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I see a lot of similarities in this Arteta side to Pep's first year at City. While the calls to try and be a bit more offensively minded are certainly warranted, I don't think he's being intentionally defensive (at least in the traditional definition of the term). What appears
clear to me is that he's trying to create the highest quality chances in the most risk-averse, possession-oriented system possible. This is key for a number of reasons, but mainly, he seems
A) uncomfortable with his side in a defensive shape/ transition
A) uncomfortable with his side in a defensive shape/ transition
B) wants to lay the groundwork for a more possession dominant model going forward.
If his goal was to solely try and create high quality chances with risk averse football, a 'mourinho'-like approach would suffice. The issue is that he wants to control the game as this side
If his goal was to solely try and create high quality chances with risk averse football, a 'mourinho'-like approach would suffice. The issue is that he wants to control the game as this side
matures, so he has to try and maintain some stylistic consistency while coping with the problems that currently hamper the team. It's in this sense that they have to be a bit more conservative with their attacking measures because of their propensity to open the game up to more
transition. It was the major issue the plagued pep in the first 2 years at city, in the sense that they weren't good enough to dominate possession and avoid significant opp chance creation, and yet they were good enough to create chances that when unfinished, led to counters.
essentially, by focusing the majority of your chance creation through the buildup, theoretically, you create great chances for your forwards and limit your exposure in transition all the while practicing the cores of a possession-based ideal.
