Glenn Hoddle raved about Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli by claiming they caused Leicester ‘all sorts of problems’ during their 2-0 win on Sunday, as he told Premier League Productions.
The former England playmaker noted how wide Mikel Arteta instructed both players to play, rather than being narrow, which he thinks outfoxed Brendan Rodgers in the tactical department.
Neither Martinelli nor Saka were able to get on the scoresheet at the Emirates, but that didn’t stop them from working their magic today elsewhere.
That included Brazil’s recently called up international supplying the assist for Thomas Partey’s first-half header, before Alexandre Lacazette converted from the spot after the break following a handball.
Nonetheless, this was Hoddle’s interesting take on both Saka and Martinelli today against the Foxes.
“The width they (Leicester) have given them,” said Hoddle.”They have kept Martinelli and Saka out wide and they are going to be on the outside of the fullbacks.
“In today’s game, it’s the wide men that go into the pockets and the full-backs push forward. But, today, Arsenal have said to the wide men (stay out). The players have worked at that in training. They have seen an achilles heel there.
“It’s causing Leicester a lot of problems. Those wide men getting up that high, then makes that back four a longer line. When they are inside those pockets, they can press in a little tighter, so Leicester’s fullbacks don’t go that far (but that hasn’t happened).
“It’s very difficult to watch the ball and the man when he is on the blind side of you. Today, those two lads on Arsenal’s width are causing all sorts of problems.”
Game one of a potentially season-defining week for the Gunners, with a home tie against Liverpool coming up on Wednesday night.
After that, they travel to the Midlands for an early Saturday lunchtime showdown at Villa Park.
All in all, this young Arsenal side that has been used to no European football will now get three games thrown at them in six days.
If they can come out of it on top, then it will bode very, very well in their quest to secure Champions League football.
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