Arsenal vs. Chelsea. Why was this time different? A thread.

Arteta set his team up with a 4-2-3-1 shape we haven't seen much of against the bigger, more dangerous sides.

Three reasons why I liked it so much:
- Wide defenders play the channels with inside offensive runners
- Central playmaker between lines
- A strong midfield foundation

Elneny provided both defensive cover for Chelsea's extra man runners and the progressive point of the defensive passing triangle. Xhaka was the general running the show in the centre.

Tierney provided width, Martinelli was the advanced forward, Smith Rowe linked the two.

Heavy emphasis on left-side overloads - via Tierney and Martinelli - and 2nd/3rd phase ball progression through the centre. Smith Rowe - and later Willock - were key to this.

AFC didn't employ a single counter-attack. Controlled the ball patiently, played into spaces organically

Smith Rowe's forward passing was from the left half-space into the channel, his short pass to Tierney on the overlap was among Arsenal's most popular.

There was a concerted effort to have Tierney face James 1v1, and Smith Rowe was one of those tasked to enable that.

A lot is made of Arteta's fondness for crossing the ball. Some see it as an often aimless way of attacking. Hoping for the best.

When you get it right, crossing from key wide areas is the best avenue to goal. Especially when you have a player with the delivery quality of Tierney

AFC played 15 crosses and found their target with six of them. Tierney himself was responsible for a third of the total crosses and half the accurate ones.

These aren't hopeful looping balls asking a lot of a CF. Rather measured deliveries resulting from the creation of space.

Tierney's short passing into the penalty area told a similar story. A willingness to play the final ball from key, more opportune, more dangerous attacking areas. His shot assist for Martinelli came from a typical overlapping run.

When a wing-back plays through the flank in the final third, they need protection or 'permission'. Usually from a centre mid. Permitting Tierney's adventures in the final third fell to Granit Xhaka.

The midfielder's touchmap is heavily weighted towards the left and left-centre.

It wasn't a statistically great game for Xhaka, but he was mobile and available and, most importantly, usually in the right place. In terms of his importance, his enablement, and his acting for the good of his team; it was a great game for Xhaka. And the great goal, obviously.

Against Chelsea, Arsenal got the balance right. They don't need to be an all-out attack, heavy metal football team. They can be compact, organised and disciplined, while maintaining certain expression. It doesn't need to be one of two extremes. The best teams are shades of gray.

Against Chelsea, Arsenal were able to play their defensive game - a game they look comfortable playing, even in defeat - but they also stretched those legs. They gave a hint of why Arteta sets them up the way they do. The crossing. Xhaka's importance. Elneny. Central playmaker.

When they got it right, finally, it vindicates what Arteta has been trying to do for months. Allows a glimpse - though hopefully not fleeting - of the plan. A plan so many of us still have some faith in. A plan to play controlled, assertive, intelligent football at both ends.

Still an issue with finishing and the creation of high quality chances. A lack of ability to score goals can affect the whole team in terms of nerves and game state, and the fact that draws aren't much better than wins. But it comes with fluency and with fluency comes confidence.

Arsenal made the most of dead balls (though the first and last goals were both made possible due to overlapping attacks through the wide channels). That won't happen every week. But for now, in this game, this huge confidence boost of a game, it was just what they needed.

Arsenal weren't passive, weren't dominated on or off the ball; they faced a strong, dangerous, quick team that could easily cause them problems, and they stood up to it. They knew their game, they played their game, they got their reward.

Hopefully we will see more of the same.