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Arsenal’s Struggles Against Deep Defences: Lessons from the Manchester United Draw

Arsenal’s recent 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford has reignited discussions about the Gunners’ persistent struggles against teams that sit deep. As Robbie Lyle and the AFTV panel dissected the performance, the conversation inevitably circled back to the same issues Arsenal have faced all season—lack of squad depth, poor decision-making in key moments, and a failure to break down defensive setups.

Lack of Cutting Edge in Attack

“They’ll take it, they’ll take their team sitting deep,” Robbie Lyle remarked, acknowledging that United approached the game with a defensive mindset. Yet, despite Arsenal’s dominance in possession, their inability to carve open a resolute United backline proved to be their downfall. “We can’t break down these teams that sit really, really deep… we struggle,” he admitted.

This recurring problem stems from two major factors: injuries and a lack of reinforcements in the January transfer window. “If you don’t go and get [reinforcements] in January, you’re going to be short,” Robbie pointed out. The bench options on the night reflected this—Kieran Tierney was brought on, while Raheem Sterling, despite his experience and attacking prowess, was overlooked. “There’s nothing on the bench, there’s no options,” he lamented.

Defensive Lapses and Moments of Individual Brilliance

While Arsenal controlled large portions of the game, they allowed United to grow into the contest. “We were getting really sloppy in some of our passing,” Robbie observed, pointing out a surprising drop in intensity. He specifically criticised David Raya’s positioning for Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick goal. “If you look at that free kick again, it’s not in the corner… he’s standing too far over on one side.”

Despite that moment of weakness, Raya redeemed himself with two outstanding saves in the second half, keeping Arsenal in the game. “He made two brilliant saves to keep Arsenal in the game,” Robbie admitted, balancing his earlier criticism.

Declan Rice was another standout performer, not just for his goal but also for his defensive contributions. His last-ditch tackle on Rasmus Højlund was described as a game-saving intervention. “That last tackle… Højlund could have put us to bed,” Robbie said, emphasising Rice’s importance to the side.

Manchester United’s Tactical Approach

There was clear frustration at the way United set up, but also an acceptance that Arsenal should be doing more to break these kinds of teams down. “I was shocked to see how they played,” Robbie admitted, though he acknowledged that they “have to” play that way given their limitations.

AFTV contributor Julian made the controversial claim that United played like a relegation-threatened side, a sentiment Robbie didn’t completely dismiss. “He’s kind of got a point there… defend, defend, defend, hope Arsenal make a mistake, and catch them on the counterattack,” he summarised.

This is a pattern Arsenal have seen all season. “You can’t have games where you dominate the ball and you’re struggling so much to score,” Robbie argued. “Lots of teams in this division sit deep like this, even teams that are not that great.”

Moving Forward: Addressing the Same Old Problems

Arsenal fans might take some comfort in the fact that United have frustrated other big sides this season, drawing with Liverpool and beating Manchester City. However, for a team with title ambitions, a 1-1 draw in a game they controlled is still a missed opportunity.

As Arsenal look ahead to next season, this inability to break down defensive teams remains their biggest challenge. “We’ve got to address it for next season,” Robbie insisted. “If we don’t get a goal early, we struggle.”

While the title race may be over, the focus now shifts to the Champions League, where Arsenal will face a very different kind of test. Robbie made a bold claim about their potential semi-final opponents: “Real Madrid will probably suit us better because Atlético… they sit deep.” The clash of styles, he argued, could make Real Madrid a more favourable opponent than the defensively disciplined Atlético Madrid.

For Arsenal, the lessons from Old Trafford are clear. Squad depth needs addressing, tactical flexibility is required, and above all, they must find a way to break down deep defences. Otherwise, history will continue to repeat itself.