How Pep's Tactics Beat Arteta

TL;DR

Pep exploited Arsenal's narrow defensive shape by using Nunes as a right center-back to free Sherry repeatedly down the right flank.

Key Points

• 1.Arsenal's high press exposed a key free man. Trosard couldn't cover both Sherry drifting into the right half-space and Nunes, so Nunes consistently received unchallenged, becoming City's most-touched catalyst despite being overlooked.
• 2.City's 3-2-5 shape was the tactical foundation. Sherry and O'Reilly split half-spaces, Nunes played right center-back, and Haaland occasionally dropped into midfield to overload Arsenal's double pivot of Rodri and Bernardo.
• 3.The Nunes-Sherry dynamic repeatedly cracked Arsenal open. Nunes receiving triggered Trosard's press, but Sherry dropping into the right-back slot gave him space to drive forward and combine with Semeno or overload wide for crosses that led to both City goals.
• 4.City used Arsenal's own 4-2-4 structure against them defensively. City's front four stayed compact, using cover shadows to prevent Rice and Zubimendi from receiving centrally, forcing Arsenal wide where the high-positioned wingers left them exposed.
• 5.Arsenal's right-side push created dangerous 2v1s but City held firm. Enappe and Cali Fury pushing forward created two-versus-ones against Nunes at the back post, nearly proving decisive, but City managed the game state after breaking the deadlock first.