The concept of playing in between the lines has become in a sense, the core of defending tactics. This is because defending teams are defending more compact and more organised than ever which also means that there are often patterns that can be recognised. Whenever a team defends in blocks for example, there will be spaces in between the lines of blocks. In our example today, Everton defend in a 5-4-1 block and we see how Arsenal break this down by positioning players in a way that would disrupt Evertons defending shape.
(Figure 1)
Since the central areas are always the first priority when defending, Everton defenders understandably react to passes played into the centre.
(Figure 2)
The compact shape of Evertons defence also means that wide areas are left free at the beginning, and the WB only shifts out after the pass has been played.
(Figure 3)
As soon as the ball is played out wide, attacking players run into the box, into the most dangerous areas which are also known as the “Corridor of uncertainty”, which are the spaces in between defenders and the GK.
Theory:
Looking at the situation through a birds-eye perspective can also help to understand this concept better.
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