Premier League 2019-20: 4 changes likely to be made at Arsenal by Mikel Arteta

#3 High press off the ball

Gabriel Martinelli works hard off the ball

The Sky Blues are a great team not just because of their attacking play, but also because of their off the ball work.

Guardiola has an unwritten rule that his team must always aim to win the ball back 30 seconds after initially losing it. However, the players don’t just press recklessly without a sense of direction; they press in packs, based on certain trigger patterns.

It’s a coordinated press which allows the team to press as a unit, thus depriving opponents of time and space on the ball.

Currently, Arsenal have a half-hearted press that only a few players adopt. Kevin de Bruyne said it best: “We saw upfront in the videos… the attackers they try to press up but when we pass their front four, they really don’t help the Arsenal defence.”

An uncoordinated press does more harm than good. This will be the new manger’s first point of call in order to turn Arsenal into a formidable team again.