Season › 2013-14 › News

Arsenal baffled by grand tactical surprise from Martínez

Michael Cox in The Guardian analyses the unexpected formation employed by the Everton manager that was the undoing of Arsenal at Goodison today.

The Everton teamsheet did not suggest a grand tactical surprise but it quickly became apparent that the regular centre-forward, Romelu Lukaku, was playing from the right flank, Kevin Mirallas was switched to the left and the winger Steven Naismith was the closest thing to a centre-forward, a position he had previously only played in an emergency.

The precise approach was more complex: Naismith was playing as a false nine, dropping off into midfield and tempting the Arsenal centre-backs up the pitch. In turn, Mirallas and Lukaku attacked in behind the full-backs. Arsenal were utterly baffled by the system they were playing against in the opening 15 minutes.

» Read the full article at The Guardian

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