrate team unity, Mikel Arteta is an intense and innovative young coach determined to make his team the best in Europe, with the latest being the hire of a 'tekkers guru'.
Here is Pep Guardiola on Arteta:
โMikel knows everything about football. He is so good. It is not because he is my friend... I know what he planned, know how he works. He is so clever. I learn a lot by watching his team. Today I learned something, I can use it in the future.โ
โMikel knows everything about football. He is so good. It is not because he is my friend... I know what he planned, know how he works. He is so clever. I learn a lot by watching his team. Today I learned something, I can use it in the future.โ
Teams eventually become a reflection of their coaches.
Mikel Arteta's mentality, intensity, passion, creativity, and burning desire have taken Arsenal to new heights. It may not be a game of basketball, but youngest team and the youngest coach in the league are balling out.
Mikel Arteta's mentality, intensity, passion, creativity, and burning desire have taken Arsenal to new heights. It may not be a game of basketball, but youngest team and the youngest coach in the league are balling out.
Thank you for reading my thread. God bless your day.
This thread would have been impossible without the help of @adriaJM8, whose mention and videos have catalyzed my thoughts.
Also a good thinker. Would recommend following him.
Also a good thinker. Would recommend following him.
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