A look at the evolving tactical styles of Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Chelsea's Xabi Alonso as the new Premier League season begins.
Key facts
- •Arsenal has not conceded a goal in their first two matches of the new season.
- •Mikel Arteta has been at Arsenal for seven years, during which he has emphasized reducing opponent scoring chances.
- •Chelsea recorded 26% possession in their 4-3 win against Brighton.
- •Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea side features a 3-4-2-1 formation designed to facilitate counter-attacking play.
- •Moisés Caicedo is currently dealing with a knee injury, impacting Chelsea's midfield options.
As the Premier League season begins, observers are comparing the tactical approaches of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso. While Arteta’s Arsenal has focused on maintaining control and reducing opponent scoring opportunities, Alonso’s Chelsea has displayed a more chaotic, counter-attacking style in their opening matches. Both managers share a background in the youth ranks of Antiguoko in San Sebastián and are separated by only four months in age.
By the numbers
Arsenal's Focus on Control
Over his seven-year tenure at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has increasingly prioritized tactical control and micromanagement. The team has focused on reducing the expected goals (xG) of their opponents, a strategy that contributed to them conceding seven fewer goals last season compared to the previous year. Despite criticism regarding a reliance on set plays and pragmatic tactics, this approach led Arsenal to win the league title. In the current season, Arsenal has remained defensively sound, having not conceded a goal in their first two weeks. They secured a 3-0 victory against Manchester City in the Community Shield, defeated Coventry 3-0 in their league opener, and maintained a controlled performance against Aston Villa, where a goal from Bukayo Saka secured the win.
Chelsea's Early Season Chaos
Xabi Alonso’s start at Chelsea has been characterized by a more reactive style, though the source notes this may be due to expediency rather than ideology. In victories against Fulham and Brighton, Chelsea recorded only 38% and 26% possession respectively, relying heavily on a front three of João Pedro, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Rogers to exploit opportunities on the break. Chelsea’s tactical setup faces challenges, including a lack of depth in central midfield following the sale of Enzo Fernández and a knee injury to Moisés Caicedo. Alonso is currently utilizing a 3-4-2-1 formation, but the team is still assimilating tactical patterns. The manager is managing the fitness of players like Roméo Lavia and Reece James while navigating a squad that currently lacks a replacement for the departed central midfielder.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Football.
