@Arsenal Tone - please post any tactics in here. Once you have confirmed you are ready I will add the match poll. Sme vs Arsenal Tone SME tactics: The idea here is to take advantage of the opponents left and right back who will try to provide overlaps on the flanks. The 3 man defence means we are not over reliant on Guerreiro and Drumfries during the defensive phase however they will provide the width when attacking. When in the attacking phase, Camavinga will sit in front of the defence to allow Pellegrini and De Bruyne freedom to join in the attack. Wirtz and Nunez will have freedom to drag the defence apart (Wirtz to the left and Nunez to the right) to create space for De Bruyne to find the pocket of space he needs to either play the slick through balls he likes or get a shot on goal. When the two strikers go wide, Guerrerio and Dumfries (especially) will be asked to run infield towards the box to join in the attack. In the defensive phase, Coady will play the role the same as he odes for Wolves and look to switch the play where possible. If De Bruyne goals short, Wirtz will drop back into the false 9 position, Dumfies and Guerreiro will push up to support the attack and provide width. From the 2021/2022 season, Pellegrini (14) and De Bruyne (19) both have goals from midfield and they will look to test the keeper where possible from range. Arsenal Tone tactics: SME's main goal threats are attacking midfielders (especially de Bruyne, but Pellegrini and Wirtz too). For that reason I have chosen to pack the midfield and limit the space centrally. The defensive ability of my central midfield three would be key to containing his team. The only real width in his team comes from his full backs and my full backs would push forward at every opportunity forcing them back to defend. So all of the avenues of attack would be blocked. Furthermore, the quality and experience of my centre backs should be enough to deal with Nunez and whoever joins Nunez in the box. To get goals, of my three midfielders, Barella will be the one given permission to drift forward into the #10 area. Sterling will drift out wide with Davies on the left, doubling up on Dumfries. When he does this, Brandt (6'1) would join 6'5 Scamacca in the box to get on the end of crosses. At other times, Brandt would drift between Rudiger and Guerreiro making him difficult to mark and creating space for Hakimi to overlap as well as pulling Rudiger out wide and giving Scamacca more space up front. Tactically I think my 4-3-3 vs his 5-3-2 gives my team the attacking edge and my midfield is set up perfectly to deal with his main threat (de Bruyne) and block the space in behind Nunez where most of his creativity will be. My extra numbers in wide areas also give me an advantage and will cause Rudiger and Marquinhos to drift into wide areas where they are less comfortable. The Italian core of Lacotellli, Tonali, Barella and Scamacca should also be good for communication on the pitch and team spirit.
