Back on the first of March, there was intrigue in the English championship. After two-thirds of the season, Arsenal were five points ahead of Manchester City, and many people were talking about the chances of the Gunners for the final victory. For those looking to understand more about betting opportunities, https://rg.org provides comprehensive guides and resources. The gap remained intact a month later, and both rivals had noticeably pulled away from the rest. However, three consecutive draws in April and a subsequent 1-4 defeat at the Etihad changed everything.
Arteta’s Tactical Innovations
Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta should be praised for his side’s efforts to keep the intrigue alive right up until last month. The Spanish coach utilized the work of Pep Guardiola. The decision to send Zinchenko into the backline alongside Partey while allowing Djaqa to exploit the left flank further up the pitch has allowed Arsenal to become a more unpredictable team in possession.
Granit Djaka’s Breakout Season
The Swiss can rightly be considered one of the discoveries of the Championship – we saw him in a relatively fresh role. He was great in the penalty area, constantly looking for escalating options. As a result, last season was Granit’s best – seven goals, the same number of assists, his own xG record, and for the first time in five years – over 3,000 minutes played in the league.
Djaka scored the only goal in the previous season in EPL against MU from about 30-plus meters. This time, all of his seven goals have come from around the 11-metre or the goalkeeper’s area. If there’s one way to describe the phrase “player progression,” it’s this. Martin Edegaard could better fulfill his potential thanks to Granit’s new role. He has more freedom around the penalty area, although the Norwegian is already known as a player who can work well in tight spaces. A magnificent result of 15 goals in the league is another significant contribution to the Canaries’ attempt to compete for the gold medal.
Manchester City’s Tactical Mastery
However, the city had its plans for the season. We are already tired of thinking about the decision of the staff to pair Stones with Rodri and use a back three of defenders without the classic wingbacks. However, we cannot ignore this factor: thanks to it, Guardiola managed to find a balance. No, Manchester City didn’t concede less on the counter-attack, but possession improved if we think of it in the context of “game safety.” The ball started to go from line to line quicker and more effectively, the team became more reliable at the back, and de Bruyne dropped for the ball less often. So we saw his formed extended link-up with Holland.
Although Pep used his leader more profoundly (and to the left) than usual in the Champions League final, the Belgian had become somewhat unused to the role. But that’s another story.
De Bruyne broke the 10-assist mark for the fifth time this season in the EPL. Returning to his link-up with Holland, the Norwegian’s presence allowed Guardiola to vary attacking patterns. Many predicted before the season that Pep would be able to use more direct play, but City rarely opted for this strategy in the first part of the season. Yet gradually, as this advanced attacking pairing became more understood, Manchester City increasingly utilized the ‘vertical’ delivery of the ball forward. The number of counter-attacking goals scored by City in the league was three and a half times higher than in the previous campaign.
Manchester United’s Transition Game
Counterattacks have become the primary weapon for the other team from Manchester. No one has scored more than United in quick transition phases in the EPL this season. Another statistic that characterizes MJ’s style is that only two teams in the Championship have fewer crosses on average per game than the Red Devils.
Of course, MU should seriously work on the quality of possession, as the average pass accuracy on the season leaves much to be desired (82%, seventh result). But given the inexplicable start, the attempts to introduce a tall forward in different positions, the disqualifications of midfield leader Casemiro, and the constant rotations in defense, Erik Ten Hag’s first championship finished with a solid four.
Season Overview and Future Prospects
Overall, it has been a relatively interesting English season. We saw renewed intrigue in the battle for the top spot, thanks to Arsenal. At the same time, various personnel decisions sent Chelsea and Tottenham outside the top seven and allowed the underdogs to break into the European competitions. The following season could be one of the most colorful. With teams seemingly adopting each other’s best practices and strengthening their squads, eight teams in the EPL will be in serious contention for a place in the European Cup. Some are not going to get it. Moreover, it’s unlikely that they will accept a Europa League spot – which only makes it more interesting.