Jamie Carragher described Arsenal as the most effective workforce in Europe defensively on Monday Evening Soccer, saying it provides them a “great chance” within the Premier League title race, however Thierry Henry warned of a weak point when defending their very own field.
Arsenal sit third within the desk behind Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis however boast an unrivalled defensive document this season, with the fewest objectives conceded and most clear sheets within the division.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect additionally rank high when it comes to anticipated objectives in opposition to, pictures on track confronted and opposition touches within the opposition field.
Their anticipated objective distinction, in the meantime, a key efficiency indicator through which the title-winning workforce normally sits high of the pile, additionally has them forward of their rivals in first place.
Carragher feels their defensive enchancment has given them an edge which boosts their title hopes.
“At times at the start of the season, I doubted whether Arsenal could win the league because of the lack of goals,” Carragher stated on Monday Evening Soccer, talking earlier than their 6-0 win over Sheffield United.
“Sure, they’ve began scoring objectives now, however one other resolution is to be higher defensively.
“Once I watch Arsenal, I feel they don’t seem to be simply the most effective workforce defensively within the league, however in Europe too.
“Manchester City have been the best team defensively and won the league. Arsenal are that team now and they have got a great chance of winning the title.”
Based on Carragher, their defensive excellence stems from their means to pin opponents in their very own half and forestall them from getting close to the Arsenal objective.
“You can’t play through this Arsenal team when they have got you in their half,” he added, referencing the primary interval of the 4-1 win over Newcastle, throughout which Arsenal received possession within the last third extra instances in a single half (11) than every other aspect all season.
“It’s almost like a full-court press, ‘we’re playing a game, 11-vs-11, in this half of the pitch’.
“Arsenal proper now are higher than anyone, not simply within the Premier League however probably in Europe, at defending that means.”
Henry: We undergo when defending our field
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, Carragher and David Jones’ visitor on Monday Evening Soccer, agreed with Carragher’s evaluation of his former aspect however warned of a weak point when defending crosses.
“One of the things you need to do as a coach is see the team that you have,” he stated.
“Mikel Arteta wants to play high and I think Arsenal are at their best when they are like that.
“Players like Saliba, like Gabriel – an outstanding partnership – benefit from the way Arsenal play.
“However like a whole lot of groups that play excessive, they don’t seem to be used to defending their field at instances, or defending crosses. I see at instances that we is usually a tiny bit suspect when we have now to do this.”
Henry checked out examples from video games in opposition to West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, when Arsenal’s opponents had been in a position to rating from balls into the field from huge positions.
“Every time we are in those situations, we don’t often defend the ball well,” he stated.
“Full credit for not being in those positions. That is why a lot of teams don’t get a lot of shots.
“However when we have now to defend our field, we undergo at instances.”
‘Away video games will check Arsenal’s defence’
Henry and Carragher additionally checked out Arsenal’s remaining Premier League fixtures, an inventory which incorporates tough away video games in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, Brighton, Wolves, Tottenham and Manchester United.
“Those teams will push Arsenal back to the edge of their own box. So, if that’s a weakness for them, we will see it in those games.”
Henry identified that their fixture listing might change into even trickier in the event that they progress within the Champions League.
“Remember, if you go deep in the Champions League, you have to add those games as well,” he stated.
“Can you deal with that? I know Manchester City and Liverpool are equipped to do that.”
Henry added: “But when I look at [these fixtures], I think it’s going to be tough away from home.
“I get extra scared as a result of, in between all our objectives and taking part in nicely, Porto stopped us having a shot on track away from residence, a workforce that was well-drilled and well-positioned.
“Those other teams might now see that and go, ‘give them the ball, let’s stay compact’. They also have speed on the counter.”
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