#2 Arsenal need to pull off the ‘high line’ better
Unai Emery and high defensive lines have become synonymous over the years. However, at all of his past teams, he had a center back quick enough to make the recovery tackle if the line went wrong. In an Arsenal back line devoid with pace, a lot of work needs to be done before the Gunners can perfect their manager’s preferred defensive line.
Arsenal conceded against Chelsea when Morata broke the offside trap and slotted coolly past Cech. In the game against West Ham, Arnautovic and Antonio broke the trap on a number of occasions. If West Ham’s strikers had been clinical, Arsenal could have found themselves in serious trouble.
The first pre-requisite if you’re deploying a high line is to apply pressure on the ball. Through the course of the first half, there were numerous instances where West Ham players waltzed through the heart of the Gunners midfield and had the time to pick a pass. Though they couldn’t punish the Gunners, it looks like a catastrophe waiting to unravel.
Emery is very comfortable playing the high line and he needs to continue doing so. The one aspect he can ask his team to improve on, is not give the opposition midfielders the time and space to exploit the high-line.
The high-line is in perfect sync with the pressing tactics Emery wants to employ. Though a change in method is not needed, a better application is the need of the hour. With time at a premium, the Gunners need to get their high-line functioning at optimum capacity.