DAVE M. Thanks Dave

Hi, thanks for the question.

Against a back three, we’d look to control it with a minus one, using your 9 and 10 to press their three centre backs.

If they’re playing one of the 3-4-3 systems, your 9 and 10 work together in that minus one and you jump from your midfield when you need the extra player.

If they’re in a 3-5-2, jump press on the side the ball goes to.

Worst case, go 3v3 with your front three up against their back three, and force them where you need them to go.

Daniel A. Hi Daniel, thanks for the question. Keep firing away; we have no problem answering these.

If you’re 3v3 in midfield, we’d suggest your far-side wide forward positions himself to split the centre-back and the opposite full-back. That way, if the ball is switched to the free centre back, it’s the winger who looks to jump.

If he’s got his starting position wrong, or it’s a quality pass, I’d ask the winger to hold his position. But for any triggers, like the ball in the air or a pass behind the centre-back, I’d want him jumping.

And if they go back to the keeper, you just reset your press.

Your questions show a great understanding. If you have any more, let's jump on a call.

Thanks for viewing 🤝

beg F. I'd go with 18x18 yards as a starting point and assess from there with the group of players. 

Kenneth H. Currently working through them Kenneth. Clipping them up as we speak but we have 100's to get through. Estimating early December. 

Q: Do you think the defensive line know when to shuffle across? There was no cover on Chelsea's right as the right centre back took Havertz.

Not yet. As you will have seen throughout the class, the opposition are building quite easily up to a point where it puts real pressure on the back five and the midfield two, and they are being asked a lot of questions. The right solutions are not quite there yet from the right centre back in terms of when to jump out and when to shuffle across. That will be work in progress on the training pitch, no doubt. There are new players and new combinations in there, and it can be really effective once it clicks. But at the moment, with the volume of decisions they are having to make and the decision process itself, it is not quite working.

Q: Should Lacroix shuffle across to cover Acheampong as Fofana was already on Havertz?

Without the full context of that specific example it is hard to be definitive, but in general he has struggled in terms of when to cover and when to hold his position. Havertz will quite often pin that right centre back, so it comes down to communication while the ball is live and what that defensive structure looks like on the line. Lacroix could have shuffled slightly across if Fofana takes Havertz, but Havertz is really bright. He was finding that position which isolated the counter attack on the left hand side, making good runs himself, and that in turn opened up the counter attacking threat for Tzolis.

Q: Is it easy for the centre backs and goalkeeper to notice that Arsenal went man to man and they need to go long, or does it come from sideline instructions?

This definitely comes from the centre backs and the goalkeeper, and it is actually quite simple to identify. They just need to look at the top line. If they can see it is a man to man setup, the numbers are equal and you know you need to find a way to play long into them. If it is not man to man, there is a spare player somewhere in that top line, and that is where you play out. The patterns will come from there.

Q: Do you think there is residual knowledge of the man to man from Enzo Maresca in this team, and is it affecting how the midfield defend in terms of leaving large gaps?

That is a difficult one to answer, but what you will find is that Alonso is going to have plenty of time on the training ground and you will see improvements. My only concern at the minute is how predictable it has been. It has been heavily reliant on the counter attack with the front three and Neto joining in. Alonso is going to have to find more unpredictability in both his pressing and his playing out.