Coaching Forward Movement To Create Space: Lessons From Mikel Arteta & Liam Rosenior – Tactical Theory

The best forward players in the game have the intelligence and guile to perform movements that draw defenders into positions where they don’t want to be before exploiting the space created.

Some coaches prefer to focus on how their midfield can gain superiority by moving the opposition’s midfield players, and therefore leaving the opposition’s backline exposed.

Other coaches like to emphasise how centre-backs and full-backs can be lured out of position, moving towards the ball, then proceeding to play the ball behind them. 

This tactical theory analyses how the forward players of teams playing in the Premier League move defenders to create goalscoring opportunities. 

Arsenal‘s fluid forward rotations that pull defenders all over the place and Chelsea’s João Pedro’s striker movement to send his wingers through on goal are both analysed. 

Also included in the tactical analysis is how coaches can implement these movements with their own teams through training exercises and a small-sided game that works on forwards’ ability to pull defenders out of position in both wide and central areas. 

Arsenal’s Rotations – How Do Top Teams Disrupt Backlines?

The above image, from Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea this season at the Emirates, shows Arsenal at the start of a positional attack, with their right centre-back on the ball.

During these phases, Arsenal pose a constant threat to the opposition’s backline, with multiple players making runs in behind.

Every time an Arsenal player receives the ball facing forward, a forward or midfielder makes a run that stretches the opposition.

This makes it easier for other players to be found in pockets of space in front of the backline and, as we will see, allows them to disrupt the backline and pull defenders into different areas of the pitch. 

Here, the ball is being played from right centre-back to right-back Jurrien Timber.

With Cole Palmer pressing from the outside in, in an attempt to cut off the right back, Timber drops deep, almost in line with his centre-back, to receive the ball.

This not only allows him to receive the ball more easily, but also means the opposition left-back has far more ground to cover when pressing the receiving player, leaving a big gap for Arsenal to exploit in the wide area. 

As the ball was being played to his right-back, Bukayo Saka made a movement inside the pitch. 

This movement engaged Chelsea’s left centre-back (of a back four). 

When Timber received the ball, Saka peeled off back into the wide area, bringing the centre-back with him. 

This left Chelsea with their left-back and left centre-back both on the sidelines, leaving a big gap between their two centre-backs. 

Both Arsenal’s striker, who made a diagonal run across the ball-far centre-back, and a midfielder attempted to make runs into this space.

Arsenal’s midfield runner was cleverly physically blocked by a Chelsea central midfielder.

With Timber unable to find a teammate on his second touch, he travels inside with the ball. 

This acts as a trigger for Arsenal forward Viktor Gyökeres to readjust his run, moving towards the ball. 

Again, his proximity to a centre-back drags the defender towards the ball and disrupts the backline. 

Gyökeres receives and bounces the ball into the wide area for Saka.

When Saka receives the ball, three of Chelsea’s back four are in their left wide area. 

The two players highlighted in centre-back positions are their midfielders, who have been forced to drop in as cover for their wandering teammates.