Pressing Issues

With the Gunners failing to score in back to back league games heading into this afternoon, Mikel Arteta unsurprisingly slightly altered his team’s attacking approach.

This consisted of a few key pointers. Jurrien Timber spent his day positioned high up the pitch on the right touchline, a stark change to his usual inverted full-back role. Martin Odegaard was handed the keys to put United goalkeeper Andre Onana under pressure, having 5 shots during the game (up from his season average of 1.6 per game).

The biggest change – and the one that had the most profound impact – was Declan Rice’s newfound attacking license. The English midfielder managed 6 touches in the United box, 15 passes into the final third and 83 touches during the game, of course capping off an incredible performance with the equaliser.

Rice is frequently seen making late runs into the box during Arsenal’s attacks, but until today was rarely a figure linking final-third plays together. He gave a new energy to Arsenal’s left-side, which in turn potentially aided Odegaard in his bid to control the game from the right.

Rice’s offensive ability won’t be a surprise to many – the 26-year-old was very much a ‘I’ll do it’ midfielder during his time at West Ham – but he has felt somewhat like a one-trick pony since joining Arsenal.

Arteta has been forced to experiment due to the unfortunate flurry of attacking injuries, and his latest change appears to have been a resounding success on this occasion.