He’s regarded among Gooners worldwide as a respected commenter and his forays into the Arsenal blogging scene have been highly successful. Now, former journalist and avid fan Mike Urbanski has joined the Young Guns team to offer his analytical inside into all things Arsenal Reserves and Youth. Known among many as SKA Gooner, his Sunday column – SKA Sunday – continues today.
Normally when I settle in to watch the match or match highlights, I like to have a nicely chilled Carlsberg at my side, maybe a little Symarip playing in the background for ambiance. You know, really get the best blend of beer, music and football rolling. Unfortunately, watching the Arsenal reserves battle West Ham the other day – well, all I can say is that it’s sometimes good to be a skinhead, otherwise I’d be pulling my hair out.
I recently read an article focusing on Gael Clichy. Top bloke, he. One of the points in the article was the transition, from a defensive perspective, to the 4-3-3 formation. While it might not be immediately obvious that a defensive adjustment is needed – we’re still playing 4 at the back – the transition to attack and the two corners’ involvement and recovery to defense in that formation does require a fair bit of challenge to get used to. In the attack, Arsenal use their corners to overlap the wingers in the midfield, and where those wingers receive the ball in the 4-3-3 is often much farther up the pitch, thus requiring the corners to launch themselves into an all-out sprint to get past them and get the ball in an area where they can cross into the box. Clichy mentioned it being a hellish run just to get forward sometimes, and the difficulties that can present on recovering defensively.
I bring this up because Arsene Wenger stresses that the youth/reserve teams adopt the same formations as the senior side. The difficulty for the youth/reserve players is that they are still developing that positional discipline and learning how to read the game in a positional sense. Recognizing where to be and when, given any situation on the pitch, is one of the critical areas of development for a young player.
I think the 4-3-3 is putting extra stress on the reserve defenders. If the corners are caught out, positionally, the center backs are left holding the bag. It can be a nightmare scenario for any central defender and I noticed a good bit of this going on against West Ham. In general, if you think of the 4 defenders as an umbrella, with the two corners providing the outside cover, which is drawn farther down when on the attack, it’s a bit easier to visualize just how difficult it can be to regain defensive shape when possession is lost and the opponent moves quickly to the attack. Without a fourth midfield player who generally would hang back either as the defensive mid or holding mid in the 4-4-2, there’s extra responsibility to the corners in the 4-3-3. The central defenders, without that wide cover, are left either to shield the entire width of the pitch until backtracking help arrives or they’re susceptible to an over-the-top or horizontal pass and a great big hole exists in the center area in front of goal.
Roughly seven minutes into the second half West Ham gained possession just to their side of midfield. Sanchez Watt had just controlled and Cedric Evina had gone forward as the overlapping player. He was in the run of play. Unfortunately, Watt lost possession and West Ham immediately spotted the poor cover at the back. Francis Coquelin, at right back, was not positionally aware when possession was lost, resulting in the two center backs being hopelessly exposed. The result of the play was an over-the-top pass that caught both central defenders pinched thin in the middle, no cover from the right corner and an easy goal for West Ham on the trot.
Thus my reaction – Oi! Y’ve got a great big hole in yer defense there, son!
Here’s the jib – the run of play is forward on the left side, the left back makes his overlapping run from the midfielder – the right back must maintain an attachment to the center backs in order to provide a back line of three until the play moves farther up the pitch if control is maintained. If possession is lost, the right back must recover somewhat centrally to add to the cover should either an over-the-top or horizontal pass be forthcoming from the opponent. If the opposite corner pushes forward too far and too quickly, the center backs are left on an island with too much ground to cover. Had the play gone forward on the right side, then the left back should be the one maintaining connection to the center backs until control is realized farther up the pitch. The off man, or opposite back must maintain defensive contact. In the 4-4-2, the corners have a relief valve with the fourth midfielder and can push forward more quickly. The 4-3-3 requires a longer contact to the center backs for the off man when the run of play is opposite him. This is true regardless of what level you’re playing at – youth, reserves, first team or 5-a-side Sunday beer league.
I mentioned the Clichy article earlier to point out that even at the first team level, the defense does have responsibility to adjust with the new formation. It bears remembering that the lads in the reserve side are young and still learning, and giving up easy goals on an over-the-top ball is a lesson learned, no doubt. The harder thing to look at is the first team often make this same mistake themselves and I shake my head at the lack of positional discipline sometimes. This can be taught, and learned. Every outfield player at The Arsenal is an attacker, of sorts. Central defenders get forward at times, the corners make their overlapping runs to provide crosses into the box, the mids and forwards lead the charge. But every man has a defensive responsibility as well, and while the attacking shape has been adjusted, so too must the defense follow in order to provide proper cover.
nice article but abit heavy reading. Never heard full backs refered to as corners before
Playing a high is not a problem, reading the long-balls into the channel or long-balls over the top is the problem. The high-line is only a reference point to close space between defence and midfield as midfield closes space to the front 3 who start the pressuring to win the ball back. The key is to read the passes and drop off especially when “there is no pressure on the ball” or “opposition has played around the pressure” and can now get their head-up.
at leat bartly is getting games in tough leageu and playing with chris morgan has to help him
hopefully he can get a good pre season in next season and do well
djoure will be fit soon as well
Sunday March 28, 2010 Finished Bramall Lane
0 – 1
Sheffield United
Scunthorpe United
* Hayes 45’
30′ Kyle Bartley with a horrific backpass which lets Scunthorpe striker Thompson in… Simonsen saves! A clear opening, and Scunthorpe’s first of the day.]
# 85′ Little over a corner. Bartley challenges for it but cannot direct it at goal… Scunthorpe hold on.
90+4′ Bartley meets it and what a save from Murphy! If Scunny make history it will be down to that!
I think what you are saying is easy enough to teach and implement. Caution in general is a natural human trait and defenders should have it in spades. All it takes is a quick look around the field to see where your opposite fullback is. If he’s up, stay back. They’ll learn I’m sure.
Never heard this football talk about ‘corners’ before. Strange.
This was an article about a fairly simple tactical observation but it was heavy reading. Gave up half way cos I already understood what you were saying but the rest of the article was blah
@ a morrow –
Sorry. The American in me leaks out sometimes re: “corners”. ;)
The off-play full back was just something I noticed in the West Ham reserves match the other day, and it struck me that the senior side are sometimes guilty of this as well. It just triggered something, along with what Gael Clichy had said about the defensive adjustments needed for the 4-3-3. True, it’s a bit technical to discuss, but sometimes we need to do that.
@ Supergunner07 –
I don’t think it’s quite so much to do with the high line of defense as it is the requirement that the off-play full backs maintain contact with the central defenders in an adjusted manner when playing the 4-3-3. As I noted, when we’re in the 4-4-2, there’s a “safety valve” of having the extra midfielder…either a holding or defensive mid…who will remain in contact with the central defenders and allow the full backs to release a little sooner and a little more aggressively up the pitch when they’re opposite the run of play. It’s true that a high line, in general, potentially leaves the defense exposed. But I think moving to the 4-3-3 might add a bit more to that potential if that positional awareness and discipline is not maintained.
I agree that within the 4-3-3 vs the 4-4-2, it is a little more difficult for the fullbacks and wide forwards to track back because the forwards are pushed higher up the pitch and the overlaps are occurring more in the offensive third. However, I think the overall problem with our defense is Wenger’s offensive philosophy. That is, in order to add unpredictability to the offensive play, defenders are ENCOURAGED to push forward and get involved. The onus is then on other players to cover those vacated spaces. In order for Arsenal to maintain defensive shape, all ten outfield players have to know where each others position is and adjust accordingly. The opposite fullback hanging back when the play is opposite to him is a perfect example of this.
Some more “tactically” oriented coaches simply tell their players where to play, sacrificing offensive fluidity and unpredictability for defensive solidity. Wenger gives his players the freedom to push forward and the responsibility to recognize when to stay back and cover. I have to admit that every time I see Song pushing forward and driving into the penalty box, my first thought is I hope someone is back covering, especially when I see one or both fullbacks up.
I think it’s possible to have a very good defense with Wengerball but it requires versatile players, concentration, and a team ethos. The key is finding the right balance and having players who are technically skilled, intelligent and tactically aware, and focussed at all times.
Your points are very correct. In the first team aswell, we are awfully susceptable to counter attack as seen in both the man u and chelsea match
Like that our youngsters are making mistakes while adapting to 4–3–3…more they make mistakes, more they will learn positioning…
Er. By “corners”, do you mean “full-backs”?
What a bizarre way to describe them. Never heard that before.
Yes. Fullbacks. Already mentioned that above. ;)
Good post SKA Gooner, just a point I’m interested in how you play 4-3-3 in your 5-a-side beer league ;)…
No disrspect ska….but while you have some interesting points, I think you are of base. In the 4-3-3 you are adding an extra player in to the midfield hence only 1 striker. I think Arsenal are simply still learning how to play the 4-3-3, thats all. If played right, it is far better on both sides of the ball as long as you are a good passing team.
Here is how it works. When in attack the wide back will be making those over lapping runs. The center backs should be spread out with one in the out in the left back area and one in the right back area. (Watch pique and Puyol). Then if the ball is lost the Def mid simply drops back into the middle around where the centerbacks would be. Lets say the right winger loses the ball and the outside back is out of position. The right center back is close enough to challenge. The right centermid challenges the ball. The Def mid drops straight into the right centerback vacant position and the left center recovers back toward the left center back spot. The 4-3-3 actually gives you a much greater defensive positioning if player right.
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The way we play is kind of Total Football Lite. You don’t ever see the centre forward playing at centre half, but offensively at least, it is the equivalent of total football. I love this, and we will learn how to perfect it. Barca has, but I feel we play at a faster tempo, which i quite like. It makes for fantastic viewing, and we play in a totally unique way. We play the best football, even if the results don’t always go our way. There is no point in losing like a lamb. It’s better to go out swigning, then to go down looking at strike 3 so to speak. This is how I view all sports and probably life in general haha. This is why I hate managers like Mourinho. Why not try and impose yourself?? All caution should not be thrown out the window and everyone has a defensive responsibility of varying degrees, but for me, the best defense, is a good offense. If we have the ball, the oponent can’t score. Wether it be 4-3-3 or 4-2-2 doesn’t really matter. With Wenger we have always played in the same fashion, more or less. That is to place emphasis on attacking. Right now we’ve won 7 trophies inder him, and we will win many more. I don’t mind if it is at the expense of a few goals against:D haha as long as we win and win in some style, I don’t mind. Barca preoved it can be done, and we have done it ourselves before. We’ll do it this year. That is my gut feeling.
Hello, I’m a very regular reader and it’s not often I post and I really don’t want to be a hater, but this article is dire. The lack of commas in appropriate places coupled by convoluted sentences make this a truly awful read.
Further, it doesn’t actually offer any insight into a problem we have known for a good few years now – Arsenal are susceptible to the ball over the top.
And finally, whilst I accept cultural and language differences, why would you say ‘corner’ to refer to a fullback when it is universally accepted to mean a corner kick?
Fantastic post, many amusing points. I believe 8 of days ago, I have saw a similar post.