Arsenal vs. Manchester United – Tactical Review (Part 1)
Arsenal was able to end their poor run against Manchester United. An unexpected name shined brightly at the Emirates Stadium as Aaron Ramsey scored the only goal of the game on Sunday, 1st May.
The North London side was without their skipper Cesc Fabregas, since he picked up an injury before the game. Surprisingly, Aaron Ramsey returned to the first team and was able to impress throughout the game.
Arsene Wenger played his first team except Aaron Ramsey, replacing Cesc Fabregas in the midfield.
Manchester United did not rely on their usual “anti-Arsenal” tactics this time round. Sir Alex Ferguson played Luis http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299 on the right wing with Park Ji Sung on the left. The young Brazilian midfielder, Anderson, returned to the Manchester United first team
as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Carrick-c25282 accompanied him.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-Scholes-c29394 were also rested for the match.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wayne-Rooney-c36736 played as a deep-lying striker in a formation which looked to be a 4-4-1-1. Rooney was accompanied by Manchester United’s young and in-form striker, Javier Hernandez, who played up front as a lone striker.
The North London side dominated the game in terms of possession. Manchester United was relying too much on their counter attacking tactics but they were not really able to produce much.
While Arsenal played their first team, Manchester United brought about a few changes, keeping in mind their tie with Schalke’ 04 in the midweek for the UEFA Champions League semifinal.
Arsenal played their goal stopper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Johan-Djourou-c18779 played in the centre back positions.
There were rumours that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thomas-Vermaelen-c35002 returned to full training but he was still not tested by the French manager, Arsene Wenger.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-Song-c4804 played in his favourite holding midfield position. He was joined by two other players in the midfield, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey. Jack Wilshere played as a box-to-box player and often moved up front as Arsenal tried to put pressure on Manchester
United’s defence.
Unlike the missing Cesc Fabregas, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jack-Wilshere-c17463, who accompanied the team’s strikers and also the defenders.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360 was playing in more of a left midfield role but he often moved up the flank and aided the team on the left wing.
On the other hand, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Patrice-Evra-c29231.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380 played up front as a sole striker. The Dutchman was given a free role and he barely fell back to aid the team in the midfield.
With Fabregas in the starting line-up, Robin Van Persie often fell back to aid the team in the midfield so that the two can link up. However, with Aaron Ramsey and Samir Nasri aiding in the midfield, Persie remained forward and was a constant threat throughout
the game.
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