Arsenal are doing something different...

[@Thetallestgirrafe]

It's been annoying as an Arsenal fan to see people among our own support adopting opposition narratives about Havertz. He's been here literally two games and has been fine; not giving the ball away stupidly, pressing intensely, and generally fitting in. He would've had a great assist against Palace if Martinelli had've gotten his shot off more quickly.

[@anjolatope-babalola2338]

😂😂😂 as if arsenal fans did not have the same narrative when he was in chelsea

[@M4NA5]

@@anjolatope-babalola2338What an idiotic take. Havertz has a completely different role at Arsenal than he had at Chelsea.

[@Dapo.m]

Thanks god there are some arsenal fans with sense

[@vghv_oMiller]

@@anjolatope-babalola2338good try, kid. But here he’s talking about the first two games at Arsenal. If he underperforms, we still criticise him as well as his bad time at Chelsea. This is not love or hate, this is to give fair comments. Not because he compliment Kai Havertz’s performance for the last two games, meaning he has to ball-lick Havertz for his entire career. Shut that Justin Bieber fangirl ideology up already! 😂

[@fazlerabbi2666]

The issue is he plays like a cm but he is a attacking midfielder. not good on the eye

[@hellsfoxes]

The end of this video makes it even more devastating that Timber is out for the season. He was clearly a big component of this approach and we haven’t looked anywhere near as fluid without him.

[@blast473]

Zini is only hope

[@ss9392]

It's a part of the game. We will get over it!

[@calebmunuru3598]

Zinchenko can.

[@EmperorDraconianIV]

Zinchenko can do it as well

[@ultraslanmc]

Zinchenko is better offensively

[@yonh5350]

I know Tifo is known for this stuff but this is honestly one of the best ones, been trying to understand what my man Arteta is up too, this helped immensely

[@mohamadfaris7912]

Agree. ELI5 material

[@michaeltony1678]

If we were all to be honest Mikel Arteta has done a fantastic job at Arsenal. If you consider the squad he inherited and how he has been able to switch things up and make them a proper title contender. Last season hadn't it been for crucial players getting injured and lack of focus from the players they'd have won the pl

[@anjolatope-babalola2338]

People speak as if he inherited a relegation team

[@stefandinu6389]

​@@anjolatope-babalola2338no but a mid table team for sure.

[@michaeltony1678]

@@anjolatope-babalola2338 He inherited an old, middle table team of players. The average age was like 29 or 30

[@thierryhenry674]

@@anjolatope-babalola2338 We did have a rubsh squad back then. Auba, Laca, Nketiah, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Niles, Willock, Kolasinac, Tierney, Mustafi. None of them can play tiki taka pass, or to do a skill move not even a simple stepover, or comfortably close control the ball under pressure like Cazorla. They are not possession loving players. Ceballos whom we loan from Madrid was probably our most silky player. We could only play defensive boring direct football, couldn’t control possession, could only create a few poor chances in each game, because our players are not tekky. We were so far away from that 09-12 Barcelona and 17-20 ManCity standard.

[@tommym8trix]

@@anjolatope-babalola2338 Mustafi & David Luiz defence. Not far off it lol

[@Gooninguntildie]

Thanks to this video, I have a better understanding of how we have changed and what we are trying to do. It seems to me that we are trying different ways to bypass pressure and defensive blocks.

[@judedavis]

A lot could change here once Zinchenko is back in the team. I think Arteta is looking at another way to play for sure, but I have a feeling we'll go back to more regular shape of 433 and more familiar build up structure, with Rice in left 8 at times. Also, with Jesus out, that's another significant piece of the puzzle missing. He's also back this weekend. Great piece, though, bravo Tifo!

[@maximilianstieglitz4912]

I see all this positive fuzz but when we look at the second half of last week Im a bit scared, I hope we wont see halfs like that from them anymore I mean we can lose or win but at least play well ykwim?

[@abdullahibnmiah2986]

But don't you like how defensively we seem so strong this season with this set up?

[@bpljury]

We would have won if Zinny hadn't decided to be a hero against Traore

[@M1d32]

I just want to see more players get a chance, want to see more Smith-Rowe, Fabio Viera, Trossard and Nelson in the team.

[@shamkawow1]

I agree, miks biggest flaw is not rotating players often enough. We have depth now we need to use it. Saka doesn’t need to play the full 90mins when we are winning.

[@M1d32]

@@shamkawow1 yup, it irks me when Nketiah (who’s doing fine currently) gets 90mins and maybe scores no goals whilst wasting numerous critical chances. In the end he’s exhausted and there were options on the bench who could’ve gained some experience. I wonder how badly we handled the Balogun situation, he basically came back from his loan spell and was a ghost.

[@xjn0177]

⁠@@M1d32i don’t think balogun helped himself either. we’re not there so ig we’ll never know the full story

[@kier1568]

​​@@M1d32because Balogun's not as good as Nketiah. Why would you bring on a worse striker to be the difference maker? Fabio Viera isn't good enough for the prem, ESR has been recovering from injury. Trossard is the only one that I'm not sure why he's not starting but it's probably because he's versatile enough to sub on for any player across the front 3 or attacking midfield so he's a really useful bench option

[@mosesobbare928]

Once the Champions league and the cup games commences, they will probably get a chance

[@beancud9767]

The other new function Arteta introduced recently is when on attack they want to flood the box with 5 players. This is where he uses Havertz to generate space as false 10, before if you shut down Odegaard, ball in to the box becomes predictable. Last season the only other non wing penetration was Xhaka arriving late. Now having Saka and Martinelli pulling wide low block defense gets stretched and 3 players in the box have more options to generate small quick moments. If watched ManU’s last game they are predictable and easy to shutdown by closing Bruno. This tactics is very raw but let’s see how it develops.

[@cellyszn20]

So, what you are saying is, we have our own Guardiola that can tinker effectively….

[@arturzathas499]

everyone attacks with 5

[@adamcetinkent]

Havertz is a false everything

[@jakubcygan8265]

this needs way more upvotes. very well put @beancud9767

[@jakubcygan8265]

@@adamcetinkent I'm hoping you mean this in a positive way. Havertz definitely has the most complex role in the whole team, and he deiniftely needs time to grow into it. Only a complete idiot wouldnt see that.

[@mulindwaisaacmoses3875]

I feel like another reason why we haven't been building up through the middle as we usually do is because of Nketiah. He's profile doesn't allow for that. When the comparisons btn the Fulham game last season and the recent Palace game are made, Trossard was a key difference. He always provided an option deeper and knitted everything together nicely

[@Gooninguntildie]

Shouldn't we be able to get to the opposition box even when it's difficult to build up through the middle? Mikel seems to be trying different ways of solving the problem. So that we can win games even when we don't have players like zinchenko or jesus to help us build up.

[@Specter017]

Good call...And Trossard is starting tonight

[@imganeshaonYT]

One of the best tactical videos recently! Loved watching the analysis!

[@clivepalmer3545]

Superb - I was going to talk about the angles Rice recieves at which is similar to Saka wide on the angle but hadn’t really thought about the block - more so first pass to get us going. I wonder what we look like with Jesus as cf - Eddie doesn’t show enough for central progression. He waits like a cf for the ball to be closer -great stuff John 👏🏾👏🏾

[@BB-ck7xe]

I do love Eddie, but it always feels like everyone else around him has to lose something in order for him to have his best game. Like you, I’m looking forward to seeing Jesus back in the side - his presence always gets our attacking movement going, and we need that movement if we want to see the true benefit of a Raumdeuter like Havertz. The two of them feel like complimentary pieces that will really let the other attackers shine…

[@14loosecannon]

I think it's a very harsh to say that Rice can't receive the ball with his back to goal, I think he's done that well enough in both games and was MotM against Palace. It's clear that Arteta is looking to avoid the opposition press and Rice's positioning is tactical, rather than due to some imagined limitation.

[@RANDOMDUDENo1]

It was one of his strengths in a West Ham shirt tbh. Getting the ball under pressure and he drops his shoulder and is away!

[@daltonpolius5238]

Rice is very limited he is a steady Eddy

[@ToddParker]

yep, this is the part of the video that is bad analysis. That is not the reason Arteta is changing things, yet he gives this as the entire reason Arteta is changing things. Makes me ask...why am I even watching this? In fairness the rest of the video is fine. What Arteta is doing is basically working the pivots higher as he changes from a box midfield to a diamond using his free 8's higher....something Man City does because Rodri is that good defensively as well. He wants Havertz in and around the striker. With Zinchenko and Jesus this will become more dynamic. Arteta knows Rice can hold it down and by creating a diamond instead we are more front footed with better verticality in the center of the park as we now work the half space better as well. Think of the positions in the right half space DeBruyne picks up...that is a pattern we will see with Odegaard as Havertz gets off shoulder toward the striker in the opposite half space. This is a work in progress and Timber going out is a blow as we progress the ball quicker with Timber. The reason though has nothing to do with Rice not being able to turn on a football...ridiculous.

[@sonicrules02]

i am wondering if part of the reason for this change is also because jesus is currently out too? last season, when he was working, he was amazing at build up play, dropping deep and helping shuttle the ball forward with his pace and being able to lose his marker (think his run from bournemouth away last year), hence helping create that space in the centre. Nketiah, though also a personal favourite of mine, seems to fit more of a traditional advanced striker, waiting around the opposition's box more and waiting for the finish with little bursts of pace only to find that space in the box. part of that would more involve crosses and dangerous passes from the wide players to help him find that space in the box to slot the ball home

[@mattegan3439]

I'm looking forward to when John starts using terms like 'Midfield Zugzwang', 'Half Space Zwischenzug' and 'Castling Centre Backs'. Good video as always ;D

[@bushidobrown6742]

Chess terms on Tifo wasn’t on my 2023 bingo card

[@Never_Wr0ng]

From mid table irrelevance to title contention. The team Arteta inherited; "GO SEE WHERE THEY PLAY, HOW THEY PLAY, IF THEY PLAY"

[@Maj1794]

Very good explanation of how we set up but I still think we should be playing players in their right position

[@lakshaysharma144]

I want to see how martinelli, Jesus, Kai plays together because our left side is dead most of the time and we are not able to create from that side of the pitch, like before

[@henrybarbar6006]

well they just tied fullham, so different might not be better

[@kelvinnyamu]

tactics will not work in every game

[@deeznoots6241]

They aren’t walking it in anymore?

[@ILLALLU]

The thing about Arsenal is they use height and pivots to win games

[@anjolatope-babalola2338]

​@@ILLALLUwhattt? We just hot height recently And this is an oversimplification of how we play

[@BardiaSaeedi]

​@@anjolatope-babalola2338it's an IT crowd joke

[@aaroningl]

I really like what I've seen from Havertz so far. A very intelligent footballer.

[@QazwerDave]

Love when terms are defined !!

[@kokafalasi]

This, for me, is one of the best videos you guys have made and considering the overall high quality content, that’s saying something. Kudos!

[@oslonorway547]

That sweater brings back memories of PlayStation 1 Winning Eleven loading. If you know, you know. 😊

[@williambrandon5146]

1:23 I thought you were going to say "PRESSING"😂😂😂

[@brissprilla]

Arteta is trying to achieve maximum fluidity and unpredictability.

[@zebra7578]

Rightfully so, we're aiming to compete for both PL and CL this szn, so we need to be versatile

[@arrdeepeebakz]

Havertz has been doing great he's big and he's not making mistakes. His height is also a problem for the opposition and he is a big game player I like him

[@Jay_Bee1]

That hoodie is fire, Japan always nail their kits etc…

[@Chick3nluvver]

I am probably very biased as a Spurs fan but I feel like Arteta tries too often to be a sort of "Pep-light" instead of actually working out his own style. It works though, last season WAS amazing despite the late misfortunes

[@homesecrets494]

It was amazing but once Saliba went down we had no solutions.

[@Steglasaurus]

Great video. I do feel like that’s why Arteta is persisting with playing Havertz in midfield. As with Rice, it’s a slightly different role one would expect but their qualities are very much needed in our team. They’re getting accustomed to the system and it may be tweaked in the future once Rice in particular adapts to his role(s). I’m of the firm belief that Havertz as an 8, despite not being suitable for the role like Gundo or Xhaka; there’s a space in the team for him and Arteta can use his great off the ball quality to do SS esque runs as we’ve seen already. Once he’s adapted to the fundamentals, I’m sure we’ll see him as a 9 long term.

[@gappylevine6136]

Man That thumbanil with blu eyes staring right at ye soul Also why is Vsauce doin football analysis videos

[@CCCoNeTiMe]

So, what you're saying is, Arteta has changed his build up play to a less effective method to accommodate a player that they've just spunked £105m on. Impressive.

[@weexist990]

Great video and gives a wonderful insight into what Arsenal are trying to do this season. Great work! 👍🏿

[@mamixks]

The versatility of the players created unpredictable play style for oppositions to deal with. One player able to occupied different role based on game plans. The one i still not convince was about the timing of substitutions, i feel like is always kinda late, too late for doing something

[@LFerdinandC]

Yes we decided to experiment during regular season, and we're loosing points

[@districtofcards]

The real question is - where is that sweatshirt from? It's awesome!

[@callumyeates406]

All your videos are great but this was ESPECIALLY good. Will change the way I look at pinning and playing around the block

[@ossirioth]

"The point of the block is to control the center of the pitch, potentially ceding possession to the wings." So we can expect to see the 4-4-2 any time soon, the Italians will be adopting Catenachio low blocks and "Big" Sean Dyche will be taking over at Bolton with a few skillful players just past their peak in the center of the park, and the big lads at the back in no way adopting a long ball policy. Newspaper stings optional from that point onward obvs.

[@Burn589]

The problem is that we had a very good system that arteta abandoned now we struggle pushing the ball pass the defense

[@shaunbicheno211]

Great video, thx. Seems that Arteta wants to have the personnel and the tactical awareness to be able to go around or through in the block, without having to telegraph it by making substitutions. Your bit about Rice not (yet) being able to receive in the block, with his back to the opposition, shows what a disaster the Timber injury os for us this season. He reminds me of Wilshere in this part of his skill set

[@eseokpongete8468]

Chapters would be nice... 00:00 Introduction 00:10 Arsenal's change in formation 01:04 Arsenal's change in personnel(roles) 01:26 Pivot 03:33 Pinning 07:27 Pass map 09:18 Touch map courtesy of the Athletic 10:32 Declan Rice's tactics 14:41 Conclusion

[@Manoj17Patankar]

Thanks Tifo, for teaching us how to watch football!

[@byronnaidoo7843]

This is not a fair comparison because the set up of the opposition in both games was completely different. Fulham tried to attack Arsenal and left open spaces. Palace chose to sit back without opening up thus less passing avenues. It would be better to compare the games for Arsenal vs Palace last season and this because they sat back last year as well.

[@comic_food_guy]

I think Arteta realized the team needed to have a different identity and has been attempting to use a 3-4-3. However issues arise in set pieces when using this form and a reduction in Gabriel’s minutes which can be harmful towards chemistry. Yet in time once Rice and Havertz settle I believe the flow will be more fluid. Arsenal still need a proper 9, whether Nketiah is that man remains to be seen.

[@e-ben616]

The problem with this tactic is that Saka needs to improve on his dribbling. It's no use receiving wide passes when saka can barely defeating defenders cos of his predictability. Arteta needs to try other options in the wide areas.

[@millionf1]

Lots of focus on Rice, but what about Havertz? He has completely unbalanced the team, and they leave Gabriel out of the side for someone (Havertz) who neither scores goals nor receives/passes nor does defensive duties. Arteta should admit he made a mistake in signing him (won't happen with the ego on that guy), drop him to the bench, and go back to what worked last year. Arteta can't keep tinkering, like Pep. This experiment needs to end.

[@natekraner3721]

Kinda rude to use a video of City beating us to give an example of how Arsenal play 😭

[@forgetfulLlama31]

Very interesting analysis, thx for the vid. I'd be curious to know if that's how the manager (eg, Arteta in this case) plans it, or whether the approach is less detailed, looser and let the players adapt to the individual events as they happen.

[@fiitlifecoaching]

Where is that hoodie from. Please help cuz it looks good

[@micktrinchese251]

Brilliant analysis, thank-you

[@jmr1255]

Arsenal fanbase is so reactionary its crazy. It would be funny if it wasn't infuriating. People were unironically calling for Arteta to resign after a draw because he keeps playing Havertz. I don't get what he sees in Havertz either tbh, but a draw against Fulham is far from the end of the world

[@joeramirez269]

Amazing analysis!

[@sygnyraniah9686]

As long as Arteta needs him in the team av no problem. Even if Arteta need Maguire av no problem

[@TheKingSkillsBW67]

Arterta is NOT selling Gabriel. The whole thing was tactical not to be playing him early on. We didn’t lose because of Gabriel not playing. We lost because of a silly lapse in concentration. We had a solid back4 when we conceded at the corner; White Saliba Kiwior who had an outstanding game and Zinchenko. Then we had in front of the back 4 Rice and Jorginho. Factor that Fulham had a red card to a key player. Tbh. This attack on Arteta is unnecessarily excessive. We demanded that Arteta become unpredictable; he couldn’t do it because we had no players to fit the profiles needed to cover the first team players. Now he’s go those and he’s become very unpredictable like Pep and suddenly we hear that “Arteta is not Pep” RUBBISH! Can we leave Arteta to implement the strategy we saw the entire preseason being trialed. A draw is not a loss. All teams will drop points. City is changing a lot of players and their fluidity is gone. They have battled to try new things. We bought players for a reason; give them a fair chance to settle into the new environment.

[@krs2832]

Great tactical breakdown.

[@Realistic9]

Arsenal supporters who are scapegoating Havertz shame on you for being naive and irrational .

[@Lineonthedials]

Great analysis

[@barnaclefelching4079]

I was hoping you could do a video about how arsenal are doing something different, maybe Jon could present, just think it would be a good watch, think about doing it please, thank you

[@hlonilesito6767]

That’s a nice sweater 👌🏾

[@tompathadan3890]

Not able to receive pass facing goal and turn and progress - TAA had the same problem while inverting at Liverpool

[@strikevince14]

Excellent vid

[@Jelapi18]

In what software is those maps generted? around 8:03, is that Tableau? PowerBi?

[@Darrahsdriftgarage]

Fantastic analysis

[@sitstandnow]

Another great Vsauce video

[@rajatthakur5438]

it take time to settle down .. arsenal main gameplay revolves around positioning that affect the flow of the play more better positioning means more fluid and fast ball movement by players which gives less time to react for opponents ... Havertz is performing much better defensively than imagined its only matter of time he will link better in attacking ..

[@StadiumHot]

Wow, that was a really in depth and long winded way of saying Declan Rice isn't good enough for a top 4 team.

[@georgeolid2646]

Personally, why Have we signed a very average Kai Havertz and we have our own Hale End graduate being benched? Does everyone forget ESR actually did it for us, he has proved himself Kai may never do so.

[@fikilemkhize5776]

There is a lot of experimenting. The weird formation used by city, I feel is unsustainable

[@nicklikethesoup]

Is this a result of Arsenal going down the wings or collapsing the field to one wing or the other so the center of the pitch is being moved into the half-space. It seems the novelty that Arsenal is introducing is accordion the field laterally instead of the common vertical method you see from Man City or Tuchel’s Chelsea.

[@BigmanDogs]

Where did you get that shirt?

[@elonbust5132]

Is the podcast over?

[@davidchopin6583]

I guess drawing Fulham fits the definition of "different"...

[@debishvebishwish4839]

Trossard need to start more

[@azalikmar2]

I dont get why white doesnt play as the lb instead, and gabriel as the lcb

[@gentleken7864]

What a massive pivot

[@MR-xm9on]

where is that sweater from?

[@piersonjamesa]

Enjoyable video, as an aside, unless Jeff has changed how he wants his name pronounced i always heard his last name pronounced as "Rooter", not like the news agency. As a second aside, would love to see him get dropped in for the inevitable Tifo video on Inter Miami when they win another trophy.

[@am5790]

I hope it gets us a major trophy and the FA cup.....we have to win something major. it's been tooooo long for us.

[@thomasdavies2555]

Rugby in 3D mate, pin the opposite number and attack the space with a pass

[@rk3832]

Hips dont lie @3:26 - 3:30

[@mitchwheels5]

Where did Jon get this sweatshirt?

[@Noggen13]

Most regural line up of last season (0:13) .... They started 6 games with that line up btw...

[@JackTur26]

Unbelievable video 👏👏👏

[@franknitty3000]

Arsenal fans and pundits have been way too quick to heap a lot of praise on Rice. Im sure Arteta sees it differently

[@djdimapasoc7988]

"Thank you for the info" --From the other Premiere League coaches.

[@716_ハディくん]

i doubt they ever bother watching youtube for tactical analysis

[@arfanchowdhury3639]

If coaches are relying on KZbin videos for advice they have bigger questions to answer lol

[@chriswoodley23]

​@@arfanchowdhury3639would be quite funny if Premier League managers are praying someone does a tactical analysis on KZbin before a game otherwise they're screwed. "Sorry lads, they haven't uploaded a video today so all I can tell you is just run around a bit and hope for the best"

[@justthetwoofus.]

Lineup that just came out for the pre match today v Fulham is only confirming this

[@jordantamai5192]

The prem has been so full of long diagonals and wingers running forward only to stop and pass it backwards at the sight of a defender, that everyone has forgotten how to play with a midfield. This is basic off the ball movement/pass and move. 5-a-side pub teams do it every night.

[@tombowers6713]

Havertz is the new scapegoat. I mean Xhaka sorry

[@bpljury]

Zinny makes me so angry, he again messed up against Fulham for no reason and cost us 2 points

[@MGIFTSONSOLOMON]

Unless they win something, whatever they do is useless.

[@Zitrolena]

I really hope Arteta stops experimenting, at least for a bit. Today showed that the moment Havertz got off and Viera and Zinchenko came on, it was so much more fluid. Really missing the fluidity so far this season

[@Chamo9012]

Do a west ham update !!

[@tom11mansfield]

Doesnt get in the first 11 on merit, thats the problem. We literally have better options benched to start him

[@danielthuku8192]

This is all reactive gobbledygook by Jon. The growing pains we are going through is not because Declan Rice can't receive the ball with his back to goal. We are just preparing for Europe and man City by playing against low blocks with how we will want to play those big games. That is with a more vertical approach with Havertz contesting for balls higher up the pitch rather than looking to play through them like we tried last season. The injury to Timber has complicated this process, but I think we'll adapt. Once Zinchenko is back, He'll be used against weaker sides more and the beautiful football will be back.

[@Vidilian]

Exactly what I thought. He's adjusting Arsenal so they don't get battered by City but needs to practice the system in competitive games leading up to when it's really needed

[@danielthuku8192]

@@Vidilian yea. We are completely bypassing the second phase of buildup directly into the third. Those are the kinds of tactics that reign supreme in Europe.

[@daltonpolius5238]

Arsenal are not gonna do anything in Europe

[@God_is_an_Atheist666]

It's been really boring to watch Arsenal this far, they are efficient nonetheless.

[@rishabhpasi98]

Simply put, timber's injury was a costly one.

[@Longlostpuss]

Honestly, all this talk about tactics and shapes all sounds very well and good scientifically and makes for good debate and clicks, but ultimately none of that stuff makes a difference on the pitch on match day. What makes a difference is the personnel on the pitch and how well they play versus their opposition and that's it. The smarter, more energetic, more technically able and more athletic players beat out the players who are less so. It all comes down to people having the beating of others for pace, strength, dexterity, stamina and importantly finishing on the day. Doesn't matter what formations you play, they can all be broken down by the same or any other formation used, it's really not that important. Pace coupled with quick, direct and meaningful passing breaks down pretty much any formation and any "overload" in area of the pitch. Throughout the course of games things go wild and shapes are rarely ever maintained anyway, people are just trying to beat each other individually all over the pitch. Alot of cap on these channels - Arsenal's problem is they have just bought and are carrying another team's former passenger and are trying to figure out how the team can play effectively with him there. Let's keep it simple.

[@Jestur7]

Hey there iam a Manager of a German non League Club. I have a question which is what program they’re using to show the tactics of team because I want to teach my team by using modern Technology.

[@maz7953]

Imagine how interesting football would be if they changed the position of the goals and you only found out when you got on the pitch.

[@jamesleiper6399]

That's where the goal is Jesse marsch

[@alexosborn3247]

Saying Declan Rice doesnt have the ability to receive back to goal within a block is a downright lie. This is a case of going 2+2=7. Awful awful analysis

[@daltonpolius5238]

Mate he doesn't rice is a safe passer , sideways and backwards . He hardly breaks lines with his passing . A very limited player on the ball . His best qualities are off the ball . The guy is just a steady Eddy