New Collection: Arteta & Arsenal | Midfield 3v2 vs Chelsea 🔍

Following on from our Chelsea live class, this collection looks at how Arsenal created and exploited the midfield 3v2 against Chelsea under Arteta.

If you watched the class and want to go deeper into the tactical detail from the Arsenal side of the game, this is the natural next step. The collection ties directly into the themes we covered and gives you a closer look at how Arsenal set up to create overloads and exploit the spaces that Chelsea's structure was leaving.

The article is free for everyone to read. The class itself is available for Tactx subscribers 

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/arteta-arsenal-midfield-3v2-chelsea

Any questions, drop them below 

Live class tomorrow at 10am UK time. This one is open to everyone, so pass it on to anyone who would find it useful.

We are going through Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea properly. The midfield 3v2 Arsenal built, why James and Lavia could not pick up a reference point, what Calafiori did by stepping inside, Acheampong's position as he advanced, and how Arsenal set themselves up to counter into that space, and where Chelsea's build-up came unstuck against the press.

Come with questions. That is usually where the best bits come from.

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/arsenal-chelsea-live-tactical-class

Three v Three | Two v One Practice Now Live 

Something a little different with this one, and a real-life example to go with it.

At the weekend, I worked through this with my son and his centre-back partner. My son plays right back at 13 years old, and we looked at how he and his right centre-back could play out from the back and specifically play around when pressed.

Newcastle, the team he played against,  used a wide press with their left winger closing down the right centre-back, and through the two-v-one situation, my son was able to get out every single time. A simple visual, but it came directly from playing around technical practice 1.

These two v one practices are brilliant for developing the correct angles to play forward once players receive in those situations. Check out the playing-around practices and then the two-v-one, and you will see exactly how one feeds into the other.

David

Two v One Practice
Playing Around Technical Practice 1

Attacking Transitions: When to Risk and When to Retain

We think you will hear a lot more about quick attacking transitions in the coming weeks, particularly in the Premier League with managers like Xabi Alonso now in the mix.

In Arsenal's game yesterday, we saw signs of their approach developing too. Alongside retaining possession after a regain, there was a real willingness to risk the ball and attack at speed.

Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Attacking quickly can exploit an opponent before they recover, but it increases the risk of losing possession. Retaining the ball allows you to establish control, but can give the opposition time to reorganise. The best teams and coaches know when to do which, and that decision can be coached.

We have two collections that explore exactly this.

Risk the Ball

Our attacking transition collection looks at how to coach quick transitions after regaining possession, building from technical practices through to full sessions. If you want your players attacking at speed and understanding when to go, this is where to start.

Risk the Ball Collection

Retain the Ball

Fourteen practices and growing, focused on what players should do when retaining possession is the better decision after a regain. We will be building this into a full collection as we add more sessions.

Retain the Ball Practices

Risk or Retain: Decision Making

This is where it comes together. Ten full sessions, three practices in each, designed to help players recognise what the game demands when possession is regained and make better decisions in those moments.

Risk or Retain | Full Sessions

When your team wins the ball, do you encourage them to attack immediately or secure possession first? Drop your thoughts below 👊

Three v Three with Peter Prickett | Practice 10 🧱

Practice 10 is live for subscribers. More on back pressure as your library of practices on the topic continues to build.

Same coaching points, fresh practice.

Available for subscribers now 👇

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/the-3v3-game-1v1-practice-10

New Practice: Three v Three with Peter Prickett | Practice 9 🧱

Practice 9 is live for subscribers.

A similar setup to practice 5, and that is intentional. Use these two practices in tandem to create familiarity with your players. The starting positions and service change the angles of pressure; this one focuses on back pressure.

Don't be afraid of using similar setups with different objectives. Familiarity is part of learning.

Available for subscribers now 👇

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/the-3v3-game-1v1-practice-9

Chelsea | Xabi Alonso | Recording Now Available 

The class is now up for subscribers.

We look at Alonso's Chelsea, the performance problems within the 3-4-3, and how it is creating transition problems for their opponents. We also look at how they may adapt for the game against Arsenal at the weekend.

Available for subscribers now 👇

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/chelsea-xabi-alonso-game-model

New Practice: Three v Three with Peter Prickett | Practice 8

Practice 8 is live for subscribers, shifting the focus to back pressure.

The session is designed to encourage shielding the ball before searching for a way to slip away from the pressure. A different angle again as the collection keeps building.

Available for subscribers now 

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/the-3v3-game-1v1-practice-8

Iliman Ndiaye signed for Manchester City this week for around £65 million. Six years ago, I signed him for Hyde United on £100 a week.

Full story's in the blog, but the short version: he was a squad player in Sheffield United's under-21s, we picked him up on loan on transfer deadline day because he'd run out of other options that January, and by the end of his first training session my assistant and I both knew we had something different.

There's a moment from that first night I still bring up. A skill game, groups of four or five meant to be keeping the ball up together on the way to a target on the halfway line. Ndiaye just scoops it onto his own head and sprints the length of half the pitch with it balanced there, drops it in the target, jogs back for another go. His group were in stitches making dolphin noises at him for the rest of the session.

Nine games, one goal, season cut short by the pandemic. Not a stat line that predicts £65 million. But watching him week to week, you knew. Scanning, supporting, securing the ball under pressure, all miles above the level. Supply was the part that had to catch up, and once it did, here we are.

Full story here: https://tactxcoach.com/blog/i-signed-iliman-ndiaye-for-100-a-week

New Technical Practice: Playing Around

The next practice is live for subscribers.

Eight minutes of technical patterns using a double pivot in midfield, building on the work from the previous sessions. Every pressing pattern is covered with clear solutions for playing around.

The building blocks are all here. Work through them and let us know how you get on.