Gabriel Jesus is one of the noteworthy signings of this transfer window and he is already showing his potential and more specifically, how he can fit into Arsenals tactics.
Today’s analysis looks at how he helps his team get out of tight situations at the back during build up phases. In their recent game vs. Chelsea, Arsenal we’re put under pressure close to their own goal. Since Arteta likes to play out from the back this meant that an aggressive press from Chelsea did at times show signs of danger. Here is how Arteta’s Arsenal got past the lines of Chelsea defence. 
(Figure 1.1)
We see here as Jesus drops down into the midfield, where Chelsea were originally marking the midfielders more or less 1v1.
(Figure 1.2)
The ball is then played into Jesus who lays the ball off with his first touch. Since the Chelsea midfielders are outnumbered, they are also late to press Jesus and he is able to lay the ball off cleanly.
(Figure 1.3)
The ball is laid off onto an oncoming Thomas Partey who plays the ball out wide with his first touch. Since the Chelsea players are drawn towards the ball in the central areas, there is space again on the wide areas for Arsenal to exploit and in this way escape Chelseas aggressive press.
THEORY:
(Figure 2.1)
This match lines up initially as a 4231 vs. 4231
(Figure 2.2)
Our discussion lies with Gabriel Jesus, who takes on the false9 role when he sees that Chelsea are pressing aggressively. This forces the Chelsea CBs into making a decision either to stay in their positions to keep team shape, or to follow Jesus down into the deep midfield areas. In many situations the CBs choose to stay in their positions to undergo as little risk as possible, as the Chelsea CBs do here.
(Figure 2.3)
Although Chelsea shift over ball-side effectively to shut down all central options, Jesus is able to drop at the right moment and also fast enough to give Chelsea CDM (Jorginho) not enough time to drop down with him.
(Figure 2.4)
Jorghinho does see this and moves to pressure Jesus but is too late, and Jesus is able to lay the ball off to Partey.
(Figure 2.5)
Despite Chelsea pressing relatively well, and shifting over to force Arsenal to play in tight areas, Arsenal are able to play out of this press. Moreover since Arsenal were able to steer Chelsea into the center there are spaces out wide again that could then be utilised.
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