Before 60,000 fans at the Emirates, Sporting found a formula in 2018 to stop Unai Emery’s Arsenal. Tiago Fernandes was the coach of the lions the last time the two teams met and he remembers an English team with great players, but who still did not have the collective capacity they achieved this season, 2022/2023, under the command of Mikel Arteta . .
“Especially at home, Arsenal is a very strong team, with very fast ball movement, good dynamics. The players are always high on the ground, playing in attacking midfield with a lot of people. Arteta’s idea is an idea of possession, a team that likes to have the ball, a bit like Rúben Amorim’s Sporting”, explains the coach.
Arsenal is the leader of the English league [mais dois pontos do que o Manchester City, mas com mais um encontro disputado]clear sample of quality, in a group where names like Bokayo Saka or Martin Odegaard have stood out.
“You have to be humble, recognize the value of your rival, which is very high. If Sporting wants to discuss the tie, they have to close the spaces, close a little more, play in transition, because if Arsenal, pressing high, steals the ball from Sporting in the first phase of construction, they are very effective and can cause problems for Sporting”, considers Tiago Fernandes.
Better group than in 2018 and the strategy used
In 2018, in the game that ended in a goalless draw (0-0, fourth day of the Europa League group stage), Arsenal had a team with great individual quality. “Ahead were Ramsey, Aubameyang, Welbeck, Mekhitarian, a team with great offensive power. In the midfield there was Guendouzi in the midfield, with a lot of quality. You had to respect and recognize the quality of your opponent”, explains Tiago. Fernandes about the notes he took for this duel.
“The strategy was put together to nullify Unai Emery’s game idea. But when you play against teams of this quality, you can’t give up your game idea. Another team in spaces where the rival is more fragile”, points out the coach.
In a game like this, you have to know how to take your opponent. “When you don’t have the ball you have to be very attentive to the spaces you leave, the speed and the dynamics of these players who are very unpredictable. At that time, Arsenal even had, perhaps, an individual quality superior to that of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. But this is a stronger team collectively.”
“He is a candidate to win the Europa League and he could also win the English League. Everything is open for Arsenal to have a dream season. Results last year were well below expectations. It was important that Mikel Arteta continue because he now has the team in his hands, with a game idea respected by the players, and of great quality”, highlights Tiago Fernandes.
In the locker room, Rúben Amorim can take advantage to give the players confidence. Sporting knows that, from here, anything can happen. He has to believe that Arsenal may have a less good day and then take advantage of Arsenal’s weaknesses. That is because they have also lost games, at home, away. beating this rival, he also becomes one of the candidates to win the Europa League. Even if that means suffering.
Source: TSF
