You Are My Arsenal

Main Menu

  • About
  • Latest News
    • General
    • Match Previews
    • Transfer Window
  • Analysis
    • Players
    • Post Match Review
  • Contact

logo

  • About
  • Latest News
    • General
    • Match Previews
    • Transfer Window
  • Analysis
    • mikel-arteta-arsenal-coach-tactical-analysis

      Tactical Analysis: What the Scotland friendlies tell us about Arsenal’s defensive tactics ...

      September 2, 2021
      0
    • arsenal-preseason-2021-analysis

      Tactical Analysis: What the Scotland Friendlies tell us about Arsenal's Style of ...

      August 12, 2021
      2
    • Defending from the front - How Arsenal has improved their defense

      March 26, 2021
      0
    • arsenal-tottenham-premier-league-2020-2021-tactical-analysis

      Arsenal's Derby Redemption

      March 15, 2021
      1
    • leicester-arsenal-premier-league-2020-2021-tactical-analysis

      How Arsenal rounded off the perfect week

      March 1, 2021
      2
    • west-brom-arsenal-premier-league-2020-2021-tactical-analysis

      How Arsenal dismantled West Brom - Tactical Analysis

      January 4, 2021
      0
    • arsenal-chelsea-premier-league-2020-2021-tactical-analysis

      How Arsenal dispatched Chelsea

      December 28, 2020
      0
    • everton-arsenal-premier-league-2020-2021-tactical-analysis

      Tactical Analysis: What went wrong for Arsenal vs Everton?

      December 21, 2020
      0
    • tottenham-arsenal-premier-league-2020-2021-tactical-analysis

      Breaking Down Arsenal's Woes vs Tottenham - Tactical Analysis

      December 8, 2020
      0
    • Players
    • Post Match Review
  • Contact
  • Arsenal vs Atletico Match Preview: Gunners aim to extend perfect Champions League start

  • Fulham 0–1 Arsenal: Three Things We Learned as the Gunners Go Top

  • Riccardo Calafiori: Arsenal’s Shape-Shifting Soul

  • Arsenal’s Right-Side Blueprint: How Saka, Ødegaard, and Timber Are Driving the Attack

  • What the First Seven Matches Really Tell Us About Arsenal’s Contenders’ Credentials

Analysis
Home›Analysis›Midfield Matters: How Arsenal Can Emulate Crystal Palace’s Success in Disrupting the Opposition

Midfield Matters: How Arsenal Can Emulate Crystal Palace’s Success in Disrupting the Opposition

By First Team
February 24, 2025
844
0
Share:
Midfield Matters How Arsenal Can Emulate Palace's Success

In a Premier League encounter that defied expectations, Crystal Palace orchestrated a masterful 2-0 victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Beyond the scoreline, the match unveiled a tactical blueprint centered around a highly effective midfield performance, orchestrated by Will Hughes, that stifled Fulham’s creativity and dictated the flow of the game. This performance prompts a crucial question for Arsenal: can they emulate Crystal Palace’s midfield strategy to enhance their own ability to disrupt opponents and control matches?

Fulham’s Frustration: A Midfield Misfire?

Fulham, heading into the match on the back of consecutive league victories, appeared poised to continue their push for European qualification. However, from the onset, Marco Silva’s side struggled to impose their will on the game. Reports suggest that Fulham failed to capitalize on their efforts to qualify for Europe after wins against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. Despite enjoying a significant share of possession – exceeding 60% for much of the game – Fulham’s midfield lacked the dynamism and incisiveness needed to unlock Crystal Palace’s defense.

Several factors contributed to Fulham’s midfield woes:

  • Lack of Creativity: Fulham’s key playmakers, including Alex Iwobi, were effectively neutralized by Crystal Palace’s disciplined midfield structure.
  • Ineffective Pressing: Fulham struggled to win back possession in crucial areas, allowing Crystal Palace to launch swift counter-attacks.
  • Defensive Vulnerability: Fulham’s midfield was often exposed defensively, failing to provide adequate protection to the back four.

Hughes’ Heroics: A Masterclass in Midfield Disruption

At the heart of Crystal Palace’s success was the performance of Will Hughes. Deployed in a deep-lying midfield role, Hughes acted as a lynchpin, breaking up Fulham’s attacks, dictating the tempo of his own team’s play, and providing a shield for the Crystal Palace defense.

Hughes’ impact can be attributed to several key attributes:

  • Tactical Intelligence: Hughes demonstrated a keen understanding of the game, consistently making the right decisions in terms of positioning, tackling, and passing.
  • Work Rate and Determination: Hughes covered every blade of grass, tirelessly tracking runners, closing down space, and winning tackles.
  • Composure in Possession: Hughes was composed and assured on the ball, rarely relinquishing possession and always looking to play forward when possible.
  • Breaking up play: According to reports, Hughes was excellent at the base of midfield, breaking up play and getting his team ticking.
  • Protecting the Backline: Reports indicate that Hughes protected a backline that had virtually nothing to do all afternoon with aplomb.

Glasner’s Gambit: Tactical Masterclass

Crystal Palace’s victory was not solely down to individual brilliance; it was also a testament to Oliver Glasner’s tactical acumen. Glasner recognized Fulham’s strengths and weaknesses and devised a game plan that effectively exploited them.

Key elements of Glasner’s strategy included:

  • Compact Defensive Shape: Crystal Palace maintained a tight and disciplined defensive shape, making it difficult for Fulham to penetrate their lines.
  • Midfield Press: Crystal Palace’s midfield pressed Fulham aggressively in key areas, forcing turnovers and disrupting their rhythm.
  • Counter-Attacking Prowess: Crystal Palace was quick and decisive on the counter-attack, exploiting the space left behind by Fulham’s attacking players.
  • Team discipline: According to reports, Oliver Glasner noted that all of the credit goes to the players again, they worked so hard for this win and they were very disciplined.

Arsenal’s Midfield Equation: Seeking the Missing Piece

Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, have established themselves as one of the Premier League’s most exciting and dynamic attacking teams. However, their midfield has occasionally been criticized for lacking the physicality and disruption needed to consistently dominate games against strong opponents.

While Arsenal boasts talented midfielders such as Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Emile Smith Rowe, they could benefit from adding a player with the attributes of Will Hughes – a tenacious, tactically astute, and defensively responsible midfielder who can break up play, protect the back four, and initiate counter-attacks.

Potential Solutions: Internal and External

Arsenal has several options for addressing their midfield needs, both internally and externally:

  • Developing Existing Talent: Arsenal could focus on developing the defensive aspects of existing midfielders, such as Albert Sambi Lokonga or Charlie Patino. By improving their tackling, positioning, and tactical awareness, these players could potentially evolve into more disruptive midfielders.
  • Recruiting a Specialist: Arsenal could look to recruit a specialist defensive midfielder in the transfer market. There are several players in Europe who possess the attributes needed to excel in this role.
  • Adapting Existing Players: Arsenal may consider working with players they have to see if they can take on additional duties.

Tactical Tweaks: Emulating Crystal Palace’s Approach

In addition to personnel changes, Arsenal could also emulate Crystal Palace’s tactical approach to enhance their midfield disruption. This could involve:

  • Implementing a More Aggressive Press: Arsenal could adopt a more aggressive pressing strategy in midfield, aiming to win back possession higher up the pitch and disrupt the opponent’s build-up play.
  • Prioritizing Defensive Solidity: Arsenal could prioritize defensive solidity in midfield, ensuring that the two central midfielders provide adequate protection to the back four.
  • Utilizing a Double Pivot: Arsenal could experiment with a double pivot in midfield, pairing a more creative player with a dedicated defensive midfielder.
  • Adapting tactics: Arsenal could take lessons from Oliver Glasner’s approach with Crystal Palace.

The Importance of Balance: Attack and Defense

It’s important to note that Arsenal’s midfield strategy must strike a balance between attack and defense. While disruption and physicality are important, Arsenal cannot afford to sacrifice their creativity and attacking flair.

The ideal scenario would be to find a midfielder who possesses both defensive steel and the ability to contribute to the team’s attacking play. This would allow Arsenal to maintain their attacking threat while also becoming more difficult to play against.

A Test for the Gunners

Crystal Palace’s victory over Fulham provided a blueprint for how a well-organized and disciplined midfield can stifle the opposition and control the flow of the game. For Arsenal, emulating Crystal Palace’s success in midfield disruption represents a significant opportunity to enhance their own tactical flexibility and become a more complete team.

By developing existing talent, recruiting a specialist, and implementing tactical tweaks, Arsenal can create a midfield that is not only creative and dynamic but also tenacious, tactically astute, and defensively responsible. This would make them an even more formidable force in the Premier League and increase their chances of achieving their ultimate goal: winning the title.

TagsArsenalCrystal Palacedefensive midfieldFootball Strategymidfield tacticsOliver GlasnerPremier Leaguepressing gametactical flexibilityWill Hughes
Previous Article

Maintaining Intensity: What Arsenal Can Learn From ...

Next Article

Red Card Turning Points: How Arsenal Can ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • GeneralTransfer Window

    Arsenal Transfer Rumblings

    July 3, 2013
    By Michael Price
  • Match Previews

    EPL Match Day 8: Arsenal v Birmingham, Match Preview

    October 16, 2010
    By Michael Price
  • watford-arsenal-premier-league-opinion
    Post Match Review

    Awful Arsenal highlight Emery’s lack of progress

    September 16, 2019
    By Ben Browning
  • Match Previews

    Match Preview: Arsenal v Sunderland; Points All Around

    May 20, 2015
    By Michael Price
  • Arsenal midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard
    General

    Arsenal’s Midfield Magic: The Heart of a Title Dream

    November 19, 2024
    By Michael Price
  • General

    Unanswered Questions At Arsenal Paint a Bleak Future

    March 21, 2017
    By Michael Price

  • avenell-roadcast-season-1-episode-3-podcast
    General

    Avenell Roadcast Episode 3 – The One Where We Drink People’s Tears

  • wolves-arsenal-premier-league-2019-2020-match-preview
    Match Previews

    Arsenal Look To Build On Recent Successes With Difficult Trip to Wolves – Match Preview

  • wolves-arsenal-premier-league-2020-2021
    General

    Arsenal defeat demonstrates Arteta’s progress, and how far is left to go

About Author

First Team

View all posts

Follow us

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
© YouAreMyArsenal. All rights reserved.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
You can revoke your consent any time using the revoke consent button.