Arsenal Tactics - Aubameyang's left wing role
Since Mikel Arteta took over at Arsenal on the 20th December 2019, he has often used Pierre Emerick Aubameyang as a left winger rather than as a traditional striker. The position he played during his time at Borussia Dortmund and where he had previously played regularly at Arsenal under other managers.
However, from Arteta’s arrival as manager, Aubameyang has played 20 out of 23 matches on the left wing. He has scored an impressive 17 goals in those games including two in the FA Cup Semi Final and another two in the final as Arsenal lifted trophy defeating Chelsea. His goal scoring at Wembley has continued, curling in a fantastic goal vs Liverpool in the Community Shield as Arsenal won on penalties. It is clear to see Aubameyang is thriving and still scoring despite his different role.
Arsenal now playing a 3-4-3 formation, has led to Aubameyang, the club captain, on the left of the front three. The formation is getting the best of of him.
Starting defensively, the formation relieves Aubameyang of some of the defensive duties a left winger, while the team is playing a back four, will face. Having a left wing back as well as a wide centre back on that side of the pitch leaves Arsenal well covered if Aubameyang can not track back in time. When Unai Emery’s Arsenal were using a back four with Aubameyang occassionally wide left of a 4-2-3-1, he found himself as more of an integral part of the defensive structure. Consequently, this led to him occasionally not being near enough to the goal and his attacking partners.
The way Arsenal set up against Man City in FA Cup Semi Final, the Gabonese international did have more defensive duties as Arsenal deployed a low block forming a 5-4-1 out of possession. However, Aubameyang still found opportunities to break out and supported the attack with great effect.
Here vs Man City, the ball has just be regained by Arsenal. You can see the defence turning into a back five. As possession has just been won back Arsenal are in transition and Aubameyang is already making his run up the pitch to support the attack.
The likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane & Raheem Sterling have all scored high amounts of goals from wide positions, now Aubameyang likewise. He is now playing on the left wing allowing him to make diagonal runs in between the full back and centre back which are very difficult to track. This simply makes him more difficult to mark as centre backs aren’t sure whether to stay with the striker or focus on Aubameyang. Additionally, the striker normally Lacazette or Nketiah, can make runs pulling centre backs away from Aubameyang giving him more space. This is shown in the FA Cup Final vs Chelsea as Lacazette makes the run in behind, dragging defenders with him, creating a pocket of space for Aubameyang to arrive late into and score.
A surging run has been made by right wing back Hector Bellerin (now on the floor) that pulls the Chelsea defence apart. Nicolas Pepe now on the ball feeds Aubameyang (left) once Lacazette (centre) makes a run in behind taking Cheslea's Kurt Zouma with him. This leaves Aubameyang in space and he scores.
What the striker can also do for Arsenal is come deep into the half spaces between the defensive line and midfield and allow Aubameyang to come more central. The best example of this is Liverpool’s front three. Firmino the striker often comes deep allowing Salah and Mane make runs inside from the wing.
Also, for Arsenal having the wing backs means that when Aubameyang does come inside, they haven’t lost width on that half of the pitch although, it is common for Arsenal's wing backs to make inverted runs rather than overlapping. This is because the wing back will be able to support the attack more knowing there’s still at least three defenders behind him.
Now versus Liverpool in the Community Shield Aubameyang has the ball and is about to curl a shot in from outside the box to put Arsenal ahead. Left wing back Kieran Tierney (furtherst away) is making the overlapping run and this time Ainsley Maitland Niles is making the in behind attempting to take Liverpool's Joe Gomez and Georginio Wijnaldum with him. However this time Aubameyang cuts in and scores anyway.
It’s the role of the right winger, predominantly Nicolas Pepe, to find Aubameyang on the diagonals when the striker and Aubameyang makes their movements. Pepe is a left footer playing on the right, therefore perfect when cutting in and finding those passes.
Nicolas Pepe in this image, cuts onto his favoured left foot and cross to Aubameyang at the back post who cleverly finishes past goalkeeper Ederson.
In this match, on the right wing is Bukayo Saka. He finds Aubameyang on the diagonal with the switch of play as Arsenal counter attack quickly. This leaves Aubameyang 1 vs 1 with right back Neco Williams.
Lastly, Arsenal will sometimes when playing against a team using a high line, play a long ball down the channels for Aubameyang to run onto. He has blistering pace and is fantastic at timing his run. Therefore, the left wing back Kieran Tierney will often look for the long ball over the top of the defence for Aubameyang to chase. This pattern of play won Aubameyang a penalty in the FA Cup Final vs Chelsea that he then converted. Also, it was used in the semi final as a ball backwards to Tierney from Pepe made Man City push up. However, the Scottish wing back's quick ball over the top, along with the timing of the run, caught City out. Aubameyang took his chance and made it 2-0.
Tierney on the ball plays a ball over the Manchester City high defence line. On the far left of the defence Benjamin Mendy hasn't stepped up quickly enough. This plays Aubameyang onside and he scores.
Written on 10th September 2020