It wasn’t necessarily a victory for Arsenal, but their attack was used on display to prove they are capable of creating huge havoc on Premier League fronts. Movement, creativity and restiveness were the key strengths of an impressive attack by Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard as they kept the hosts under pressure against Chelsea.
This was the responsibility of Havertz. The German forward didn’t just stand inside the box for an attack to materialise, but instead commonly found ways to get a little deeper, create space and perceptions and move defenders away from trouble. His movement opened up the midfield and behind him was a wall which was difficult for Chelsea’s backline to breach.
Meanwhile, an idea was sparked in Odegaard. The Arsenal captain could continually clear away clutter and find himself pockets to attack the ball quickly. He was capable of receiving the ball with pressing attackers and finding his forward partners, which allowed Arsenal to keep the attacking momentum going well. However, he was difficult to manage as the match unfolded and by the halfway mark, interested fans had become a major hassle to Chelsea.
Odegaard and Havertz’s rapport was shown to be a very good skill for Arsenal to have. There’s been a time when the supporters might have wanted to sign on another name that’s known for their strikers and while that’s the case, Mikel Arteta can be sure that a few players are there to bring something in terms of the attacker. Havertz has the versatility of creating goal opportunities in the big three and Odegaard is capable of breaking down wingers with his speed and ability to run and pass the ball.
However, Arsenal also showed that it is not always the case that goals have to come from an up front nine. The modern attacking game can rely on movement, midfielders turning to places where they are needed and the constant interchange of players in position. Havertz and Odegaard proved it to be particularly effective.
The night saw questions for Chelsea about dealing with intelligent movement and attacking pressure for some time. However, Arsenal will have cause for optimism.
If Havertz is getting his rhythm right, and Odegaard is still finding his feet, Arsenal might be showing more ways to attack what they’re lacking. But the lack of a young attacker may not seem to be an issue if their current lineup is able to beat everything with the butt of their fan mail stick.
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