Home » Erik ten Hag’s risk against Arsenal was the right move, abandoning it wasn’t

Erik ten Hag’s risk against Arsenal was the right move, abandoning it wasn’t

by David O'Neill


Erik ten Hag’s impressive 70% win record as Manchester United manager has apparently given The Athletic’s Michael Cox precious little to write about this season, but a defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium finally gave him reason to discuss Premier League tactics once more.

In his article he bemoans United poor organisation out of possession, with United defending with a back four and using Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen, and Bruno Fernandes ahead of them.

While Arsenal certainly did enjoy a lot of space in front of the Red Devils’ fullbacks as a result of Marcus Rashford and Antony’s extremely high positioning, there is very little reason to assert that Erik ten Hag’s strategy was “always likely to end in tears,” as Cox claims.

It is clear that United set up to counterattack at the Emirates, as teams often do away to the league leaders, and Ten Hag deployed his wingers in such a way as to facilitate fast transitions.

The Peoples Person’s own pre-match tactical overview even predicted that United were likely to use the flanks as their main outlet, and Michael Cox’s repeated comments about Rashford’s lack of “determination” to assist his defence is somewhat odd given the obvious advantages it afforded to Ten Hag’s side on the break.

Several stills of United in their defensive shape have the forward “nowhere to be seen,” precisely because he has not been instructed to be a part of said defensive shape. And the reward was a number of counterattacking situations that – on another day – would have led to fantastic chances.

The breakaway featuring Antony’s through ball for Rashford was a prime example. The Brazilian hits the pass slightly heavy and wide while Rashford’s run curves a little away from the ball. Fine margins, but these are the margins that decide whether or not Michael Cox decides to put pen to paper.

It is the sort of chance that does not show up in the Expected Goals metric, but it is very much the sort of opportunity that teams playing on the counter set out to create.

While Arsenal had more of the ball, it is a curious suggestion to insist that this was a “Big win” all about “Arsenal completely outplaying United.” The late winner was a late winner precisely because Gunners had failed to score more goals than their opponents until that point, and while 25 shots may each technically count as chances, there were nowhere near as many high-quality chances as Cox makes out.

In fact, Arteta’s side managed to get just five of those shots on target, often due to pressure or poor shooting positions. United, with four shots on target, weren’t all that far behind.

Arsenal deserved their win, having played well enough throughout Premier League season to sit atop the table, and doing so again here. But United’s defensive structure over the course of the game was not the issue.

Following Lisandro Martinez’s excellent header to equalise, the Red Devils sank into their own third and showed no real signs of ever getting out. The wingers came deeper – more in line with where Cox believed they should have began the game, in fact – and in doing so negated the counterattacking threat United had posed up to that point.

Ten Hag could be seen telling his team to push up, but it was to no avail. An earlier introduction for Alejandro Garnacho may well have turned the tide and given United an outlet at that point, however the substitution came after the damage had already been done.

The manager’s initial gameplan was a risky one, but it was abandoning it to defend in numbers that cost United in the end.
 




United Matchday Magazine – be in the know about everything in red!
Still itching for more United content? Get everything you need right here. For just £1.25 per issue/£3.75 a month you’ll receive unique insights into United, straight to your inbox – before every match and throughout the month.

  • Get the exclusive build-up to each match, plus team news, tactics and history.
  • Not only that – United Matchday is jam-packed with articles, news, transfer news, puzzles, nostalgia and humour.
  • Impress your friends and be in the know about everything in red!


Latest Top Stories...