Posted by The Team
4-2-3-1 for most of it. When defending, Arsenal looked like a 4-4-1-1. They opted to tuck in their wingers defensively to combat Barcelona’s tendency to play through the middle, and this presented obvious problems out wide, especially with Alba and Semedo racing forward as much as they did.
In the second half, Ozil moved out wide and Willock moved to the #10; I didn’t think either role suited them.
Aubameyang got a few too many minutes for my taste in a pre-season friendly, but was almost exclusively at the #9 so in theory he exerted less energy.
Substitutions
Sead Kolasinac ➡️ (45′) ⬅️ Nacho Monreal
Matteo Guendouzi ➡️ (45′) ⬅️ Reiss Nelson
Bukayo Saka ➡️ (69′) ⬅️ Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Dani Ceballos ➡️ (69′) ⬅️ Joe Willock
Gabriel Martinelli ➡️ (69′) ⬅️ Mesut Ozil
Lucas Torreira ➡️ (86′) ⬅️ Granit Xhaka
Eddit Nketiah ➡️ (86′) ⬅️ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Shkodran Mustafi ➡️ (86′) ⬅️ Sokratis
| First Half | ||||
| Time | Primary Player | Formation | Attack/Defense | Score |
| 0:14 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Barcelona look to attack the right side of the Arsenal defense with Umtiti carrying the ball past midfield before passing to Alba. Maitland-Niles (+1) is on him in a flash, forcing the first time pass to Perez who’s stood up by Chambers (+0.5). Maitland-Niles closes again, gets a foot in, and he and Chambers combine to win the ball and release pressure. | ||||
| 0:28 | Chambers | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Chambers (-1) receives the pass from Leno with Barcelona pressing high. He has a small window to find Mkhitaryan, but his pass is inaccurate and Barcelona steal. This will be the story of the day. | ||||
| 0:45 | Monreal | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Barcelona switch the play to the Arsenal left, but Monreal (+1) does well to cut Semedo’s passing option, intercepting the ball and playing it to Aubameyang (-1). His attempted return pass is cut out and Barcelona retain possession. | ||||
| 2:12 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| A series of loose passes by both sides turn the ball over several times, but Arsenal finally bring the ball under control on the right. Maitland-Niles (+1) and Mkhitaryan (+1) combine to get the Gunners out with three passes in quick succession. The final ball of the sequence is played into Aubemyang, who’s fouled from behind and Arsenal have a free kick at midfield. | ||||
| 2:35 | ? | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Arsenal take the free kick short and the camera pans to Emery on the sideline, so we miss who plays the inaccurate cross-field pass to Monreal. Would have been a -1. Monreal does well to keep the ball in play, but heads to Semedo instead of Nelson and Barcelona take over possession. | ||||
| 3:10 | Nelson | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Nelson (+1) baits Pique into playing a pass through the middle, then jumps to intercept. He passes to Aubameyang, who shoots from 22 yards. Blocked for a corner. | ||||
| 3:41 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Two successive corners are taken short, the second of which is played all the way backwards to Maitland-Niles (+1). His ball over the top to Aubameyang (-1) is a good one, allowing him to run onto it in the corner. Aubameyang attempts to take on de Jong parallel to the goalline, but he’s bodied off the ball and it runs out for a goal kick. | ||||
| 4:32 | Monreal | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Barcelona work the left side of the Arsenal press, but Monreal (+1) has stepped up well. Demebele attempts to turn him, but Monreal’s chop tackle wins the ball back for Arsenal | ||||
| 5:00 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles attempts to play a 1-2 with Mkhitaryan (-1), but Mkhitaryan’s first-time pass rolls out for a Barcelona throw. | ||||
| 5:40 | Monreal | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Dembele isolates Monreal (+1) on the left side of the Arsenal defense, but Monreal does well to keep the speedy Frenchman in front of him. Dembele eventually gives up and tries to play the ball to the edge of the box, but Willock (+0.5) reads well and intercepts. | ||||
| 5:48 | Xhaka | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Xhaka (+2) plays a terrific pass from inside his own box between seven (!) Barcelona players into Aubameyang (-0.5), but his attempted lay off is poor and Barcelona take over possession. | ||||
| 6:40 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Arsenal break the Barcelona press with a two passes: Leno to Sokratis (+1), and Sokratis to Mkhitaryan (+1), who’s checked back into the hole and receives in the pocket vacated by the Arsenal CMs. His first touch puts him beyond the Barcelona CMs, and he plays the ball to Nelson on the left wing who can run at Pique. Nelson plays the ball into Mkhitaryan’s path, but the attempted cross is blocked and Arsenal reset. | ||||
| 7:00 | Xhaka | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Xhaka’s (-1) cross field pass to Aubameyang sails over and out of bounds. | ||||
| 7:52 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Carles Perez allows the ball to run past him down the left, but Maitland-Niles (+1) surprises him with his pace and makes up four yards before Perez can get back on the ball. Even better, he knocks the ball off the Barcelona player for an Arsenal throw. | ||||
| 9:25 | Nelson | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Willock (+0.5) does well to beat back an attempted pass into the Arsenal box and it falls for Nelson (-0.5). His outlet to Aubameyang (-0.5) is intercepted; they share the -1, Nelson for the pass and Aubameyang for getting overrun. | ||||
| 9:48 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Monreal presses up on Semedo leaving Xhaka to cover. Willock (-0.5) is slow to recognize, then commits the foul 40 yards from goal. | ||||
| 10:26 | Sokratis | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Barcelona switch the ball quickly, but Dembele’s through ball for Puig is recognized and shielded out by Sokratis (+0.5). | ||||
| 10:30 | Leno | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Leno (+1) punts to Aubameyang (+1/-1), who beats Pique to the ball and tries to run by him. He does, but his cross is poor and goes over everyone and out for a throw. | ||||
| 11:11 | Xhaka/Monreal | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Nelson (-1) tucks too far inside allowing Semedo to get the jump on him down the line. Monreal (-1) steps up onto Demebele, but in doing so opens even more space down the sideline and Semedo takes it, shrugging off Monreal’s foul in the process. Xhaka (-1) has slowed expecting the foul to come, recovers in time to beat Dembele to the pass inside, then takes a poor touch allowing Dembele comes away with the ball anyway. | ||||
| 11:29 | Nelson | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Nelson (+0.5) sags and intercepts a ball on the edge of the Arsenal box before playing out to Ozil. Ozil holds onto the ball waiting for runners to materialize. They don’t, and he’s a bit lucky that his pass inside falls to Monreal. | ||||
| 12:08 | Xhaka | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Mkhitaryan closes on a pass out to the Arsenal right, while Chambers and Sokratis sag onto Griezmann. Xhaka (-1) and Willock fail to sort out Perez, who’s run inside into a pocket of space. -1 for Xhaka because Willock is at least cutting off a passing lane. | ||||
| 12:38 | Ozil | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Arsenal playing out from the back. The ball is passed into Ozil (+1), then he dips his shoulder into the turn to create space. He lays off to Xhaka (+0.5), who plays the ball across field to Maitland-Niles. Barcelona are pressing hard though, and after a few more passes Chambers is left with no other option than to clear. Good press from the home side. | ||||
| 13:04 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Barcelona have created an overload on the right side of the Arsenal defense because Aubameyang (-0.5) hasn’t dropped appropiately and Mkhitaryan (-0.5) has stepped too high. No matter, because Maitland-Niles (+1) slides in to knock the ball forward to Mkhitaryan, who nearly dribbles himself into pressure before Willock (+0.5) cleans up and plays the ball back to Maitland-Niles to relieve pressure. | ||||
| 13:15 | Nelson | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| The play’s not over. Barcelona press high but Maitand-Niles (+1) calmly finds Xhaka (+1), who cuts back to Ozil. Ozil then opens the play up to Nelson (-1) on the left, allowing Arsenal to advance into the Barcelona half. His cut inside is blocked and Barcelona come away with the ball. | ||||
| 13:59 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Barcelona work the ball between the lines to Dembele, who’s come into central midfield. Monreal is forced to sit deep because Nelson (-1) has tucked and failed to recognize Semedo creeping forward on the outside. Dembele turns inside but Willock (+1) is there to put a tackle in. | ||||
| 14:05 | Xhaka | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Willock’s block falls to Mkhitaryan, who passes backwards to Sokratis. He sends the ball to Xhaka (-1) just outside the center circle. Xhaka fails to read the danger, turning into pressure and allowing Barcelona to counter. The attack fizzles though, with enough Arsenal defenders behind the ball to allow the rest to drop back. Chambers (+1) eventually heads clear to Willock (+0.5), who heads to Nelson and Arsenal get out. | ||||
| 15:50 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| A period of sustained possession doesn’t really go anywhere for Arsenal. It ends with Maitland-Niles (+1) finding Aubameyang (-1) in the pocket between three Barcelona defenders, only for Aubameyang to take a poor touch and gift the ball back to Barcelona. | ||||
| 15:58 | Monreal | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Dembele cuts inside of Monreal (-0.5), who doesn’ t have the pace to keep up and commits the foul 45 yards from goal. Didn’t need to foul, as Dembele was 1v4. | ||||
| 16:43 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Barcelona move the ball quickly from right to left and Arsenal can’t quite shift in time. Maitland-Niles (+1) overshifts to help Mkhitaryan leaving his man free, but a semi-poor touch and some quality defending allows him to win the ball back. A nice (if dangerous) cut inside the Arsenal box gives him space to find Ozil (-1), but his touch is poor and the ball bounces back to Barcelona. | ||||
| 17:08 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (-1) presses to turn back the Barcelona counter, but takes a step too far and allows the ball to find Griezmann over the top. Chambers (+1) closes and forces Griezmann into a weak shot that goes wide (and out for a throw). | ||||
| 17:37 | Nelson | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Monreal’s throw in amounts to a 50/50 ball that Xhaka (+1) and Nelson (+2) team up to win. Good footwork from Nelson gets the ball to Aubameyang (-1) who drives to the edge of the Barcelona box before taking an extra touch and playing a pass too far for Ozil. Offside anyway. | ||||
| 18:55 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Arsenal overloading the play side defensively, tucking in their wide attackers. Barcelona move the ball quickly from right to left, creating an overload. Here Alba and Perez put Maitland-Niles (+2) into a 2v1, but he plays it perfectly and baits Alba into passing the ball right to him. | ||||
| 19:07 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Maitland-Niles | 0-0 |
| Quick feet from from Maitland-Niles (+1) and Willock (+0.5) get the ball to Mkhitaryan, who’s follwed. | ||||
| 19:35 | Monreal | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Sokratis (+0.5) drives into midfield, drawing two defenders before playing the ball to Monreal (-1). He takes an extra touch, forcing Nelson to run into an offside position, and then plays the ball anyways. Offside, Barcelona ball. | ||||
| 20:38 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Sokratis’ (+1) quick free kick catches out five Barcelona defenders on the edge of his own box, allowing Mkhitaryan (-1) space to advance the ball. As he crosses the halfway line, he slips and turns the ball over. Arsenal had a 4v4 had he not. | ||||
| 21:12 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Barcelona basically playing two wide attackers on either side, forcing Monreal and Nelson to defend together in a way that’s not quite working yet. On this one, Dembele drops deep while Semedo runs over the top of Monreal (+1), who does well to track and force back. Semedo slots back to Dembele but Willock (+2) comes flying in to block the shot. Corner to Barcelona that Leno (+1) claims. | ||||
| 21:52 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Leno leads Mkhitaryan (+1), who has a lot to do but gets there and earns a foul near midfield. Yellow card to Alba. | ||||
| 22:27 | Ozil | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Ozil (+1) threads the ball through to Aubameyang (+0.5), who lays back to Xhaka (-1). His attempted through ball is cut out by Semedo and Barcelona pick up the ball. | ||||
| 23:17 | Chambers | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Arsenal again shade inside with Mkhitaryan tucked allowing the ball to work out wide to Alba. Xhaka (-1) again leaves his man, allowing a pass into the pocket and forcing Sokratis to step, forcing the ball to the right into Chambers (+1), who blocks the pass back into midfield. | ||||
| 23:45 | Sokratis | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| The ball is played into Griezmann, but Sokratis (+1) reads quickly and steps between him to intercept and knock back to midfield. | ||||
| 24:10 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Barcelona again pressing high, Arsenal again try to play out. This time successfully, with Chambers playing the ball to Willock (+2), who turns between three players and outlets to Nelson. | ||||
| 24:23 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Monreal plays the ball into Mkhitaryan (-1). His first-time pass goes directly out of bounds. | ||||
| 24:38 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Sokratis (+1) wins a 50/50 header at midfield with the ball bouncing to Willock (+1). He turns Griezmann before playing the ball to Monreal inside, allowing Arsenal to release pressure. | ||||
| 25:04 | Xhaka | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Xhaka (-2) talked about keeping concentration for the full 90 minutes postgame. He doesn’t here. Maitland-Niles plays a simple pass into him halfway between the Arsenal box and midfield, and his pass intended for Chambers instead goes right to Barcelona. | ||||
| 26:03 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Ozil (+1/-1) plays a ball over the top of the Barcelona defender out to Monreal (+1), who heads into the pathway of Nelson. He drives into the box, cuts in, then has hit shot blocked. Maitland-Niles (+2) races between two defenders on a ball he has no business winning, beating Alba to the ball and delivering a great cross in that Aubameyang just misses. Ozil just stands there as the ball flies by him. | ||||
| 27:44 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Sustained possession in midfield gives way to Maitland-Niles (+0.5) carrying the ball down the right wing. He beats Alba, but his cross is too close to the GK. +1 for the move, -0.5 for the cross. | ||||
| 28:07 | Monreal | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Barcelona play out to their right. Semedo passes the ball to Dembele, and Monreal (-1) presses hard from behind. Too slow though, and Dembele plays the ball to Semedo in behind. Nelson (-0.5) has taken a few fateful steps toward Dembele to lose his man. Monreal isn’t quick enough to recover, but Sokratis slows him down, and Nelson tracks back to knock the ball out of bounds. | ||||
| 28:58 | Ozil | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Ozil (+1) presses up well on his man in midfield and knocks the ball to Mkhitaryan (-1). The break is on, but he cuts back for no reason and is dispossessed. | ||||
| 29:36 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Barcelona move the ball quickly to the left, with Mkhitaryan tracking back allowing Maitland-Niles (-1) to press. He takes a poor angle though, opening up the inside, and that’s where Alba goes. Mkhitaryan (-1) has run himself too deep to help, and Willock can’t come off his man in time. Alba’s shot is saved by Leno (+1). | ||||
| 30:01 | Nelson | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Monreal plays into Nelson (-2), but his pass backwards is a poor one right to Barcelona in a dangerous area. Maitland-Niles (+0.5) does well to kick the ball away and allow Arsenal to regroup. | ||||
| 30:15 | Chambers, Xhaka | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Xhaka (-1) gets fooled into pressing up too high, but probably has enough time to recover back onto his man. He doesn’t, and the ball is played through into the pocket. Monreal (-1) is caught ball watching while the ball is skipped between him and Sokratis for Dembele to run onto and cross. Chambers (-1) is not close enough to Griezmann, but the Barcelona player has the ball bounce off his knee out of bounds. Let off. | ||||
| 31:30 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 0-0 |
| Throw in to Aubameyang (-1), who loses possession on the edge of the Arsenal defensive third. Monreal (+0.5) presses up and forces into Nelson (+1) who steals the ball and sends Arsenal on their way. Ozil (-1) tries to break but loses out to Umtiti. | ||||
| 32:14 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| I’m not picking on Xhaka (-1), I swear. On this one, the Barcelona pass into the hole goes within inches of of him to the point where I’m not sure how he misses it. Regardless, he does, and Griezmann plays a 1-2 with de Jong. Willock (+1) is quick enough to recover and send the ball out for a corner. It’s claimed by Leno (+1). | ||||
| 33:14 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| This is a long period of possession for Arsenal. Willock (+0.5) twice makes passes that cut through the Barcelona midfield but result in little. Maitland-Niles (+1) and Chambers (+1) almost get themselves into trouble, but a pinpoint pass from Chambers into Mkhitaryan (+0.5), then back to Maitland-Niles gets them out. | ||||
| 33:55 | Nelson | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Nelson (+1) receives the ball from Xhaka on the turn and drives towards the Barcelona defense, playing the ball out to Ozil on the left once the defense converges. Unwilling to serve a hopeful ball into the box, Arsenal turn back. | ||||
| 34:37 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Willock (-1) and Aubameyang aren’t on the same page, and Willock’s pass goes to the space that Aubameyang just vacated. Nelson is almost able to save the situation, but gets there just late and commits the foul. | ||||
| 35:05 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 0-0 |
| Arsenal are clearly tucking their wingers in defensively, but on this play the strategy makes no sense. Mkhitaryan (-1) shifts inside to cover Perez, who Maitland-Niles has already cut off. The result is an open pass over the top to Alba. Maitland-Niles shifts to recover leaving Perez open, but luckily Perez doesn’t recognize the dangerous space that he’s in and goes tearing off towards the corner and Arsenal escape | ||||
| 35:34 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 0-0 |
| Xhaka (+1) and Willock (+0.5) combine well on the edge of the Arsenal box to break the Barcelona press, then Xhaka sprays the ball out to Ozil (+2) on the left. He splits five defenders with a pass into Aubameyang (+3), who receives on the spin and smashes the ball into the net. Terrific from start to finish. | ||||
| 37:08 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Barcelona attempt to play a ball over the top down the right side of the Arsenal defense, but Maitland-Niles (+2) is too quick and recovers to knock the ball off Barcelona for an Arsenal throw. | ||||
| 37:40 | Ozil | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Quick tempo passing from Monreal to Nelson (+1) to Ozil (+1), who drops the ball to Xhaka and Arsenal cross the half line. | ||||
| 38:37 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Aubameyang (+1) tries to take Semedo on down the left, and while the Barcelona right back is able to block the ball, Aubameyang has earned a corner. Arsenal take it short, then Ozil (+0.5) works the ball into Mkhitaryan, but his blind cross goes right to the GK. | ||||
| 40:35 | Monreal | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Barcelona possess the ball as Barcelona do, working the ball from right to left, then back to the right agin. Dembele picks up the ball and Monreal (+0.5) harasses him into first dribbling inside towards Arsenal help, then passing the ball directly out of bounds. Probably more -1 on Dembele than +1 on Monreal, hence the +0.5. | ||||
| 41:04 | Ozil | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Throw in to Ozil (-1). Poor touch. Turnover. | ||||
| 41:35 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Perez runs inside and Maitland-Niles rightly follows, but Mkhitaryan (-1) has switched off and allowed Alba to run into the space just vacated. The ball is played to him, but his cross is a poor one and Xhaka (+0.5) intercepts. | ||||
| 41:47 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Xhaka plays the ball back to Mkhitaryan (+1/-1), who draws the Barcelona press onto him on the edge of the Arsenal box before slipping the ball between them back to Xhaka, who’s able to carry the ball across the halfway line. His attempted infield pass to Ozil is blocked by Mkhitaryan, a killer play because Arsenal had numbers breaking. | ||||
| 42:20 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| The ball is swung to Semedo on the left side of the Arsenal defense, and he slips Dembele through as Monreal sprints to close down. Nelson (-1) has tracked well, but allows Dembele to slot the ball backwards to Rakitic, who’s open because Willock (-1) has sagged too low. He compounds the error by getting skinned on the edge of the Arsenal box, his approach too aggressive. Rakitic picks his head up and tries to slip Griezmann through, but Chambers (+1) and Sokratis (+1) have stepped their offside line perfectly and his goal is disallowed as offside. | ||||
| 43:12 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 1-0 |
| Curious decision by Mkhitaryan (+1). He steals the ball off Semedo, then has a clear-cut 4v3 to goal, but gives up when Semedo pulls his jersey back. It’s a clear foul, and he did well to win the ball. A little more perseverance though and I think Arsenal could have more than a free kick from 30 yards. Ozil’s free kick is cleared. | ||||
| 44:05 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Arsenal moaning about a handball while Barcelona get on with it. Nelson (-1) not quick enough to retreat, and Griezmann is almost played through, but Maitland-Niles (+1) gets over to commit the tactical foul. I like the decision from the Arsenal defender. | ||||
| 44:19 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Barcelona take the kick quickly but Mkhitaryan (+1/-2) is alert and knocks the ball back, and had the play ended here it would have been well done by him. It doesn’t, and instead it’s not at all well done. The ball is played into Perez and Chambers does a good job getting over, but Alba races beyond him and Mkhitaryan, who literally just stands there while he does so. Alba sends the cross in but Leno (+1) dives and grabs. A handful of passes later the referee blows for halftime. | ||||
| Second Half | ||||
| Time | Primary Player | Formation | Attack/Defense | Score |
| 45:00 | – | 4-2-3-1 | – | 1-0 |
| Subs in: Kolasinac, Guendouzi. Subs out: Moneal, Nelson | ||||
| 45:59 | Kolasinac | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Arsenal possess the ball in the face of heavy Barcelona for nearly a minute before Kolasinac (-0.5) throws in an impossible ball for Aubameyang. Turnover. | ||||
| 48:12 | – | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Barcelona do one better, controlling the ball for over two minutes until an attempted through ball is just out of the reach of Alba and rolls out for a goal kick. | ||||
| 48:41 | Chambers | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 1-0 |
| Arsenal playing with fire. A Xhaka passback goes under Chambers’ (-2) foot and is pounced on by Alena, but the Barcelona man shoots right at Leno (+1) who makes the save. | ||||
| 49:15 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Kolasinac (-0.5) and Mkhitaryan (+1) combine on the left, but Kolasinac’s pass for Willock is just out of his reach and Barcelona pick up possession. Willock hurt on the play but able to carry on. | ||||
| 51:13 | Guendouzi | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Ozil (-1) steps to defend Alba, then passes him off to Guendouzi (-1/+1), who’s shaded too far inside. The result is Alba beating him to the ball and sending a a cross into Griezmann. It’s blocked, barely, by Chambers (+1) who’s probably a bit too far and has to reach as a result, but gets the job done anyways. The ensuing 50/50 ball bounces around before Guendouzi knocks it out for a corner. | ||||
| 51:40 | Xhaka | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 1-0 |
| Xhaka (+1) wins the header, and Ozil (+1) blocks the attempted pass back through to Willock (-1) and Arsenal have an opportunity to break on the counter, but he holds onto the ball too long and his pass is blocked back to Barcelona. | ||||
| 51:54 | Sokratis | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Busquets plays a terrific pass into Dembele that puts four Arsenal defenders behind the play scrambling. Maitland-Niles steps to apply pressure, does well to force back into Guendouzi, but the Frenchman also gives up the inside and Dembele is able to play the ball into a checking Griezmann. Sokratis (-1) has sagged too deep and as a result Xhaka thinks it’s his job to apply pressure. It’s not, mainly because in doing so he’s left Roberto open. Sokratis pays for his earlier mistake and now has to tear off after him, leaving space behind for Dembele to run into. Chambers is walled off but Dembele lets the ball roll under is foot and Leno is able to collect. | ||||
| 52:16 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Arsenal play the ball short: Ozil into Aubameyang (-1), who’s poor touch allows Barcelona to steal. | ||||
| 52:36 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 1-0 |
| Demebele tries to take on Maitland-Niles (+1/-1) on the left, but he stands tall and wins the ball off him. His attempted pass to Guendouzi is intercepted though, and Barcelona turn defense to attack quickly. Chambers (+1) comes in to block the shot and it bounces to Mkhitaryan. | ||||
| 53:26 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Barcelona pressing hard. Aubameyang (-1) does his best to dribble out of it at midfield, but he goes into a scrum of three Barca defenders and is dispossessed. | ||||
| 53:52 | Sokratis | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Barcelona again in possession, this time Sokratis (+1) does squeeze up on Griezmann, and is able to intercept the pass in. The ball falls to Xhaka and he’s fouled. | ||||
| 54:15 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 1-0 |
| Arsenal trying their damnedest to possess, but they’re going backwards instead of forwards. Xhaka and Guendouzi take turns dribbling the ball from across the halfline to the edge of their own box. Just not quick enough movement off the ball and decision-making on it. The ball eventually makes its way to Maitland-Niles (-1), but his first time pass is intercepted and Barcelona pick up possession through Demebele on the edge of the box. Chambers (-1) steps to press but remains nearly four yards away throughout, giving him space to shoot. Wide. | ||||
| 55:24 | Guendouzi | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 1-0 |
| Arsenal have given up possession off camera, and Barcelona advance into their attacking third again. Guendouzi (+1/+1) steps in to win the ball off of Rafinha. He plays the ball through to Mkhitaryan (+1) who does a good job holding the ball up and allowing teammates to get forward. Again Arsenal elect to go negative, particularly Ozil (-1) who had a chance to pass forward but instead goes back. Guendouzi’s longball to Aubameyang is headed away. | ||||
| 56:35 | Sokratis | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Barcelona pick the ball up on the edge of their own box, and are allowed to advance to the edge of Arsenal’s without any Arsenal player getting within four yards. Maitland-Niles (-1/-1) and Xhaka (-1) drop off, and Griezmann makes an overlapping run from CF that no one tracks. He gets a step on Maitland-Niles and crosses to the back post. Sokratis (+1) heads away. | ||||
| 57:13 | Chambers | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Arsenal are really sitting back now. Dembele picks up the ball 40 yards from goal with no Arsenal player within 10 yards. Xhaka (-1) is nominally in the right spot initially, but completely fails to track the run of Alena into the box, a complete lack of awareness. Chambers (+2/+1) races to apply pressure but can’t get there in time and the cross is sent back into the box, blocked by Sokratis (+1). The ball falls to Maitland-Niles (-2) who’s lack of field awareness allows Griezmann to nick the ball off him. His shot is blocked by a sliding Chambers, then he also blocks Dembele’s attempt. Throw in Barcelona | ||||
| 58:56 | Monreal | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Xhaka has temporarily dropped to CB while Sokratis receives attention off the field. Willock CDM. Barcelona work the ball to the right, with Monreal (-1) stepping out to press initially before retreating to allow Mkhitaryan to take over. Too late. Sergi Roberto has raced into the vacated space, and Willock fails to track him, perhaps recognizing the valuable space in midfield that he’d prefer not to leave. He does anyway, and Griezmann receives the ball in that space. Guendouzi attempts to press over, but in doing so leaves his man, to whom the ball is played to. Alena’s shot from 25 is saved by Leno (+1), out for a corner. | ||||
| 59:13 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| It’s only a matter of time for Barcelona. The corner is taken short and worked around the right side of the Arsenal defense before making its way to Alba. Alba plays infield then races through the gap; Aubameyang (-1) recognizes his run but points and does nothing else, allowing Alba to get on the end of the ball over the top. Ozil (-1) also lets him run right past. Alba is through 1v1 with Leno (+1) but opts to pass, and Willock (+2) blocks and then clears. Leno did get a touch to it to knock it backwards. | ||||
| 59:32 | Mkhitaryan | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Arsenal play out: Ozil to Guendouzi to Aubameyang. He plays into Mkhitaryan (-1), who takes a poor touch and Arsenal are unable to get out yet again. | ||||
| 59:44 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Demebele takes Maitland-Niles (-1) 1v1 down the left, but Aubameyang (+1) is there to back him up and block the cross. | ||||
| 59:51 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Barcelona apply the press down in the corner, but Aubameyang (+1) makes a nifty scopp pass to Ozil to momentarily get out. The layoff to Maitland-Niles (+1) allows him to ping a pass forward, and Willock (+1) does well to split two defenders and chest the ball to Aubameyang. He tries a pass down the wing that’s blocked out of bounds, but Arsenal have crossed the halfway line. | ||||
| 61:01 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Not for long. The camera pans away so we can’t see how, but when it returns the ball is with Leno inside his own box. Arsenal break the Barcelona press this time though, with quality passes from Sokratis (+1), Xhaka (+1), Gunedouzi (+1), and Chambers (+1). Maitland-Niles receives on the right but is stood up by Alba and Busquets. For a fun time, contrast Busquets defensive effort with Xhaka’s. | ||||
| 61:21 | Ozil | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Ozil (+1) plays a terrific ball over the top of the defense to Mkhitaryan (-1) on the left, but his touch is poor and Barcelona knock it back to Kolasinac. Arsenal play it backwards again before Guendouzi is fouled while carrying the ball in the Arsenal end. | ||||
| 63:24 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 1-0 |
| A host of subs for Barcelona prior to the free kick, which is taken short to Maitland-Niles (-1). He takes a poor second touch, then makes an evern worse pass that’s intercepted. Ozil (+1) does well to win it back for Arsenal. | ||||
| 63:44 | Kolasinac | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| The ball is played to Kolasinac (-1) on the left, but his first touch pass goes to Barcelona. | ||||
| 65:31 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Maitland-Niles (+1) zings a pass into Ozil (+1) between three Barcelona defenders. Ozil’s subtle shoulder drop creates space for Guendouzi on the right, and he receives the ball and carries it over midfield. Arsenal again content to possess the ball, and pass back. | ||||
| 65:55 | Xhaka | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-0 |
| Kolasinac, Xhaka (+1), and Mkhitaryan combine nicely on the left before Mkhitaryan is chopped down across halfway to earn the foul. It comes to a corner kick that ter Stegen claims. | ||||
| 67:47 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Sergie Roberto runs into the channel on the left side of the Arsenal defense, and Xhaka points at Monreal to track, but there are still two Barcelona players on the wing and Monreal has to provide cover for Mkhitaryan. Xhaka chases Roberto’s run, but it leaves space for Suarez, who’s dropped deep. Guendouzi tries to hustle over, and does enough to harass Barcelona into turning it over to Xhaka. The passback to Chambers is promptly given away with a pass right up the middle, but Willock (+1) fights through and wins the ball back for Arsenal. | ||||
| 68:41 | Willock | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-0 |
| Here’s the Maitland-Niles (-3) own goal. Ozil (-1) doesn’t do enough defensively leaving Maitland-Niles alone 2v1 down the left. The ball is played into Griezmann, then centrally to Suarez to momentarily take the pressure of Maitland-Niles. Suarez’s pass goes right to him, but Leno (-2) sprints out to claim just as Maitland-Niles passes it back to where he thinks the GK is. Right into the goal, 1-1. | ||||
| 69:00 | – | 4-2-3-1 | – | 1-1 |
| Saka, Martinelli, and Ceballos in for Mkhitaryan, Ozil, and Willock. | ||||
| 70:01 | Martinelli | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-1 |
| Ceballos plays Martinelli (+1) down the right channel, and his cross to Aubameyang is met with an attempt at the spectacular (a scissor kick from the top of the Barcelona box), slightly mis-hit and easy for ter Stegen to gather. | ||||
| 70:57 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-1 |
| Arsenal work the ball in and out on the left, before Guendouzi passes into Aubameyang (-1), who’s first touch takes him right into three Barcelona players and he loses possession. | ||||
| 71:01 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-1 |
| Long ball played over the top to Suarez who gets there first, but Maitland-Niles (+1) is able to outpace him for the ball and recovers it for the Gunners. | ||||
| 72:08 | Ceballos | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-1 |
| Maitland-Niles and Xhaka combine well on the right side before playing the ball to Ceballos (-1) on the touchline. He attempts to wriggle free from three Barcelona players is nearly successful, but the pass misses Xhaka and goes to the Barcelona player. | ||||
| 72:12 | Chambers | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-1 |
| Suarez receives the ball with three Arsenal defenders around him, but still manages to wriggle free. Chambers (-2) backs away expecting help and gets turned inside out (and nutmegged in the process), and Xhaka (-1) whiffs his tackle. Suarez shoots wide. | ||||
| 75:03 | Leno | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-1 |
| The differene between Mkhitaryan/Ozil and Martinelli is striking. Barcelona switch the ball to the left and Maitland-Niles steps to apply pressure, but Martinelli (+1) races back and gives Arsenal the numbers advantage. THe ball is crossed to the back post, where Kolasinac (+0.5) heads out to the edge of the box. The ball is played back to Suarez, who shoots. Leno (+1) saves. The ball bounces to Guendouzi, who almost makes a mess of it, but taps to Sokratis (-1) who temporarily loses his mind and tries to dribble out of his own box. He’s nearly ripped, but the ball bounces to Xhaka (+1) who’s able to clear. | ||||
| 75:49 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 1-1 |
| Saka leads the counter attack for Arsenal, then plays Aubameyang (-1) on the left. He attempts to go 1v3 and loses the ball. Ceballos (+1) cuts down the Barcelona break the other way and earns a foul. | ||||
| 76:44 | Aubameyang | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-1 |
| Aubameyang (+1) drops deep to receive the ball, then plays Martinelli (+0.5) down the right channel. He gets onto the end of it in the corner, then knocks it out of the Barca defender for a throw in. | ||||
| 77:25 | Saka | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-1 |
| Ceballos (+2) jukes Busquets out of his shorts. Thank you for coming. He then plays Saka (+1) into the left corner of the box, whose cross for Aubameyang is just too far. Inches. | ||||
| 79:05 | Martinelli | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-1 |
| Arsenal break the Barcelona press down the right with Martinelli (+1) turning and playing into Saka (-1), who tries to dribble through the gap and is instead dispossessed. | ||||
| 79:45 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Transition | 1-1 |
| Maitland-Niles (+1/+1) presses into Rafinha, and forces him to dribble out of bounds. The ensuing throw sees some magic by Ceballos (+1), Maitland-Niles, and Martinelli (+1) to get a bouncing ball out of pressure and Arsenal look to break. | ||||
| 80:04 | Martinelli | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-1 |
| Saka (+1) crosses the ball to an unmarked Martinelli (-2), who hits wide from 12 yards. Big, BIG chance. | ||||
| 80:59 | Martinelli | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-1 |
| Terrific combination between Martinelli (+1) and Guendouzi (+1) gets Arsenal to midfield in the face of heavy Barcelona pressure. | ||||
| 84:27 | Maitland-Niles | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-1 |
| The game is stretched now, with both teams advancing the ball into their attacking ends only to see their attacks fizzle out. This one ends for Barcelona with a great cross that Maitland-Niles (+1) gets to first and taps out for a corner. | ||||
| 86:00 | – | 4-2-3-1 | – | 1-1 |
| Torreira, Nketiah, and Mustafi enter for Sokratis, Aubameyang, and Xhaka. | ||||
| 87:03 | Martinelli | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-1 |
| Kolasinac (-1/-1) presses up too high and gets caught guessing, allowing Barcelona to play in behind him. Guendouzi chases his runner and gets in front and is now nominally the left back, but Kolasinac doesn’t recognize the vacated space in central midfield and runs right past Rafinha. Torreira (-1) tries to press but gets nutmegged. Martinelli (-1) gets to the ball but knocks it back to Suarez, who goes down under minimal contact. No penalty given. | ||||
| 88:02 | Martinelli | 4-2-3-1 | Attack | 1-1 |
| Martinelli (-1) attempts to play inside to Ceballos, but is inaccurate and Barcelona steal. | ||||
| 89:17 | Mustafi | 4-2-3-1 | Defense | 1-1 |
| Sergi Roberto picks up the ball in midfield. Maybe Guendouzi and/or Nketiah could be closer, but he’s 45 yards from goal so no minus. Chambers recognizes the danger and turns his body to begin running with Suarez’s run, but Mustafi (-2) is ball watching from 20 yards away and doesn’t turn his body shape in time. The ball is pinpoint over his head, and Suarez makes no mistake. 2-1. Remainder of the game is not charted. | ||||
The defense was good, right?
The defenders were good. For the most part.
Maitland-Niles was the best of the bunch, especially in the first half. Here is closes down Perez despite starting two yards behind, and knocks the ball off him for an Arsenal throw:
His attacking instincts were good too:
He also scored a goal for Barcelona, so it wasn’t all positive. But after watching him this pre-season it’s clear to me why Arsenal have prioritized other positions in the transfer market, even with Bellerin out until September or October. We’ll be fine until then.
Monreal and Chambers were more up and down. Here are their charts:
A lot of positive defensive scores. A lot of negative ones too. Here’s the worst from Chambers:
Oof.
Here’s probably the best:
At this point, he is what he is. I’d rather roll the dice with him than spend €50 million on Rugani. [Edit: Would rather have David Luiz than both of them though. Especially at €10 million.]
Sokratis was solid, but not spectacular. Kolasinac did well offensively, but not much defensively. Mustafi, as usual, cost us the game.
How about the Arsenal attack?
The Aubameyang goal was fire, but I thought otherwise he had a poor game. The Barcelona press rendered him essentially just a target man, and that’s clearly not his game. He’s got to do better than this:
He gave the ball away nine (!) times against Barcelona. That’s not going to cut it.
People were also raving about Ozil after the game.
He’s certainly been better this pre-season than he was last season, but how much of that is due to formation changes vs. him actually being more focused and fit? If we remove his assist to Aubameyang (which admittedly was dope), he put up a pedestrian +1.5.
He might be back. It’s too early to say. Rumors have him moving to the U.S. in January, so we might not have long to find out.
Thoughts on the Arsenal midfield?
Joe Willock is a PLAYER, and I hope his age isn’t the reason he doesn’t play this year. Look at him here:
Keep in mind this is at the Camp Nou against a midfield consisting of Frenkie de Jong, who just commanded a €75 million transfer fee, and Ivan Rakitic, who’s run the Barcelona midfield for half the decade. He’s not afraid.
Here he closes down defensively:
Is he good enough to displace one of Xhaka, Torreira, Guendouzi, or Ceballos regularly? If he proves capable of coping with the rigors of Premier League football mentally, then I think he is.
For much of the day, his partner was Xhaka. I’m still not convinced. He’s too unfocused defensively, and prone to mega errors like this:
The Arsenal midfield is a crowded one. There’s no reason to continue leaning on Xhaka in all but Europa League and League Cup games. Of course, it looks like Emery thinks the opposite. Let’s see for how long.
The full chart
What does it mean for 2019-20?
- It looks like Chambers and Sokratis are the center back pairing to start the season. Gulp. Rumors of Dayot Upamecano coming in long term, and David Luiz short term have swirled in recent days, but I can’t imagine anyone can move to the club on Thursday and be ready to play on Sunday.
- Arsenal need the ball to unlock Aubameyang’s ability. Thankfully, only two Premier League teams are capable of pressing Arsenal the way Barcelona did on Sunday.
- Willock has earned the right to play. There’s bound to be a mistake or three in him. No different than Xhaka or Guendouzi.
- Best guess on Newcastle starting XI: Leno, Monreal, Sokratis, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Willock, Ozil, Aubameyang, Pépé, Lacazette. Let’s go.