Thierry Henry gave a detailed analysis on Monday Night Football of Arsenal’s currently ailing approach play, and singled out one weak point in the Gunners’ attack.
Arsenal spent the last two seasons pushing Manchester City right to the end in their bid for a first Premier League title since 2003-04, but fell just short, and look set to miss out again this term.
Liverpool under Arne Slot appear to be the side that has profited best from City’s 11-game run with just one win in all competitions, while Arsenal again dropped points at the weekend in a drab 0-0 draw with Everton at home.
Bukayo Saka has continued his stunning rise to become one of the leading right wingers in world football with 10 assists in the league already, but if the Gunners are to end their wait for silverware there is the feeling they cannot solely rely on him.
Martin Odegaard’s return to fitness has been a boost offensively, but there are questions currently surrounding the left wing spot, which would appear to be the weak link in the attack.
As such, Henry offered a fascinating insight into how the Gunners operate moving forward and, using the 2-0 win over Manchester United earlier this month as a case study – highlighted where Gabriel Martinelli needs to improve.
Mikel Arteta’s side have struggled to create chances from open play in recent weeks
Thierry Henry assessed the Gunners’ attacking phases of play during Monday Night Football
Gabriel Martinelli in particular was criticised for his decision-making during a recent match
‘I would say they are very predictable. You’re not going to say it’s not good to score off set-pieces, it is outstanding,’ Arsenal’s record goal scorer said.
‘I’m just saying the issue in Europe for a very long time was it took us a year to score away from home in Europe. Now, the last three that they’ve scored in the league have been from set-pieces.’
He then showed a number of clips from Arsenal’s win over United, won courtesy of two goals from corners, in which he highlighted the difference between their approach play and that of Liverpool.
In particular, Henry pinpointed how Saka is often isolated with few options – ‘You know he’s going to play to Odegaard’ – where Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah regularly has runners providing alternatives going forward: ‘When you see Liverpool going forward you see [Joe] Gomez, [Darwin] Nunez, [Diogo] Jota running.’
In the clip, the ball comes to Odegaard, at which point Henry highlights a pass to Declan Rice between the midfield and defensive lines that could open up ‘a quick 3v2’ but the pass does not come, and instead the Gunners go backwards – ‘Once again, too predictable’.
He then turned his attentions to the left hand side, where Martinelli has primarily operated over the last two-and-a-half seasons, and the Brazilian is positioned high and wide up against Diogo Dalot.
The clip plays and while Henry narrates how Martinelli should be taking on his man and utilising his prodigious pace to create an opening, he instead goes backwards – ‘You’re not playing your 1v1’ – and as the clip ends, Martinelli finishes up on the halfway line as another opportunity for attack goes begging.
While Saka and Martinelli both emerged around the same time for Arsenal, the former has become a world class forward while the development of the latter appears to have stalled somewhat.
Henry highlighted several facets of Arsenal’s offensive approach play in a fascinating segment
Bukayo Saka has gone on to thrive in recent years while his wing partner Martinelli has stalled
In 22 appearances in all competitions this term, Martinelli has only four goals and two assists, which is perhaps the reason for Jamie Carragher suggesting that Arsenal are a ‘world class attacker short’ of a genuine title tilt.
‘I don’t think it’s a striker necessarily but I think it’s an attacking player. For me, when you see this lad, Saka, on the right side and you see what they have on the left, it’s like chalk and cheese.
‘Now, Martinelli and Saka, a few years ago were almost at a similar level but Saka has jumped up to be one of the best players in European football in his position but Martinelli unfortunately hasn’t joined them.
‘I’ve always felt, last two years and even this year, the reason I’ve never gone for Arsenal is I feel they’re a world class attacker short. When I think of the other teams that Chelsea have, that Liverpool have, that City have, I don’t think they’ve got that quality.’
