The Newcastle triumph over Arsenal was won a semi -final in two of the prospective nights of Eddie Howe's management career. A double bill against Mikel Arteta and Howe produced two tactical master classes.
We live in an era in which the will of Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou tell us that they cannot change their tactics because they have to remain faithful to their philosophies, but How did the best managers who adapt and can change to different forms and styles for get the job ready – even when they miss their best players.
Newcastle had never won a match three years ago since his debut without Bruno Guimaraes in the side, but went to the Emirates Stadium in the first stage without seeing a team that was undefeated in 13 games and their only home defeat of the season.
Howe brought Joe Willock aside to replace the suspended guimaraes and he had the pace to bomb it deep forward with Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy when they attacked as a runaway train when Alexander Isak came in to collect the ball and she really pressed high pressure .
Arsenal could not handle it. Gabriel and William Saliba, the two center-backs, were made to look uncomfortable and did not want to go on Isaks firmly because they know that he is one of the few players who can embarrass you with his pace and the rest of you The back four could not handle the attack of Runs from Diep.
Howe makes the most important decision in 65 minutes in the opening match to remove the Trio Willock, Murphy and Isak, with Newcastle Two Goals Up, and fell in a back five. Howe signaled from the bank for his team to go to two five banks of five with no one in front.
Arsenal could not find a way and it gave the faith, with his side two goals, that he could adjust this system for the second stage.
This formation gave them the added bonus of extra height of Center-backs Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and then Burn to help deal with Arsenal's Set pieces, but how also gave special instructions to Schar to push to indicate declan rice when The Gunners tried to build from behind.
Newcastle did not give Arsenal a chance to breathe while they went to man-to-man in their press.
Gordon stopped and sat on Saliba with Isak on Gabriel, because Guimaraes was instructed to interfere Thomas Partey. Sandro Tonali picked up Martin Odegaard, so Schar pushed all the way from half the line to the edge of the box to ensure that Rice, the extra man of Arsenal in midfield, was not free to pick up the ball.
If Arsenal reversed their full-backs, Jurien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly, then Newcastle-wing player Jacob Murphy on the right and Lewis Hall stopped on the left to tackle the danger.
Early in the game, Rice only received a pass from his keeper for Schar to make him jump. Gordon was ready and almost picked up the loose ball before Rice remembers his calm to erase the danger.
Arsenal did not learn their lesson and Newcastle punished them in exactly the same way for the second goal at the start of the second.
They couldn't find a way out. Even when the frustrated Odegaard itself fell deep to try to build the attacks, it was also marked by Tonali.
Howe will only start working on the system from Monday, but that is not unusual these days. The experience of playing in the Champions League would have made it easier for his team to develop a plan for high -level opposition in different competitions in just a few days.
There was total unit in their performance. The manager's plan worked perfectly, the players performed it beautifully and the fans played their bit in creating the hostility needed to make Arsenal feel even more uncomfortable.
When they meet Liverpool in the final, Howe will again have to find the right tactical plan – and the players must find the energy and desire – to demolish their opponents as they did at Arsenal and their first domestic trophy in 70 years.
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