บท 86: A Tactical Showdown
In the London derby between Millwall and Arsenal, it wasn't the players on the pitch who ignited the atmosphere but the passionate fans in the stands.
The giant banner in the South Stand had been taken down, and members of the "Lion Roar" group stood up together. Brady was at the front, his right hand raised, rhythmically waving it.
"One, two, three!"
"Dumbass! Dumbass! Arsenal!"
"One, two, three!"
"Dumbass! Dumbass! Arsenal!"
The taunting shouts thundered from the South Stand, echoing across the stadium.
This wasn't an original chant by Millwall fans; Arsenal had been labeled as "Dumbass" for many years, mocked by all of their rivals for their style of football.
However, the "Lion Roar" added their unique touch by emphasizing the pauses in the word "Arsenal" for rhythm.
The mockery gained a profound meaning!
In English, particularly British English, the first part of "Arsenal" sounds similar to the words for "fool," "idiot," or "donkey," which can refer to someone with a stubborn nature.
While Arsenal players had faced ridicule before, the incessant shouts from the Lion's Den made them feel the sting of humiliation today.
Aldrich, standing on the sideline, couldn't help but chuckle at the strange pronunciation of "Arsenal."
Correct! Otherwise, how could this be called a derby?
But after the kickoff, the team dominating on the field was the visiting Arsenal.
Rioch was hesitant to change his five-defender formation. Still, he allowed his wingbacks to push forward aggressively. As Winterburn and Dixon surged into the attack, Arsenal's offensive presence shifted the balance.
With five defenders and a defensive midfielder, Arsenal's wide attacks relied on the wingbacks—while their central attack depended on the interplay between central midfielders and forwards.
After facing an explosive Millwall in their opening match against Manchester United, today they implemented the right tactics. Nedved dropped back to join Makelele, creating a barrier in front of the Millwall box, effectively severing Arsenal's connections between their forwards and midfield.
In the midst of Millwall's blockade, thirty-something Ian Wright and Dennis Bergkamp found it difficult to receive any service from midfield. If Bergkamp dropped back to retrieve the ball, Makelele would mark him tightly; if he receded further, Makelele would stop following him, maintaining a safe zone.
Millwall had chosen deliberately to forgo a midfield battle with Arsenal, opting instead to compress the attacking space and strengthen their defense in dangerous areas. Arsenal's attempts, whether it was Bergkamp's dribbles or Platt's runs for combination plays, could not threaten Millwall's goal.
Seeing Arsenal's repeated failed attempts at attack, the offensive players freezing, Aldrich wore a poker face but couldn't resist sneaking a glance toward the box.
Professor, you're arriving at just the right moment!
Today's Millwall is using the same tactics that Arsenal will adopt in their resurgence two years later.
With Vieira and the adapted defensive midfielder Petit squeezing the opponent's attacking space, Vieira makes runs during counterattacks, relying on both wings and forward Bergkamp's support. The flamboyant attacking tactics of Arsenal, which will emerge in two years, are now being employed by Millwall!
Interestingly, the on-field positions and roles are also quite similar: Makelele with Petit, Nedved with Vieira, and Larsson with Bergkamp.
By actively giving up the midfield, Aldrich was coaxing the snake out of its hole.
Arsenal, known for their defense, needed to be given space to attack. Yet, even after years away from a more offensive approach and adopting a "1:0" mentality, could having Platt and Bergkamp make the team's attacking play revitalized?
The first ten minutes had already proven Arsenal's ineffectiveness in settled attacking play!
When the attack fails to progress, Arsenal is compelled to augment their offensive players. Wenterburn and Dixon making runs from the sidelines enhance their attacking threat, but Millwall's response is equally straightforward: Neil and Thuram match up head-to-head, one for one!
This way, on the vertical defensive line, Millwall does not experience a numerical disadvantage
Inside the box, David Dein was enthusiastically explaining Arsenal's standout players to Wenger, tossing in some disdain toward Millwall. He believed that the previous match against Manchester United showcased a lack of experience among the young players that ultimately diminished the Red Devils' glory, whereas Millwall had shone brightly. He claimed the differences in defense were stark between United and Arsenal.
Naturally, he was boosting his own team's ego; besides boasting about their star players, Arsenal had little else to praise.
However, the usually stoic Wenger refrained from replying. If he had a tactical manual at hand, he would clearly explain the unseen dynamics on the pitch to Dein.
Although Arsenal appeared aggressive, they were struggling to penetrate Millwall's defensive depths. Bergkamp couldn't receive the ball near the penalty area; whenever he came to collect it, his passes couldn't connect with Wright, and contentious dribbles failed to shake off Makelele. The wingbacks joining the attack had created a matched situation with Millwall's advanced defenders. Really, the pressure on Arsenal was intense.
And Arsenal's defense became shaky once the wingbacks moved forward to assist from behind; however, it remained uncertain if Aldrich could capitalize on that weakness.
Platt controlled the ball in midfield, attempting several ground attacks that failed to penetrate Millwall's tight defense in front of the box. Therefore, he opted for a high ball long pass, hoping to find Wright directly. The ball was predictably cleared by Stam's header, falling to Nedved's feet, while Bergkamp made only a token effort to press before giving up the pursuit as Nedved accelerated away.
With Platt, Mason, and Jensen stretched across the midfield defense line, Nedved took a brief adjustment and initiated a long pass that sailed right over the midfield to the left flank, where Pires was eagerly waiting!
Wenger bore witness to this maneuver, a slight smile curling his lips: It seems Aldrich had prepared well.
Yes, Aldrich had instructed the wingbacks to pair up against Arsenal's defenders instead of pulling back their wide midfielders. The objective was crystal clear.
Once Pires received the ball, he launched into a blazing run along the baseline. Within Arsenal's defensive line, only three center-backs remained, while the defensive midfielder followed closely behind, tight on the revved-up Nedved.
However, Millwall enjoyed a clear advantage in numbers in their attack.
As Pires sped forward, running parallel were three teammates: Trezeguet, Larsson, and Schneider.
Not opting to cut inside, Pires stuck to his path, driving straight toward the baseline. Just as he neared the big box, he executed a feinted cut, forcing Arsenal's defense to split to intercept him.
This action stretched the distance between the three central defenders in the box and created an opening in front of the goal. Pires slid the ball across just as Adams advanced to close him down. Trezeguet, engaging in a physical tussle with Bowler, smartly chose to let the ball pass through, sending it rolling between his legs and Bowler's. Larsson had been anticipating this moment and dashed forward, taking two steps back, coming into rights with the incoming ball—with enough preparation time, he didn't need much before elegantly pushing it with his foot toward the lower right corner. Seaman burst from his goal toward him, arms wide and body low, but could only watch as the ball rolled past his outstretched leg. Then, Lion's Den erupted with joy!
"Larsson! Arsenal's defense has completely fallen apart. They couldn't even touch the ball, and had no chance to commit a foul in a body-to-body encounter. Millwall has taken the lead in what appeared to be a disadvantageous match. They executed a textbook counterattack, penetrating Seaman's defenses. Larsson was incredibly calm in front of goal; his transition from positioning to receiving the ball and finally shooting with confidence proves he has the potential to be a top-notch striker!"
After scoring, Larsson joyfully ran toward the South Stand, with teammates rushing to congratulate him.
They relished this exhilarating sensation!
Breaching Arsenal's gate in the derby and enjoying the acclaim of their fans—what could be more enjoyable?
Aldrich merely clapped his hands. The match had only just started, so there was no reason to get carried away. Moreover, the opponents were not an elite team.
Whether facing a rejuvenated Manchester United lacking the spirit of Cantona or this confused Arsenal team undergoing transition, both traditional powerhouses had not yet reached their former glory. Millwall also possessed immense potential; not only were the players advancing, but the tactical framework was still being solidified. Aldrich would not allow himself to become complacent—the journey was still long.
Rioch stood on the sidelines, only able to encourage his players; there was little else he could do.
In the box, Arthur celebrated jubilantly, even dancing with exuberance as he loudly cheered Millwall's name. In contrast, David Dein, impeccably dressed and composed, wore a rather somber expression.
Just moments ago, he had been bragging about Arsenal to Wenger, and now they had conceded a goal—what a resounding slap in the face! Just like hitting himself!
Wenger, however, wore a gracious smile as he softly remarked, "Mr. Dein, do you know why Arsenal conceded that goal?"
"Perhaps the players still haven't woken up from their holiday state; they seem to be slow in getting into the rhythm of the season."
Dein offered a flimsy excuse. After failing to secure victory against Middlesbrough at home, now conceding a goal to Millwall away—it was a serious blow to the dignity of a traditional powerhouse. Under Graham's leadership, Arsenal had at least maintained a level of performance; now, though, they were hanging on the edge of a precipice.
Wenger shook his head slightly, saying, "If Arsenal cannot make changes, they will continue to concede goals. Millwall's tactics are designed to counter Arsenal effectively."
Dein furrowed his brow and retorted, "Oh? What leads you to that conclusion?"
"It's quite simple. When Arsenal defends, apart from the goalkeeper, they have three center-backs and one defensive midfielder; but in attack, they use six players. Millwall's defense also comprises six players: four defenders and two midfielders. With an equal number of players, Arsenal's past tactical conventions prevent them from coordinating effectively to break through Millwall's backline. When caught on the counter, Millwall attacks with four players, while Arsenal defends with four. The issue is that one of Arsenal's defensive players is a defensive midfielder, and Millwall can position their four in a line or in a diamond shape, which creates a numerical advantage. Unless Arsenal's defensive midfielder can drop back to defend as a center-back, similar opportunities for Millwall will still arise, and if they capitalize on them, they will score again."
Dein contemplated briefly and nodded, "So where does the real problem lie?"
"It's in the formation. Arsenal used to play with a 5-3-2 formation; if they switched to 3-5-2, they might have better synergy to defend against such counterattacks. Honestly, if Arsenal would drop their image as a former elite team and patiently utilize the 5-3-2 they are familiar with, compressing Millwall's attacking space, they'd have a much higher chance of winning this match. Aldrich certainly wants to win, but he has cleverly identified Arsenal's weaker psychological need to win. I admire his tactical insight."
"Is wanting to win a weakness?"
"Absolutely. In a clash of the titans, the first step is to suppress the opponent's attack. Unless you have absolute control of the game, which is difficult to achieve in the English league due to the strength of physical confrontations, the referee's interpretations, and changes in pace."
"Thank you, I understand now. Mr. Wenger, I believe your coaching will lead Arsenal back to glory; at the very least, you have a clear vision of how to change this team."
"Right now, I'm enjoying my time in Japan and have no intention of returning to Europe to coach."
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