Talking Tactics: The Dortmund press that undid Arsenal's slick passing

The absence of Mathieu Flamini and Mesut Ozil‘s marginalization

For much of the first half, Mesut Ozil didn’t have a decent touch on the ball. He was almost entirely bypassed in the first half thanks to Dortmund’s effective marking and pressing.

Ozil started in the middle playing behind Olivier Giroud, and flanked by Jack Wilshere on the right (more on this later) and Tomas Rosicky on the left.

Ozil against Napoli

Ozil against Dortmund

Mikel Arteta came in to fill the h0lding midfielder’s role that Flamini was employed in during previous games. As much as it was not considered major, Flamini’s absence in the middle left Arsene Wenger’s side devoid of some much needed steel. Arteta saw a lot of the ball and initiated quite a few plays, but the combativeness that Flamini provides was missed.

Especially in situations, where Dortmund mounted a numbers advantage on the Arsenal back-four by dispossessing the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Wilshere and Ozil in midfield.

Flamini was also Ozil’s shield in each of the matches where the duo have featured, both in the league and in Europe. Flamini’s presence made it tough for the opponents to get to Ozil, thereby giving the German time and space to wield his wizardry.

You can see in the infographic above that Ozil had to do more defending against Dortmund and a lesser degree of influence in the final third.

Ozil’s action areas against Napoli

Ozil’s action areas against Dortmund

It was only after Cazorla’s introduction and Ozil’s shift to the right, that the German began to have a more positive influence on the game. Cazorla and Rosicky, who I thought was Arsenal’s best player on the pitch, interchanged amongst them at the central and wide left positions allowing Ozil a free role on the left, where he could employ his good crossing skills and also use his ability to cut inside into the box.

And that wing had suffered until then due to Jack Wilshere.