Arsenal have CHANGED, and it's working MAGIC.

That was a reminder for anyone who needed it of how complete this Arsenal team are tactically. They are the team to beat, and this video is going to break down exactly how Arsenal, after that Morgan Rogers bolt from the blue, did—did that even happen?—stamp their authority on the game through their swirling right-hand side overloads. How Mikel Arteta outthought his close friend Javi Alonso, allowing Arsenal to play through Chelsea and to pin them in, but also not let them play out. I'm going to analyze Christo Solace and Ricardo Calafiori's partnership and how that's unlocking different sides to Havertz and Erdigard, how Rice, Gabriel, and Konza help neutralize as best you can Chelsea's front three, and so much more. This match was framed at least as control against chaos. There's only so much you can do to contain this Chelsea attack, as we'll see, and I'll give credit for. But this was a brave, purposeful Arsenal, happy to play more than one style in the match. So, let's break it all down.

Starting with Arsenal's response to Morgan Rogers and Chelsea's instant proof of their ability to create those moments. Alonso seemed more than happy to concede territory, sticking pretty rigidly with a 5-2-3 block with Pedro Neto forming a back five. But this passiveness allowed Arsenal to form their base on the ball with minimal effort. This right-hand side leaning 3-1-6 with Konza in the middle of a back three, which is Rice dropping into right center back. Lewis Skelly roaming on the inside in the six with White and Calafiori promoted and typically fluid with the spaces they occupy higher up.

Havertz helped form those overloads on the right. And the key points for you to keep track of are, first of all, how the overload kept Morgan Rogers deeper and stopped him jumping onto Rice, but also the man marking Alonso deployed within Chelsea's block. Their pivot of James and Lavia followed Erdigard and Lewis Skelly, and Havertz and Fofana also attached themselves to their men. Neto was similarly tasked with watching Calafiori when he went into this higher pocket, and the inability to then put pressure on the Arsenal buildup because of this was clear, with Palmer passive and Solace able to receive in space and just allow that sharp circulation and move Chelsea about. Achin Pong here doesn't pick up that rotation between Solace and Calafiori quick enough. Miles draws out Lavia, punches into Solace, and we're allowed to work it back to the right-hand side. The pattern of the game, despite the scoreline, was set. What I've liked about Arsenal's buildup this season is how, although that 3-1 shape is pretty set, any of Calafiori, Erdigard, or here Ben White can drop in to make it a unit of five. And it also allows White to arrive higher unmarked.

This is where our right-hand side in the game began to purr as Saka and Havertz rotate and pull their markers around, giving us that little bit of separation on each pass. White sees a 2v1 opportunity, overlaps, and it's this constant rotation as now Rice joins in that has sucked the Chelsea pivot across, meaning Rice can now find Miles in that higher pocket in the final third. We've been accessing him this season a lot more from here. Chelsea are in trouble. Lewis Skelly finds Calafiori. Chelsea are unsure of who is meant to pick him up. Don't worry, you're not the only ones. But now, after drawing Chelsea back out, Calafiori moves it back to the right-hand side where our numbers still are. One of the positive signs Erdigard is playing in rhythm again is if he's happy to take it on the inside like this and find those cute passes off the shoulder. And Saka forces the save. Suddenly that pressure is building. This time it's Erdigard dropping to form that lopsided 3-2 shape. The mix of our rotations and Chelsea's man marking means Havertz is late to jump on Erdigard as he moves back on the inside. And the same goes for Fofana on Saka. And as if on cue, White balances all this intricate movement and play with a run off the shoulder. And the chemistry we've seen develop over the years clicks. Saka brings him in, and we're not far off one of Solace or Havertz going to poke the ball home. And Havertz's equalizer felt like a culmination of all of this. But also how we weren't letting Chelsea escape. Outlets, whether that be a runner or someone who can hold it up against the center backs, are everything in the modern game because they give you that room to breathe. Xiao Pedro is a really good one, which makes these moments from Gabriel or these from Ezri Konza vital in creating those waves of attack, not letting Pedro drag Chelsea up the pitch with him. And on the flip side for us, we found this balance. We found these outlets in Havertz arcing his runs into the channels who could hold it up and connect us. Or as Rice eats up the ground here in the carry and spreads it to Solace, we have that option to switch to the underloaded left-hand side. And this begins the buildup for Havertz's equalizer. All Solace has to do is stretch out the pitch for the guys on the inside to do their thing. Chelsea are unsure of their duties, which gives Calafiori and Miles the space to give and go. Cause that desperation at the top of the Chelsea box and cause them just to hack it away.

And as we come again, watch Havertz switch with Erdigard, then switch with Saka. Rice now steps high, creating that extra man against Chelsea's man marking. And Rice's passing all season so far has been brave. I think he's been seeing the picture much quicker, but he can do this more on the right-hand side. And here he overloads Reece James, finds Havertz first time who drives into the space.

Erdigard is doing his best to maximize and pin Laqua, and it's just a ruthless finish from an already complete display from Kai Havertz. He just loves it against Chelsea, doesn't he? It was a thoroughly deserved goal, and as a result, the counterattacking game that Alonso and Chelsea wanted had lost that goal they had to preserve. As a result, Alonso came to press us out of that 5-2-3 block.

But this was buildup on easy mode for Arsenal. Erdigard and Lewis Skelly pin their men higher. Neto and Rogers are marking our fullbacks, and we create that 4v2 around the ball with Reece finding Rice, and we're out just like that. Sometimes in the past when Arsenal have focused play down their right-hand side, it's felt like the only avenue to goal. There was certainly that dependency there against Chelsea, but I think the balance of the team as a whole is what feels genuinely fresh this year. Let me explain. Arteta speaks about becoming a total football team, and that includes being able to switch up how we attack. Now, there's no doubt that Solace has a much better matchup here against Neto and Achin Pong than he did against Matty Cash because he can win those first few yards of space in the 1v1. But we're overloading his side now.

He's stretching out that space, meaning as we move it back around, Rice and Erdigard can do their best Solace and Calafiori impression. One moving, one feeding. And as we set then that right-hand side triangle, look how the roles so seamlessly switch for us. It's not Havertz, but it's Erdigard playing in the pocket. It's Havertz doing that outside run, and it's White playing him in. I've been speaking about creating these waves of attack. Havertz here stands up a brilliant cross. And as it comes to Solace on the opposite side, again it's just about him making the right decisions and just doing his role really, really well. Not for the first time. Palmer and Neto lose Solace, and he plays this one-two with Calafiori. Those two are always thinking two or three steps ahead of the game. Calafiori sets off instantly. Lavia now has to pick his underlap up, and that leaves Lewis Skelly free in this consistent space we manufactured around the edge of the box, and that is a first touch and a shot from Lewis Skelly who shows that he's realizing how many of these situations he's going to get in this season. Look, of course.

Chelsea's block. Their pivot of James and Lavia followed Erdigard and Lewis Skellyy and Hato and Fafana also attached themselves to their men. Netto was similarly tasked with watching Calipuri when he went into this higher pocket and the inability to then put

pressure on the Arsenal buildup because of this was clear with Palmer passive and Solace able to receive in space and just allow that sharp circulation and move Chelsea about. Achin Pong here doesn't pick up that rotation between Solace and Calipuri quick enough. Miles

draws out Lavia, punches into Solace, and we're allowed to work it back to the right hand side. The pattern of the game despite the score line was set. What I've liked about Arsenal's buildup this season is how although that 3-1 shape is

pretty set, any of Califuriori, Erdigard, or here Ben White can drop in to make it a unit of five. And it also allows white to arrive higher unmarked.

This is where our right hand side in the game began to purr as Sacker and Havverts rotate and pull their markers around giving us that little bit of separation on each pass. White sees a 2v1 opportunity overlaps and it's this

constant rotation as now Rice joins in that has sucked the Chelsea pivot across meaning Rice can now find Miles in that higher pocket in the final third. We've been accessing him this season a lot more in from here. Chelsea are in

trouble. Lewis Skellyy finds Califuriori. Chelsea are unsure of who is meant to pick him up. Don't worry, you're not the only ones. But now, after drawing Chelsea back out, Calipuri moves it back to the right hand side where our

numbers still are. One of the positive signs Erdigard is playing in rhythm again is if he's happy to take it on the inside like this and find those cute passes off the shoulder. and Saka forces the save. Suddenly that pressure is

building. This time it's Erdigard dropping to form that lopsided 3-2 shape. The mix of our rotations and Chelsea's man marking means hat is late to jump on Erdigard as he moves back on the inside. And the same goes for Fana

on Sacka. And as if on Q, White balances all this intricate movement and play with a run off the shoulder. And the chemistry we've seen develop over the years clicks. Sacka brings him in and we're not far off one of Solace or

Hberts going to poke the ball home. And Havz's equalizer felt like a culmination of all of this. But also how we weren't letting Chelsea escape. Outlets, whether that be a runner or someone who can hold it up against the center backs, are

everything in the modern game because they give you that room to breathe. Xiao Pedro is a really good one, which makes these moments from Gabrielle or these from Ezri Concer vital in creating those waves of attack, not letting Pedro drag

Chelsea up the pitch with him. And on the flip side for us, we found this balance. We found these outlets in Hav arcing his runs into the channels who could hold it up and connect us. Or as Rice eats up the ground here in the

carry and spreads it to Solace, we have that option to switch to the underloaded left hand side. And this begins the buildup for Havitz's equalizer. All Solace has to do is stretch out the pitch for the guys on the inside to do

their thing. Chelsea are unsure of their duties which gives Califori and Miles the space to give and go. Cause that desperation at the top of the Chelsea box and cause them just to hack it away.

And as we come again, watch Hav switch with Erdigard, then switch with Sacka. Rice now steps high, creating that extra man against Chelsea's man marking. And Rice's passing all season so far has been brave. I think he's been seeing the

picture much quicker, but he can do this more on the right hand side. And here he overloads Reese James, finds Havitz first time who drives into the space.

Erdigard is doing his best to maximize and pin Laqua and it's just a ruthless finish from an already complete display from Kai Havtz. He just loves it against Chelsea, doesn't he? It was a thoroughly deserved goal and as a result the

counterattacking game that Alonzo and Chelsea wanted had lost that goal they had to preserve. As a result, Alonzo came to press us out of that 52-3 block.

But this was buildup on easy mode for Arsenal. Erdigerard and Lewis Skellyy pin their men higher. Netto and Rogers are marking our fullbacks and we create that 4v2 around the ball with Rya finding Rice and we're out just like

that. Sometimes in the past when Arsenal have focused play down their right hand side, it's felt like the only avenue to goal, there was certainly that dependency there against Chelsea, but I think the balance of the team as a whole

is what feels genuinely fresh this year. Let me explain. Arteta speaks about becoming a total football team and that includes being able to switch up how we attack. Now, there's no doubt that Solace has a much better matchup here

against Neto and Achia Pong than he did against Matty Cash because he can win those first few yards of space in the 1v one. But we're overloading his side now.

He's stretching out that space. Meaning as we move it back around, Rice and Erdigard can do their best Solace and Caliori impression. One moving, one feeding. And as we set then that right hand side triangle. Look how the roles

so seamlessly switch for us. It's not Havitz but it's Erdigard playing in the pocket. It's Havitz doing that outside run and it's white playing him in. I've been speaking about creating these waves of attack. Havitz here stands up a

brilliant cross. And as it comes to solace on the opposite side, again it's just about him making the right decisions and just doing his role really, really well. Not for the first time. Palmer and Netto lose Solace and

he plays this one two with Califury. Those two are always thinking two or three steps ahead of the game. Califuri sets off instantly. Lavia now has to pick his underlap up and that leaves Lewis Skellyy free in this consistent

space we manufactured around the edge of the box and that is a first touch and a shot from Lewis Skelly who shows that he's realizing how many of these situations he's going to get in this season. Look, of course, Chelsea's

threat remained. I'm not going to pretend that it didn't. It's impossible to completely eliminate that Netto out ball and he went close at the end of the first half. And this on the other hand was one of only two occasions that I

counted that concert got beat by someone holding it up against him, bringing their front three into play as Rogers gives it to Pedro. And I'll admit, my heart was in my mouth when I saw Rogers shaping up for the shot. But these are

the only moments that for the large part you get against this Arsenal defense in a game and you've got to take them. And it didn't take long for Arsenal in the second half to complete the turnaround.

But I want to start this section of the video by looking at how our press created the platform for the Erdigard goal. We've seen a slightly tweaked pressing structure from Mikuel in the last couple of games with Havz as usual

arcing from left to right but keeping Eddard and Lewis Skellyy tight to their men and that means it's on our wingers to be the ones jumping onto the Chelsea wide center backs. We're happy for Martinez if he wants to to play that

clipped pass to hato with white depending where Pedro and Rogers are the ones to cover in those hybrid roles in behind Sacka. But Chelsea did not look comfortable all game playing out from the back. Martinez was often forced long

making it easy for us to prepare for that long ball. Conc wins it here. Dumps Rogers on his back. And as Erdigard finds Havitz, who connects us to Caliori, things start to look ridiculously similar to Erdigard's goal in the Community Shield against

Manchester City. Solace makes sure he receives it as wide as he possibly can. Has enough space to drive at his man as a result. The double movement in Califuri's run once again is key because it's what makes Lavia follow him and

it's timed in sync with Solace's duck in field. Rehys James again is slow to pick up his man. Havz moves into the space and it's one of those box entries I was talking about last video from the left

hand side from Solace directly that is allowing a side to Havitz's game to be shown that we haven't really had the chance to see. He shows his awareness to let it run to Erdigard. And the captain is scoring goals again. But now Chelsea

had to be different and Arsenal in that chameleon way of theirs showed how we can morph styles to fit the needs of the game. Chelsea now choose to try and play through Arsenal's press. Palmer was the one who mostly dropped into their pivot

to create a kind of 3-2. Lewis Skellyy follows him. Erdigard is tight to Ree James and Havtz is angling his press again. We see how this season with Rice on and off the ball in a more kind of

protective deeper role, the most aggressive jumps again are coming from our wingers. First sacker then as we force Chelsea back, Solace is sprinting at Laqua with Gabrielle backing him up and we're managing the potential overload that they've got now with Lavia

returning back into midfield by Havitz ensuring Erdigard doesn't have that double up to deal with. Solace forces Laqua back to Martinez who hoofs it long and Lewis Skellyy wings it back. That is a complete bit of pressing from Arsenal

on display. And the massive difference between this Arsenal team and this Chelsea team off the ball is how we always manage to apply pressure even in a deeper shape. Of course, it also helps when you have a goalkeeper in David Ryer

who claims everything that's close to him in the air and you have defenders like Gabrielle who when Chelsea found those couple of little vertical passes through our shape is so quick to shut it down but also doesn't go to ground stays

low and just blocks everything in his path. Also Rya's distribution to release quickly in transition that adds yet another layer. Havvertz was relentless in offering himself as that outball, but so was Kristoff Solace, who continues to show when the game is stretched, if you

don't have searing pace or the ball carrying of Morgan Rodgers, if you keep your head in all the chaos, be technically reliable and connect the team with passes and make the right decisions, you can be a real help for

this team in bigger spaces as someone who, yes, connects us or becomes an outlet. It's true we did need one bit of Ry heroics to save off Estvau, but when the time came, I felt we could put a

couple of passes together to run down the clock. And against the Chelsea side who look as though they can take a lot of points off teams in these types of game states, we limited them to so little. And watching the game back, it

kind of confirmed that. I mean, look at the lowest xG tallies conceded this season. It's basically all Arsenal. And like I said at the start, it's a message to the league that we are still the team to beat. Like many of you, I have

disappointments with parts of our transfer window. And it feels like we've been forced again to essentially gamble on the fitness of our attack, but that's for another video. We are three wins from three and looking very, very good.

Thank you so much for watching. I hope you've enjoyed. Like, comment, hype, subscribe if you'd like. I'll catch you shortly in the next one. See you later.