Arsenal 1-1 Man City TACTICAL ANALYSIS | Arteta vs Guardiola | Community Shield 2023

Arsenal beat Manchester City on penalties to win the Community Shield. In the first half hour, Guardiola’s team dominated the game with very high percentages of possession but with no scoring chances.

Man City in a 4-2-4 build-up with Stones in the defensive line instead of in midfield as we saw at the end of last season. Arsenal pressing with Havertz blocking one of the passing lanes between goalkeeper and centre-back, with Odegaard marking Kovacic and Declan Rice jumping on Rodri.

Julián Álvarez tries to take advantage of Arsenal’s weakness in Declan Rice’s back, making good movements off the ball, but no player finds the pass, doing Timber & Gabriel an excellent job.

City always finds a free man to circulate and progress to the opponents half with Akanji and Walker but they aren’t great players in the build-up, so Arsenal has time to position in a 4-4-2 mid block, defending without receiving many attacks in the last third.

During the last 15 minutes of the first half Arsenal have the best chance with White very high and Saka drifting inside. At the beginning of the second half, Arsenal continues to take advantage of the attacks in that area, since Timber plays as a left-back on the other side and doesn’t contribute as much in attack. 

Guardiola makes 3 substitutions entering Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Kevin De Bruyne, moving Bernardo Silva inside to defend the attacks of White and Saka.

The 3 players who came off the bench combine for the first goal. Outstanding halft-turn and acceleration by Phil Foden leaving Thomas Partey behind, De Bruyne gives the pass to Cole Palmer who finishes with an extraordinary shot.

After 100 minutes in a set-piece, Saka’s inswinging corner gets cleared back out to the England winger, who cuts back for Trossard. Poor defending by Julián Álvarez and the Belgium drills a low left-footed effort, which cannons off Akanji and sends Ortega the wrong way. Minutes later, 4 perfectly executed penalties were enough for Arsenal.

A good start to the season for Arteta, which seems to have lost its fear of Manchester City and is ready to take on the challenge of the Premier and Champions League.