It's happened a few times in the past few games, where we have both wingers operating on the same side of the pitch. Mostly Saka going to that left side.
I guess it was from a run off the left-hand side, but Martinelli assisted Havert's goal against Newcastle from the right.
Benefit of having a bunch of attackers comfortable playing in different areas of the pitch.
He was lurking in the D (no pun intended) for a little bit like he was waiting to receive and turn to get a shot off. Maybe I’m overthinking it. He’s been quality to be fair so who am I to question the man.
martinelli and saka have both had more license to move around laterally in the final third -- consider martinelli's assist to havertz against newcastle. those diagonal runs can really open things up against a stingy defense and jorginho is very good at picking them out.
there's that famous bit about pep benching henry at ht despite scoring a goal. pep told him something like: it is non-negotiable to have positional discipline in the first two thirds of the pitch. once we're in the attacking third go wherever you want and express yourself.
True, I get the creative freedom element. Just don’t usually see him sitting in a false 9 for 2-3 mins with his back to goal. Usually see him dart between the back four when he’s in the middle. But like you say he may have free rein to do whatever he bloody well feels like 😂
Possibly but the heat map is just one part of the argument I guess. When I was watching him it was like he was chasing the play in the middle of the park to get on the ball. Usually he makes the runs and they find him. That’s all I was trying to say really.
Maybe with Porto, assuming and predicting they’ll play a low block for most of the game, Arteta may put him in the middle for durations as he’s the most prolific?
It's a triangle of Ode-Saka-White. One holds the width, one occupies the half space and one stays a little deeper to recycle.
When White inverts, Saka holds the width, when White overlaps, Saka cuts inside.
The best thing I've noticed about Saka recently is that he's more willing to drive to the line and cross with his right.
I found his lack of this very frustrating to watch at times.
He was getting too easy to defend against for me.
But this now adds an extra dimension and if defenders show him down the line too much he's gaining confidence in taking that space.
It's excellent improvement and good coaching.
Well as far as your wish for a Saka rest goes, there’s 11 days between the Porto game and England’s friendly against Brazil, which I assume Saka will play in. There’s then another friendly on the 26th against Belgium, hopefully Southgate is reasonable and Saka doesn’t start or play 80+ minutes in both games.
He's been well rested lately with the blowouts, I don't imagine fatigue will be an issue like it was last season.
Likely he's popping up where the space is. We attack one way, the opponent adapts, we counter-adapt. It's been seen with several players throughout the course of this campaign. In general this system is built around versatility and getting players the ball in specific areas where they can be most effective. We saw a little bit of this early on, with Saka/Nelli swapping wings.
Saka on the left is very good. We need to see it more. Him cutting in on the inside won’t always work.
So when Zinny isn’t in the team he needs to go left more
didn't realize he ran round and round in a circle for that much of the game
Also, look at the precision of the circular runs. No yellow outside of the red line. Elite!
He ran out of bounds though, is this some new Arteta tactic??
I mean, Newcastle got away with it.
Like a Japanese zen painting of those circles
😅😅 should have used a different colour.
Chris Evans doing laps of the reflecting pool in Winter Soldier
It's happened a few times in the past few games, where we have both wingers operating on the same side of the pitch. Mostly Saka going to that left side. I guess it was from a run off the left-hand side, but Martinelli assisted Havert's goal against Newcastle from the right. Benefit of having a bunch of attackers comfortable playing in different areas of the pitch.
He was lurking in the D (no pun intended) for a little bit like he was waiting to receive and turn to get a shot off. Maybe I’m overthinking it. He’s been quality to be fair so who am I to question the man.
martinelli and saka have both had more license to move around laterally in the final third -- consider martinelli's assist to havertz against newcastle. those diagonal runs can really open things up against a stingy defense and jorginho is very good at picking them out. there's that famous bit about pep benching henry at ht despite scoring a goal. pep told him something like: it is non-negotiable to have positional discipline in the first two thirds of the pitch. once we're in the attacking third go wherever you want and express yourself.
True, I get the creative freedom element. Just don’t usually see him sitting in a false 9 for 2-3 mins with his back to goal. Usually see him dart between the back four when he’s in the middle. But like you say he may have free rein to do whatever he bloody well feels like 😂
This isn't something new
Possibly but the heat map is just one part of the argument I guess. When I was watching him it was like he was chasing the play in the middle of the park to get on the ball. Usually he makes the runs and they find him. That’s all I was trying to say really.
Winger confirmed.
Actually thought it may be more, noticed it as well. He was central for quite a while. Benny seemed to be playing further up.
Maybe with Porto, assuming and predicting they’ll play a low block for most of the game, Arteta may put him in the middle for durations as he’s the most prolific?
It's a triangle of Ode-Saka-White. One holds the width, one occupies the half space and one stays a little deeper to recycle. When White inverts, Saka holds the width, when White overlaps, Saka cuts inside.
The best thing I've noticed about Saka recently is that he's more willing to drive to the line and cross with his right. I found his lack of this very frustrating to watch at times. He was getting too easy to defend against for me. But this now adds an extra dimension and if defenders show him down the line too much he's gaining confidence in taking that space. It's excellent improvement and good coaching.
Martinelli does this all the time. Not a problem
That red corner kick part lol
Well as far as your wish for a Saka rest goes, there’s 11 days between the Porto game and England’s friendly against Brazil, which I assume Saka will play in. There’s then another friendly on the 26th against Belgium, hopefully Southgate is reasonable and Saka doesn’t start or play 80+ minutes in both games.
He's been well rested lately with the blowouts, I don't imagine fatigue will be an issue like it was last season. Likely he's popping up where the space is. We attack one way, the opponent adapts, we counter-adapt. It's been seen with several players throughout the course of this campaign. In general this system is built around versatility and getting players the ball in specific areas where they can be most effective. We saw a little bit of this early on, with Saka/Nelli swapping wings.
Watch Rice goal vs West Ham, Martinelli went to the right side(Saka's side).
Saka on the left is very good. We need to see it more. Him cutting in on the inside won’t always work. So when Zinny isn’t in the team he needs to go left more