KOMPAS.com – Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, fielded Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo simultaneously in the match against Arsenal, Saturday (17/10/2020).
In fact, Walker and Cancelo are both right-backs.
In the match against Arsenal, Walker was placed as full-back right in a 3-1-4-2 formation.
Meanwhile Cancelo was positioned as a midfielder, level with Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.
Also read: Man City vs Arsenal, Mikel Arteta: Hate but be proud
There is a reason why Pep Guardiola plays Walker and Cancelo at the same time.
This is in order to reduce the movement of Arsenal’s wings.
Journalist The Athletic, Michael Cox, explains in simple terms how the Pep scheme works.
While defending, Man City’s formation changed to 3-3-1-3, where Cancelo and Bernardo Silva withdrew to be level with Rodri who played as anchor midfielder.
Cancelo approached Walker’s position, while Bernardo Silva approached Nathan Ake who played as full-back left.
This strategy makes it easier for Walker or Ake to take care of Aubameyang or Nicolas Pepe.
I reckon Guardiola v Arteta was something like this in the first half. Could call City’s system loads of things but was basically an old-school Ajax/Barca 3-3-1-3 when Cancelo moved inside. Walker on Aubameyang was very effective. Arsenal controversially depicted in red here pic.twitter.com/YnAx7hGayG
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) October 17, 2020
In fact, said Michael Cox, Walker’s guard against Auba was so effective.
“Walker kept Aubameyang very effective,” says the author of the book “Zonal Marking”.
Statistics record, Aubameyang failed to create a single shot in the Man City vs Arsenal match.
Also read: Two things that make Aubameyang feel good at Arsenal
On the Premier League stage this season, Aubameyang has failed to record a single shot twice in one match. As for others when Arsenal contested Liverpol at the end of September.
This then becomes interesting. Because, when Auba failed to produce a shot, Arsenal always fell.
Pep Guardiola’s strategy in the Man City vs Arsenal match was even more perfect because the Gunners failed to score. City won 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
.
