Everton-Arsenal: Tactical Analysis (a thread)
How did Sean Dyche beat Mikel Arteta?
How did Sean Dyche beat Mikel Arteta?
Everton and Dyche setup in an extremely compact 4-5-1 shape staying narrow with the wingers tucked in as much as possible with the midfield three in close proximity to take care of Arsenal's advanced number 8's in Odegaard and Xhaka
I saw a lot of similarities to when Newcastle managed to shut down Arsenal for most of the game at the Emirates when the wingers doubled up with the full-backs to quell the threat of Saka and Martinelli. That day it was Almiron and Joelinton yesterday it was Mcneil and Iwobi
As soon as the ball was out to Martinelli Mcneil wouldn't be far behind limiting space for the winger with one of either Doucoure-Onana-Gueye tucked in to take care of Xhaka or Odegaard hovering in the half-space to try and create havoc
When the ball went out to a winger both Mykolenko and Iwobi would quickly shut down Saka but to control the movement in the half-spaces of one of Arsenal's attackers, Dyche deployed one of his midfielders to follow them. So if a CB was dragged out a midfielder wasn't far to help
Martinelli here is outnumbered 2v1 and even with Zinchenko inverted and supporting in the half-spaces he is followed by Gueye, so even when Martinelli has dragged 2 players with him, the space between full-back and centre-back for a player to dart into is made difficult by Gueye
Even if Saka can make the difficult inside pass to Odegaard in behind here in the spaces between Mykolenko and Tarkwoski Doucoure would be there to cut off any attempt. So you have wingers doubling up with full-backs and number 8's marking the hovering attackers
Aside from astute positioning and marking what impressed me in a typical Dyche manner was whenever Arsenal built up from deep with Zinchenko or Odegaard forced to pick it up from defence a midfielder would press to harry them, making sure there was no easy pass to play
It cuts off options for Arsenal building up as there is less room to play a pass or they may be forced to play it quicker, with one midfielder pressing another (like in this shot) would man mark or keep a watchful eye on the 'roaming' midfielder (Xhaka)
Rather than Everton's midfield three being static, they are making it difficult for Arsenal with one pressing the on-ball midfielder and the other two not far away from Arsenal's other two dangerous midfielders
Everton's harrying, aggressive pressing approach impressed me, Dyche told them to push up high and press whenever Arsenal intended to build up sometimes resulting in turnovers but also making life tough for Arsenal to smoothly build up from defence with Mykolenko pushing on Saka
Arsenal have been excellent in build-up this year, but if you can cut off passing lanes to their central creators (Partey-Zinchenko) go man to man on their wingers but also push up on the on-ball player you are closing down space and limiting options for them to pass to
They were slightly looser in possession perhaps as a result of the 'get in their faces' approach, but the pressing led to a loose Ben White pass where Onana setup a cross for DCL. It's a testament to Everton's wingers where they worked hard to press Arsenal but also track back
They were also crucial in the midfield five, tucking in to cut off the pass to Xhaka and Odegaard. With one Everton midfielder pressing, Mcneil and Iwobi tucked in to ensure there was no pass on to Odegaard-Xhaka
It forced Arsenal wide, and meant they quickly had to play the pass to Martinelli-Saka but as soon as that happened there was a winger or one of the midfield three to jump on them and help out.
Even with the form both have been in if you put two players on them and also cut off the passing option in the half-space on that wing to quell the 'floating' threat of Zinchenko/Xhaka it makes it difficult. Which baffled me to see Shaw-AWB 1v1 at the Emirates
The times where Arsenal did threaten is when the movement of their advanced midfielders of Odegaard-Xhaka evaded Everton's midfield and opened up gaps for their wingers. But again Everton's excellent defending and proactive, tough-tackling approach shut the threat down
It surprised me to not see Ben White on Saka's side bomb down the touch line with the winger tucked in on Odegaard and Mykolenko on Saka, White like he did vs Spurs could've provided an overlap and opened up spaces for a cross
This image is the best to explain. Full-back and Winger doubled up on Martinelli, Xhaka pins back Coady, Nketiah darting into the space left created by Xhaka but as it is Zinchenko's side and he's mainly playing quite inverted there is no one to overlap
Another way Arsenal could've perhaps responded is Nketiah's movement corresponding to whichever side Arsenal wanted to get an overload on, it could've dragged Coady-Tarkowski out and opened up spaces. The changes from Arteta did somewhat look to do this
Aside from this I have to note Everton's set pieces deep to the back post with big men packed in attacking created a flurry of pressure and was brilliant to watch with the amount of wasted set-pieces
Overall it was a brilliant, typically stifling, difficult performance from Dyche's Everton, something with a few days on the training ground felt perfectly setup for him to execute. I expect Everton to be just as tough from now on to beat
End of thread!
All likes/comments appreciated
I was waiting for a Dyche masterclass to analyse, would love to hear what you think and this will be covered in the substack as well as the Milan derby if you want to keep up with my football rambles:
dharnish.substack.com
All likes/comments appreciated
I was waiting for a Dyche masterclass to analyse, would love to hear what you think and this will be covered in the substack as well as the Milan derby if you want to keep up with my football rambles:
dharnish.substack.com
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