Spotlight Article
Arteta’s Tactical Twist: New Tony Pulis?
Exploring Mikel Arteta's evolving tactics
Published on: Tuesday 17th December 2024
Author
Algo is the intelligent, data-driven robot behind Club Statistico, auto generating content based on statistics, data and trends to guide users in their sports betting decisions.
In the 2024/2025 season, Arsenal's approach to attacking and defending has shifted noticeably, leading to comparisons with the more pragmatic playing style of Tony Pulis's Stoke City between 2006 and 2013.
One of the most discussed changes is Arsenal’s newfound strength in set-piece situations. A stark contrast to their previous focus on fluid open-play attacks. This post will delve into these changes, examining where Arsenal's style under Mikel Arteta is evolving and if there should be concerns that Thomas Partey will be forced to be a re-gen of Rory Delap.
Is there more to the comparisons between the current Arsenal Team and Pulis's Stoke City teams?
At first glance, there seems to be a shift towards a more pragmatic style in Arsenal's play, reminiscent of Tony Pulis’s Stoke City sides. Pulis was known for his focus on set-pieces, direct football, and minimising risks in open play. Arsenal, however, traditionally embraced a possession-based, fluid attacking style under Arsène Wenger and later Arteta, but the 2024/2025 season has seen a clear change.
Open Play vs Set Piece Goals % by Season
| Season | Open Play (%) | Set Pieces (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020/2021 | 61.0 | 19.0 |
| 2021/2022 | 68.0 | 15.0 |
| 2022/2023 | 66.0 | 18.0 |
| 2023/2024 | 72.0 | 12.0 |
| 2024/2025 | 58.6 | 20.7 |
These numbers suggest a shift towards more direct attacking play and a heavier reliance on set-pieces so far in the 2024/25 season, areas in which Pulis’s Stoke were known to excel. Under Pulis, set-pieces were often the primary attacking weapon, with the team regularly scoring a large portion of their goals from free-kicks and corners.
Similarly, Arsenal’s increase in set-piece efficiency points towards a similar trend, albeit with more finesse and execution rather than raw physicality.
How Different is Arsenal's Play Compared to Last Season?
A lot of focus and attention is drawn to Arsenal's style of play due to their near title win last season. For long periods, Arsenal were in pole position to be crowned champions for the first time since 2004 so it is often questioned if Arsenal can go close again this season. It appears their style of play is evolving with the primary change in Arsenal’s 2024/2025 season is the drop in the creation of chances from open play.
In the previous season, Arsenal averaged 15.2 open-play chances per match. In the 2024/2025 season, the team has averaged 11.8 open-play chances per match. This drop indicates that Arsenal are creating fewer opportunities in their fluid attacking movements compared to last season.
Last Season vs Current Season Comparison (AVG)
| Statistic | 2023/2024 | 2024/2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 63% | 60% |
| Shots | 15.2 | 14.1 |
| Shots on Target | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Set-piece Conversion Rate | 6% | 9% |
| Open Play Conversion Rate | 13% | 10.5% |
| Dangerous Chances Created | 5.7 | 4.3 |
| Goals Scored | 2.39 | 1.52 |
The decrease in open-play chances and shots on target suggests that Arsenal's attacking play has become more focused on maximising set-piece opportunities, which could be linked to Arteta’s tactical evolution.
Whether this shift is sustainable is yet to be seen; if Arsenal continue to depend heavily on set-pieces, they may find it challenging to maintain consistency over a full season.
However, Arsenal’s technical players and Arteta’s tactical adaptability may provide the team with the flexibility to adjust as the season progresses.
How exactly are Arsenal playing differently?
Arsenal's tactical approach in 2024/2025 has incorporated more direct football and a greater emphasis on set-piece routines. Arteta has adapted the team’s attacking focus, including variations in corner routines and a reliance on aerial threats from players like William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. Several factors could be influencing this shift, including injuries, a tactical evolution, and the absence of a natural striker.
Is the Change in Plan Due to Injuries, Such as Ødegaard’s Absence?
The absence of key players like Martin Ødegaard could be a significant factor in Arsenal's shift towards more direct and set-piece-focused play. Ødegaard's injury has left a void in the creative midfield, meaning Arsenal have been less effective in breaking down defenses through intricate passing moves in open play. This may have prompted Arteta to adjust tactics, relying more on set-pieces and aerial duels to generate offensive opportunities. With Ødegaard, Arsenal tends to create more chances from open play, but his absence could explain the increased focus on set-pieces to compensate for the reduced fluidity in attack.
Is Arteta Trying to Think Outside the Box?
Arteta’s tactical adjustments indicate that he is indeed thinking outside the box. His focus on set-pieces and aerial duels represents a move towards a more pragmatic approach, especially when traditional open-play methods are proving less effective. The increase in corner routines and aerial duels suggests that Arteta is adapting to the current challenges by exploring less conventional avenues to score, such as optimising set-piece execution. This tactical evolution shows that Arteta is open to varying his strategies and is not solely reliant on possession-based football or intricate passing play.
Is It Due to Not Having a Natural Striker?
Another factor contributing to Arsenal’s tactical shift is the absence of a traditional striker. While Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have been key in providing flexibility in the forward line, their roles as more fluid, versatile forwards means Arsenal lacks the focal point that classic number nines provide. This may explain why Arsenal have turned to more set-pieces and aerial duels, areas where they can generate offensive threat without relying on a clinical finisher. The absence of a target man may have encouraged Arteta to focus on delivering accurate crosses and utilising the aerial prowess of players like Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães to find goals in different ways.
Key Tactical Changes
| Statistic | 2023/2024 | 2024/2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Corners Taken (per game) | 5.8 | 7.2 |
| Aerial Duel Success Rate | 41% | 49% |
| Cross Attempts (per game) | 19 | 23 |
This tactical shift shows a move towards more pragmatic football, especially in terms of utilising set pieces and aerial duels. This mirrors Pulis’s Stoke side, who made a virtue of directness, set-pieces, and physicality, but it is also a sign of Arteta’s adaptability and strategic thinking, reflecting his ability to adjust to the team’s current limitations.
How Arsenal's Change in Style May Affect Bettors' Approach to Key Markets
1. Goals Markets
Arsenal’s increased reliance on set-pieces and the reduced effectiveness from open play may lead to fewer goals in some of their matches, particularly against well-organised defensive teams. In the 2024/2025 season, Arsenal have averaged only 1.52 goals per game, down from 2.39 goals per game in 2023/2024, indicating a potential drop in overall goal count. With more emphasis on set-pieces, goals could come from less frequent but highly strategic dead-ball situations, rather than the free-flowing open play Arsenal was once known for. Bettors should take this into account when assessing the likely total goal count in Arsenal matches, particularly when they face defensively compact teams or opponents who can nullify Arsenal's aerial threat.
2. Corners Markets
Given Arsenal’s increased focus on set-pieces, including more crosses and corner routines, the team is likely to earn more corners per game. In 2024/2025, Arsenal is averaging 7.2 corners per game, up from 5.8 corners per game in 2023/2024. This change is especially relevant for betting on the number of corners, as Arsenal’s increased wide play and set-piece delivery should lead to more corner opportunities. Matches where Arsenal dominates possession or pushes high into the opposition’s final third are likely to see a greater number of corners, making this an important factor for bettors to consider.
For shots on target markets, while key players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will likely continue to feature, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, who are crucial in the aerial threat from corners, could also emerge as surprise candidates for shots on target, especially from headers off set-piece situations.
3. Fouls Markets
A shift towards more direct and physically demanding football, including aerial duels and set-piece play, may result in an increase in fouls. Arsenal's fouls per game have likely risen as their more aggressive approach leads to physical confrontations. The team’s style could provoke fouls from opponents, particularly when they are forced to break up set-piece opportunities or deal with aerial threats in their own penalty area. Bettors should consider this when predicting the number of fouls, especially in matches where the opposition is forced to defend aggressively or tactically foul to prevent goal-scoring chances.
4. Cards Markets
Arsenal's tactical shift towards a more direct style of play and increased focus on set-pieces has influenced the number of yellow cards issued to both Arsenal and their opponents during the 2024/2025 Premier League season.
Arsenal's Yellow Cards: As of December 17, 2024, Arsenal has accumulated 35 yellow cards in the Premier League this season. Opponents' Yellow Cards Against Arsenal: In the same period, Arsenal's opponents have received a total of 29 yellow cards in matches against Arsenal.
Key Players with Notable Yellow Card Counts:
- Declan Rice: Leading Arsenal with 4 yellow cards this season.
- Bukayo Saka: Accumulated 3 yellow cards.
Club Statistico's dynamic cheat-sheets allows you to easily track and analyse key statistics like goals, corners, fouls, and cards, helping you identify patterns and trends that align with Arsenal's evolving tactics. By leveraging this tool, you can stay ahead of the game and make data-driven decisions that reflect Arsenals' evolving style throughout the 2024/2025 season.
Conclusion: Is the Comparison to Tony Pulis's Stoke Justified?
Statistically, there are clear parallels between Arsenal's current approach and Tony Pulis’s Stoke teams, particularly in their increased focus on set-pieces, reduced open-play chances, and aerial duels. Arsenal’s set-piece goals have risen significantly, making them a more dangerous team from dead-ball situations, something Stoke were renowned for under Pulis. Additionally, Arsenal’s reliance on direct football and cross aligns with Pulis’s approach.
However, Arsenal’s overall quality of play, depth of technical ability, and adaptability under Arteta are still far beyond the limitations of Pulis’s Stoke. Arsenal’s squad possesses a greater range of attacking options and fluidity in possession, which gives Arteta more avenues for success. Therefore, while some tactical changes have made Arsenal more pragmatic, the comparison to Tony Pulis’s Stoke should not be overstated.
Based on the data, Arsenal’s current style appears to be a blend of pragmatic football mixed with Arteta’s more traditional attacking philosophy. The shift towards set-pieces is likely to continue, but it is unlikely to be the sole strategy employed by Arteta. As such, the comparisons to Tony Pulis’s Stoke City are partly justified but should be viewed in the context of Arsenal’s broader strategic flexibility and evolving tactical style.
Data-Driven Summary
Set-piece Goals: 22% of Arsenal's goals so far in 2024/2025, up from 12% in 2023/2024.
Open-play Chances: Dropped from 15.2 to 11.8 per match.
Aerial Duels: Increased to 49% win rate, from 41% in the previous season.
Possession: Slight drop from 63% to 60% compared to last season.
Crosses: Increase in cross attempts to 23 per match.
In conclusion, Arsenal are adopting a more pragmatic style reminiscent of Tony Pulis’s Stoke, but this does not fully encapsulate the complexity and adaptability of Arteta’s tactics. Arsenal’s increased efficiency from set-pieces shows clear tactical evolution, though their technical and possession-based abilities remain key components of their broader game plan.
Next Fixture
Arsenal
16 Mar
Chelsea
13:30
