Thread by @gunner_thoughts, Community Shield - Arsenal vs Liverpool: 1-1 (5-4 Ars. Win on PKs)Post-match [...]

Community Shield - Arsenal vs Liverpool: 1-1 (5-4 Ars. Win on PKs)

Post-match thread:

Arsenal came out with an interesting lineup as expected:

Martinez, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Bellerin, Aubameyang, Nketiah, Saka

Emi in for Leno
Holding in for Saliba
Bellerin in for Soares
Elneny maintains his spot
AMN keeps his spot

Arsenal played what has become their normal 3-4-3 formation, but there were certainly some alterations in tactics that played a key role in their success.

With the ball, AMN fell into a traditional LWB role alongside Tierney producing that 5-2-3 look, but with the ball, Arsenal transitioned out into a 4-3-3 seeing AMN come very central and Tierney bombing forward into a comfortable overlapping LB role to great success.

VERY inventive and clever from Arteta to get these two players in comfortable spots on both sides of the ball. 5-2-3 w/o the ball, 4-3-3 with it

Additionally, we saw Elneny Nketiah and Xhaka doing great work to keep Fabinho locked down preventing him from turning and influencing

Elneny was constantly spying on Fabinho to close him down and working in tandem with Nketiah who would stay home and push up to VVD when he got the call, which made Liverpool push the ball wide into the channels where AMN and Bellerin were waiting to close things down

Arsenal's goal in the 13th built up EXACTLY how Arsenal want it to go. Channel to channel. Bellerin with a nice ball to find Saka down the right. Nketiah runs across his defender drawing attention and freeing space for Saka to cut in who plays a

crossfield ball. What a finish.

With a goal to us, Arsenal could comfortably defend within their shape and pick and choose when to break out and create.

- Saka on the right win was fantastic 4 created chances
- Bellerin and AMN GREAT in the wingback role
- The middle two werent overwhelmed and organized

Second half, Arsenal defense stood tall handling everything thrown their way. Liverpool chucked in 24 crosses and all of them were dealt with.

An unfortunate leveler in the 76th minute w/ tired legs. Arsenal with a lot of bodies around it all but it falls to Minamino. 1-1

Before subs came on, legs were clearly tired. Really tough ask this early to handle a team like Liverpool who are going to have that much of the ball.

Arteta made 3 subs in the 82' and things picked up a bit. Willock with a great chance to steer a header on frame but couldnt.

Off to PKs we go and confidence was there. Emi was SPECTACULAR all game making a handful of fantastic saves. The job Arteta has on his hands to decided between Leno and Emi may be the toughest in the world right now.

Pens (Arsenal with too much sauce):
Nelson plays keepy ups and buries his
AMN jaunts and strolls through his
Cedric cool as a cucumber
Luiz buried his, no chance
and Auba does what Auba does.

Thanks to a Brewster take off the crossbar, Arsenal win 5-4 and take home the Shield

If Arsenal need to play a 3-4-3 to start the year, this will give plenty of confidence. They were organized, diligent, and efficient. They weren't that creative which is a worry but if the wingers can supply it, it takes pressure off the MF.

Back Arteta NOW, please.

Final stats:

Ars v. Pool
1-1 (5-4)
40%-60% poss
8-15 shots
2-4 SOG

Who was your MOTM?

Fulham to open up the Premier League on Sept 12. Will be very interesting to see the difference in the side by then knowing many haven't had time to lose fitness

Thanks for the read. RTs feedback VERY appreciated. Should these be done all season post-match to aid the blog? #COYG

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