My Arsenal FC

Following Arsenal’s unconvincing victory against Watford, attention now turns to Arsenal’s Premier League clash versus Leicester, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison,
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and
• Smith Rowe and Tomiyasu recovering from injury,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their Premier League clash vs Leicester would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08

Following Arsenal’s hard fought victory against Wolves, attention now turns to Arsenal’s Premier League clash versus Watford, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison,
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and
• Smith Rowe and Tomiyasu recovering from injury,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their Premier League clash vs Watford would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08

Following Arsenal’s hard fought victory against Brentford, attention now turns to Arsenal’s Premier League clash versus Wolves, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison, and
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their Premier League clash vs Wolves would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08

Following Arsenal’s hard fought victory against Wolves, attention now turns to Arsenal’s Premier League clash versus Brentford, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison,
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and
• Leno and Tomiyasu recovering from injury, and Martinelli suspended,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their Premier League clash vs Brentford would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08

Following Arsenal’s disappointing draw against Burnley, attention now turns to Arsenal’s Premier League clash versus Wolverhampton Wolves, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison,
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and
• Leno and Tomiyasu recovering from injury, and Elneny unavailable,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their Premier League clash vs Wolves would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08

Following Arsenal’s disappointing loss against Liverpool, attention now turns to Arsenal’s Premier League clash versus Burnley, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison,
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and
• Leno, Soares, Chambers and Aubameyang recovering from injury, Xhaka and Partey suspended, and Elneny and Pepe unavailable,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their Premier League clash vs Burnley would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08

Following Arsenal’s hard fought draw against Liverpool, attention now turns to Arsenal’s second leg League Cup semi final clash versus Liverpool, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison,
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and
• Soares, Tomiyasu, Smith-Rowe, Saka, Odegaard and Aubameyang recovering from injury, Xhaka suspended, and Elneny, Partey and Pepe unavailable,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their League Cup clash vs Liverpool would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08

Following Arsenal’s disappointing defeat against Nottingham Forest, attention now turns to Arsenal’s League Cup clash versus Liverpool, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison,
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and
• Tomiyasu, Xhaka, Smith-Rowe and Odegaard recovering from injury, and Elneny, Partey, Pepe and Aubameyang unavailable,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their League Cup clash vs Liverpool would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08

Following Arsenal’s impressive defeat against Manchester City, attention now turns to Arsenal’s FA Cup clash versus Nottingham Forest, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison,
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and
• Chambers, and Kolasinac recovering from injury, Gabriel suspended, and Elneny, Partey, Pepe and Aubameyang unavailable,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their FA Cup clash vs Nottingham Forest would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08

Following Arsenal’s comprehensive victory against Norwich, attention now turns to Arsenal’s Premier League clash versus Manchester City, and which 11 available players make up Arsenal’s most productive team for the match.

To do this, we need to look at the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprises Arsenal’s senior squad, and Arsenal’s ideal tactical approach.

Methodology

In assessing the on-field production and the comparative ranking of each player which comprise Arsenal’s senior squad, each player is allocated into eight positional categories (with some players allocated to multiple positional categories due to their perceived versatility).

Those positional categories consist of:

• Goalkeeper
• Right Fullback
• Central Defenders
• Left Fullback
• Central Midfielders
• Right Attacking Midfielder
• Left Attacking Midfielder
• Centre Forwards

Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category has then been considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.

To provide a realistic picture of each individual player’s on-field production, only data from those seasons, throughout the player’s professional career, where the player has started at least 15 league games in at least two seasons (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Europe’s top 5 leagues or the Championship, was considered. Where a player has not met that criteria, their productivity data was not assessed.

The KPI data considered for each positional group is based on the assumption that Arsenal adopt a 4-2-2-2 formation and the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:

• Defending using a vertically and horizontally compact 4-4-2 low block, which aims to congest the central area, and only press, albeit aggressively, when an opposition player takes a poor touch or the opponent attacks down a flank.
• Attacking primarily down the flanks through the fullbacks or attacking midfielders driving forward with the ball and looking to release the centre forwards. This system relies much more on individual attacking flair to create chances, as opposed to complex passing moves.
• The goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
• The fullbacks’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through making multiple key passes (2+ per match) and dribbles (2+ per match).
• The central defenders’ primary aims are to shield the goalkeeper by positioning themselves to intercept (2+ per game) balls played into the penalty box, win aerial duels (3+ per game), and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The central midfielders’ primary aims are to tackle their opponent (2+ per match) and make interceptions (2+ per match) to recover the ball, and contribute to the team’s attacking play through long passes per match (3+ per match).
• The attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and contribute to the team’s goal scoring (10+ goals per season).
• The centre forwards’ primary aim is to contribute to the team’s offensive play through multiple dribbles (2+ per game) and key passes (2+ per game) and in the form of goal scoring (20+ goals per season).

Internal player rankings

The player rankings by position are as follows:

Goalkeeper

Right Fullback

Central Defenders

Left Fullback

Central Midfielders

Right Attacking Midfielder

Left Attacking Midfielder

Centre Forwards

Formation and line-up

Based on:

• the above analytical comparison,
• Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis and minimum required KPIs, and
• Maitland-Niles, Tomiyasu, Chambers, Soares, Mari, and Kolasinac recovering from injury and Aubameyang suspended,

the 11 players which it is suggested should comprise Arsenal’s starting 11, for their Premier League clash vs Manchester City would appear to be as follows:

Freddie08