I don't know if he was good but it was a step in the right direction. It was certainly an improvement on recent weeks. Sometimes when you're in a bit of a rut, the climb back to your best is kind of slow but I'll take improvement rather than a continual backslide.
Brooke Norton Cuffy.
This is a lazy take in my opinion. In our system having a RB who is more of a CB makes total sense. The LB inverts and has almost a free role on the pitch, so you're really playing a 3-man defense most of the time. Can't have a regular full-back in that role. Kyle Walker is the only guy I can think of that is a natural RB that can actually play in this system. For the other side, David Alaba is the only one I can think of, though he is an insanely versatile player in general.
Yeah football has progressed & the full back role has become very niche. The old style idea of a full back is outdated now. What Teta wants from a full back is pretty much just a good footballer with excellent all round ability. Vision, technique, pace, passing range, defensively savvy. Tierney is fine but possibly doesnt quite fit the system. I think when Tomi played when Zinny was out instead of KT, that must have been a tough one to swallow for him..
By The Athletic UK Staff and more
Feb 24, 2023
It could be time-wasting goalkeepers — like Emi Martinez against Arsenal — or the full-back who steals a few yards on every throw-in they take. Or perhaps the central midfielder who breaks up a promising attack for the opposition with a tactical foul.
Every team has a player who stretches the rules to the limit. Whether you call it gamesmanship, football’s “dark arts” or s**thousery, who is the best exponent for your Premier League club?
Our correspondents give their views…
Arsenal
The pleasing thing for Arsenal is they have more candidates for this than they have done in previous years, showing their increased competitive edge, but Ben White is their operator-in-chief.
Subtle bumps and nudges on opposition forwards while the referee isn’t looking serve as attempts to get in their heads. These worked particularly well on Harry Kane in October’s north London derby. He has no issue winding up opposition fans either, whether it be from taking longer than necessary to take a throw-in or reminding them of the score as he walks past them having been substituted.
White can get under the skin of opposition players (Photo: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
His seemingly intentional dry post-match interviews resonate most though. From popping his collar to his willingness to live inside the awkwardness of these situations, he brings a lot to a matchday, not just with the ball at his feet.
Art de Roché
