Arsenal traveled to Sinobo Stadium to take on Slavia Prague in the 2nd leg of their Europa League draw, with the Gunners needing a win to move onto the semi-finals after giving up a late equalizing road goal at the death during the 1st leg at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta and his squad faced the pressure of having to beat a Slavia Prague team that hadn’t lost at home since losing to Inter in the Champions League, or else go home packing without any silverware to show this season. However, this Arsenal side again showed a mettle and resilience that has sprung out when trapped in a corner, blitzing the home team with 3 goals in the first 25 minutes and overall winning handily 4-0.
It was arguably Arsenal’s best performance of the season – especially considering the circumstances and pressure – and chalk full of great play and elite skills that unlocked the game for the Gunenrs. In the following piece, I deconstructed four plays and skills that were critical to the team’s success.
#1 – The opener
The first was the opening goal. After Emile Smith-Rowe (ESR) ventured into the box and his shot was blocked, he used quick feet and adept touch to regain control and possession, rebalancing himself and seeing Pepe on the far side with an apparently open passing channel.
However, ESR anticipated the defender reading that flat pass and instead played the angled pass which ended up going through the defender’s lunge. If ESR had played that flat pass, it’s likely deflected and chance gone.
Now the spotlight turns to Pepe. First, he decelerated to hold off the defender and give himself time and space to make a decision.
He showcased elite balance and composure by continuing to hold off the defender while waiting for the keeper to commit and then calmly finding the angle for the goal.
Elite play in the box from both players.
#2 – ESR-Chambers-Saka connection
For the 3rd goal, ESR unlocked the advantage by making himself available into space and playing this beautiful quick 1-touch to Thomas Partey.
Partey put a little too much weight on his subsequent pass to Calum Chambers and a Slavia Prague defender read it extremely well, making a beeline towards the ball. Chambers immediately recognized that threat and course-corrected his original curved angle approach (red line) into a direct line approach (yellow line) to beat the defender to the ball and nick it past him with a right-footed touch while jumping over the challenge. Great read and reaction here.
Calum found Saka with a nicely weighted reverse ball – Chamber’s passing overall has been extremely impressive – and now it was a 1v1 for the little chili. The exuberant whipper-snapper immediately recognized the defender’s body shape and knew he could cut inside – this is quite poor defending, you have to know that Saka wants to cut back onto his favored left foot here.
Due to Saka’s ball control and movement fluidity along with with the defender’s body shape, this 1v1 was essentially over before it began. Saka easily slid by him – the defender completely turned around – to create a gaping shooting channel.
Saka hit a dart to the near post with the Slavia Prague keeper left completely flatfooted to give the Gunners an essentially insurmountable 3-0 lead and cap off a scintillating first 25 minutes of the match.
#3 – Lacazette’s composure & control
Xhaka – who was superb at LB yet again, hi haters – found Pepe breaking down the left wing with Lacazette (aka Lagachette which means “the trigger” in French and was his nickname at Lyon) and Saka in advanced support. As Pepe approached near the box, Laga looked over at Pepe and signaled with his left arm to communicate the passing channel.
As Laga then entered into the box and Pepe prepared to make the pass, the former again signaled for the back shoulder centering ball.
Pepe played it perfectly and as Laga takes the ball with his right foot and balances himself to turn towards goal – the defender had slipped but Lacazette’s eyes were averted, focusing on the incoming pass – the defender recovered with another bearing down to help.
Lacazette could have very easily tried to jam a shot through – likely to no avail – but instead he remained calm, composed, and cool on the ball, feinting the shot and crossing back to his left leg – leaving both defenders bamboozled and flat-footed.
Laga then powered the ball home near-post with his left foot to complete his brace for the night. Great play from start to finish for the captain.
#4 – Gabi changes gears
Lastly is a play that wasn’t a goal but showcased part of what makes youngster Gabriel Martinelli such a key piece for this Arsenal team, with a directness of play on a team lacking that type of profile. The play starts with 1v1 wing situation and Gabi sizing up the defender.
He ate up space between himself and the defender, feinting a cutback on the right foot and pushing the ball wide into space, making use of his pace advantage.
The defender was now in reactionary, chase mode.
This is where it got really juicy. Gabi intentionally slowed down, forcing the defender to get square…
and then snap, takes a big touch to get the goal side and easily bypass. Like dangling a carrot and then taking it away.
Gabi got into a superb position and created a great chance to score but was unable to finish the strike.
Regardless of that finish, this play highlighted how effectively Gabi is able to upshift and downshift gears to keep defenders guessing and off-balance. Having high a top-speed is great but being able to change speeds and, perhaps even more importantly, understanding when to do so is what really separates elite attackers.
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Overall, a great night for Arsenal rife with tremendous plays and a showcase of great skills. I hope you enjoyed the piece and I hope to bring you more like this for upcoming games.
Fin. COYG.
Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbperformance) is a Doctor of Physio, sports scientist, movement and strength training expert, youth football coach, mindfulness teacher, and data enthusiast. He’s the owner of 3cbPerformance – providing sports medicine, performance, and mindfulness services online and in-person at clinics in West Los Angeles and Valencia, CA – a dedicated YouTube channel, and an avid Gooner since 1995.