Arsenal’s transitions are hard to handle – just ask Bayer Leverkusen

It’s not exactly a revelation to say that Arsenal pose a stronger threat on transition this season.

The changing landscape of the Premier League has forced manager Mikel Arteta to adapt — surrendering some ball control in exchange for being able to attack open spaces in transitional situations.

In addition, last summer’s signings of Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres have enhanced and added those characteristics within the squad, allowing Arsenal to evolve in attack by strengthening their offensive transitions.

If we look at Arsenal’s transitions that start from midfield — defined as possessions that start in the middle third of the pitch and result in a shot or reach the height of the opposition penalty area within seven seconds — as a share of regains in that central third, this season’s rate (5.7 per cent) is the highest seen under Arteta in the Premier League since his December 2019 appointment.

Arsenal’s increased threat from midfield transitions this season has also translated to the Champions League. Their rate of 11.2 midfield transitions per 100 regains in the middle third is the highest in the competition among teams with at least 150 of the latter.

The evolution of Arsenal’s attack partly explains that figure, which is nearly double their rate (5.8 per cent) in the 2024-25 Champions League. Another aspect is teams in European games trying to play through their press rather than going long, which presents more lucrative spaces to attack once Arteta’s side win the ball in midfield.

The difference in physicality between this Arsenal side and their Champions League opponents also explains their bigger threat on the transition in that competition compared to the Premier League.

Arsenal’s ability to dominate midfield duels and attack on the transition was on show in the 4-0 home win against Atletico Madrid in October, the 3-1 defeat of hosts Inter in January, both in the league phase, and the 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium in the second leg of a last-16 tie.

A key component of Arsenal’s threat from midfield transitions in last night’s match were the pressing roles of Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, which put them in narrow positions once Arteta’s side retrieved possession.

Saka and Trossard initially occupied narrow positions in Arsenal’s high press, with whichever winger was nearer to the ball moving wide to press the Leverkusen defence, while the other roamed inside to help Declan Rice and Zubimendi.

This often put Trossard and Saka in a position to attack the space between Leverkusen’s defence and midfield when Arsenal regained the ball in the middle third of the pitch.

Here, Ben White wins back possession before passing to Saka, who finds Trossard between the lines. The latter’s shot is well saved.

In another example from later in the first half, Saka and Trossard are in narrow positions as Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich goes long. Zubimendi defends the aerial ball and heads it down to Trossard, who quickly combines with Gyokeres and Rice to play through the visiting defence.

Saka and Trossard’s positions in the high press make them a threat once Arteta’s side switch quickly into attack — here, Arsenal’s England international right-winger can attack the space to the inside of Leverkusen’s left wing-back Alex Grimaldo, while his Belgian team-mate is completely untracked on a following run through the middle.

Rice’s pass to him (above) is deflected, but Saka manages to find the free Trossard in a dangerous position.

Though again, the impressive Blaswich denies his shot at goal.

Trossard and Saka taking up these narrow positions in transitional situations frequently empowered Arsenal’s quick combinations, even if the transition didn’t start from a high press against a goal kick.

In this next example, the wing duo are in position to combine with Gyokeres after Zubimendi and Rice start the midfield transition.

Saka finds Trossard’s run behind the defence, but he fails to get the shot off and loses possession.

Arsenal’s first goal of the 2-0 win comes from a midfield transition after left-back Piero Hincapie wins the ball and heads it towards Rice.

Saka and Trossard are logically in narrow positions because Arsenal have been defending a throw-in, rather than it being a specific ploy.

However, the speed with which Rice and Trossard combine to find Eze is the method Arsenal used throughout the first half to cut through Leverkusen on the transition…

… and the ferociousness of the England midfielder’s strike is a fitting end to the move.

This version of Arteta’s side can pounce on the transition when there is space to attack, while maintaining the controlled approach which has been the foundation of their success.

“When it comes to chaos, I want to be the best. When it comes to positional attack, the best. When it comes to low blocks, the best,” Arteta said in October. “That’s the eagerness to constantly find ways to develop your team, to evolve your team and to give your players more tools to be unpredictable and especially more efficient.”

Knowing Arsenal have become a dangerous threat on the transition is one thing. Stopping it is another.