We are back in Premier League action on Wednesday night when Huddersfield Town are the visitors to Emirates Stadium.
Ahead of the game, tactical expert Michael Cox and former Gunner Adrian Clarke examine our opponents in detail.
THE MANAGER
MC: David Wagner made his name as an understudy to Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund, and in some respects demands a similar style of football. But whereas Klopp’s system is based around counter-pressing – winning the ball immediately after it’s lost – Huddersfield use a more traditional press, with a high defensive line and more consistent pressure in advanced positions.
FORMATION
MC: Wagner uses a 4-3-3 system, with the defensive midfield role perhaps the most uncertain. Danish youngster Philip Billing is a good ball-winner but is out injured, so Jonathan Hogg is likely to anchor the midfield, rarely straying from in front of the defence.
AC: I thought they were really good against Manchester City with a good gameplan and they sat ever so deep, and frustrated Manchester City by limiting them to not many shots on target. They might come to Emirates Stadium and try to replicate that.
STRENGTHS
MC: Huddersfield are capable of breaking very quickly. Centre forward Laurent Depoitre is very quick on the turn, and attempts to transform simple passes to feet into dangerous through balls by rolling defenders, which should be a crucial part of Huddersfield’s counter-attacking.
DANGERMAN
MC: The discipline of Huddersfield’s holding midfielder gives Aaron Mooy license to break forward – he’s been outstanding so far, scoring a memorable curled winner against Newcastle and another important goal against Manchester United. He breaks forward to the edge of the area dangerously.
AREAS TO TARGET
MC: Centre back Christopher Schindler has a tendency to get himself into trouble with referees, while captain Tommy Smith pushes forward from right-back and sometimes leaves space in behind. Huddersfield have also looked somewhat vulnerable to set-pieces recently, conceding two goals in this manner against Bournemouth and another versus Liverpool.
AC: Away from home, they’ve not been good to be honest. They’ve not scored many goals since their opening-day win at Crystal Palace, which was phenomenal. Since then they’ve not been brilliant on their travels, so they have tailed off to some degree.
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