Arsenal
Tactics: How Arsenal Can Avoid Another Embarrassment, This Time At Wembley
Arsenal take on Wigan Athletic in the semi finals of the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday hoping to avoid yet another meltdown this season. The Gunners inexplicably and meekly surrendered their top spot in the Premier League over the last couple of months and are well and truly on the verge of losing out for a Champions League berth after losing 0-3 to Everton last weekend.
Ex Gunner Ray Parlour says the team must believe in itself to avoid a Birmingham mishap. “If I had to pick fourth and no trophy, or fifth and a trophy… I would take the trophy,” said Parlour. “It would give the club a big boost.”
So can the Gunners finally end a run of four games without a win against Wigan at Wembley? We here at Soccerouls provide our readers with the tactical tweaks that Arsenal must come up with to quell the promising Latics.
Build a high tempo early:
Wigan Boss Uwe Rosler says believes that his side are underdogs and as the FA Cup remains Arsenal’s only hope of a trophy this season, it means there’s an additional pressure on Wenger’s men as the two sides take the pitch. Wigan beat three Premier League sides en route to the semis, Crystal Palace, Cardiff City and Manchester City, the latter being a tactical outcome.
The Latics are more than capable to beating Arsenal and hence the Gunners must get into the rhythm early into the match. Mikel Arteta has been way out of form in the last few weeks but needs to have a great game in midfield while Aaron Ramsey returns for the match. Although Wenger had previously mentioned that the likes of Gibbs, Rosicky and Chamberlain are 50-50 for the match, the trio were found in training and actively taking part in the warm up along with the first team. So it looks like Wenger will have a late fitness test tomorrow to confirm their participation.
If all goes well, Tomas Rosicky will be the chief playmaker in the number ten role while Chamberlain and Cazorla will drift in for Monreal/Gibbs and Sagna to overlap. Arsenal’s passing fluidity hold the edge going into the match but Wigan’s tactical flexibility can shock the Gunners as the game prolongs in time.
See Wigan’s road to the semis:
The Defense must not get dragged out of position:
Uwe Röslehas impressively picked up Roberto Martinez’s 3-4-3 system at the DW Stadium after taking over in the summer. Like the game against City suggested Wigan are more than capable of enforcing their own passing style and have players who are comfortable on the ball. Chelsea loanee Josh McEachran is the passer of the team while James McArthur is the main architect. Emmerson Boyce and Beausejour provide great width on the flanks and are more than capable of shifting positions at will. Midfielder Chris McCann began in the back three AS Wigan tiem and again blocked spaces in the middle of the park for the advancing Yaya Toure. Once the Ivorian was stifled, the job was half done at the Etihad.
If we look at Wigan’s road to the semi finals most of their goals have come from cutbacks from the left meaning Bacary Sagna and Thomas Vermaelen needs extra protection in the penalty box. Especially the latter who was constantly dragged out by Romelu Lukaku and Steven Naismith, who played as a false nine, closer to the midfielders, so that Vermaelen gets dragged out of position.
As Micheal Cox of the Guardian points out, “At one point, Thomas Vermaelen tracked his compatriot Lukaku towards the opposite side of the pitch – a left-sided centre-back being dragged over to the right-back zone by an opposition right-winger. Arsenal could not deal with the movement.”
Arsenal should make sure Arteta tracks back efficiently to avoid an Everton-esque onslaught.
Cazorla and Chamberlain hold the key drifting inside:
Oxlade Chamberlain and Cazorla will start wide and try to drift inside (as the above snap shows). With raw pace the English Spanish duo can wreck havoc at the back while making sure they are well assured of the defensive capabilities. Olivier Giroud’s hold up abilities will come under scrutiny with Wigan always having a spare man at the back in the 3-4-2-1 or a hybrid of the 3-4-3 system which Wigan play. Getting Chamberlain and Cazorla in the pockets of space behind the lone striker up front will ensure Giroud doesn’t get isolated.
Arsenal Dragon
Experienced Vet Wins Arsenal Women’s October Player of the Month After Breaking Goal Drought
Beth Mead has been named Arsenal Women’s Player of the Month for October after ending her goalless run with a crucial strike in the Champions League victory over Benfica. The England winger secured 56% of supporter votes, comfortably ahead of Mariona Caldentey in second place and Kim Little in third.
First Goal of the Season Breaks the Deadlock
Mead’s drought-ending goal arrived in Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League victory at Benfica, pouncing on defensive hesitation inside the penalty area to open scoring and set the Gunners on course for their first win in the competition this season. The strike came at a crucial moment as Arsenal sought to bounce back from their opening defeat to Lyon.
Her goal demonstrated the predatory instincts that made her one of England’s most dangerous attackers, capitalizing on mistakes with razor-sharp reactions inside the box. While she hadn’t found the net earlier in the campaign, her overall contributions remained valuable through work rate and creative output.
Read More: 3 Reasons Arsenal Should Sign Rodrygo
Rotation Role Continues Under Slegers
Mead featured in all four Arsenal matches during October, starting twice and coming off the bench twice against Brighton and Manchester City in WSL action. Renee Slegers has managed her minutes carefully, balancing Mead’s experience with the need to rotate attacking options across multiple competitions.
The 29-year-old’s return to form arrives at the perfect time as Arsenal prepare for their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Her ability to deliver in Europe’s premier competition could prove decisive as Arsenal chase qualification for the knockout rounds while maintaining their domestic title challenge.
Winning October’s award provides momentum heading into a congested November schedule that includes crucial fixtures against Chelsea and Bayern Munich, where Mead’s big-game experience will be vital for Arsenal’s ambitions on multiple fronts.
Read More: Katie Reid Injury Explained: How Long Will The Teenage Sensation Be Out for Arsenal Women?
Arsenal Dragon
Katie Reid Injury Explained: How Long Will The Teenage Sensation Be Out for Arsenal Women?
Arsenal Women have confirmed their worst fears—Katie Reid has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during training, ending the 19-year-old defender’s breakthrough season just months after earning her first England senior call-up. The injury represents a devastating blow for both Reid personally and Arsenal’s title ambitions.
The Injury Timeline and Recovery Process
Reid sustained the ACL rupture in training last week, forcing Arsenal to confirm the news publicly after initial scans revealed the extent of the damage. She’s expected to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign, with Arsenal targeting a return for the 2026-27 season.
ACL injuries typically require 9-12 months of rehabilitation before players can return to competitive action. Reid faces surgery first, followed by extensive physiotherapy focusing on regaining knee stability, strength, and confidence performing the explosive movements central to elite football. Arsenal’s medical staff will monitor her progress closely, though rushing recovery risks re-injury or long-term complications.
Her absence creates immediate defensive problems. Reid had displaced Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laia Codina in the pecking order following Leah Williamson’s knee surgery earlier this season, earning widespread praise for her composure and maturity beyond her teenage years. Losing Reid forces Arsenal to rely on depth options who haven’t matched her consistency.
Arsenal’s Growing ACL Crisis
Reid becomes Arsenal’s third ACL casualty this season, highlighting a concerning pattern that demands investigation. Goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger suffered the same injury in training earlier in the campaign, ruling her out for the remainder of the season. Michelle Agyemang ruptured her ACL while on England international duty, completing an unprecedented injury crisis affecting Arsenal’s squad depth.
Three ACL injuries to one squad within months suggests potential issues with training loads, pitch conditions, or strength-and-conditioning protocols that Arsenal must address urgently. While ACL ruptures can occur randomly, the clustering raises legitimate questions about whether preventable factors contributed to this epidemic.
Reid had withdrawn from England duty last month with a groin issue before making a late substitute appearance in Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Leicester. Days later, training brought the devastating knee injury that’s now derailed her momentum. Her rapid rise from academy prospect to first-team regular and England international has been halted cruelly just as she established herself among Europe’s most promising young defenders.
Read More: 3 Reasons Arsenal Should Sign Rodrygo
Arsenal Dragon
Arsenal Legend Slams “Phantom Handball” Decision: WSL Not Ready for VAR Until Referees Go Professional
Ian Wright delivered a scathing assessment of officiating standards during Arsenal Women’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, calling Stina Blackstenius’ disallowed goal a “phantom handball” and “the hand of god that only the referee saw.” The Arsenal legend argued that the WSL must prioritize professionalizing referees before introducing VAR technology.
Read More: 3 Things We Learned From Arsenal’s 2-2 Draw Against Sunderland
Professional Referees First, VAR Second
Speaking on the Crossways podcast with Steph Houghton, Wright rejected immediate VAR implementation despite both managers demanding its introduction. “Firstly, instead of bringing in VAR, we need to get referees professional before we go anywhere near VAR so they can ref the game and have confidence in what they are doing. Then, VAR helps them,” Wright stated.
His criticism centered on the referee’s inexplicable decision to chalk off Blackstenius’ goal for handball when replays showed no contact whatsoever. Houghton noted Lucy Bronze’s reaction was telling—”nobody flinched” when the ball hit the net, suggesting even Chelsea players recognized the goal’s legitimacy before the referee intervened.
Wright suggested Italian football’s trial of manager VAR challenges could provide a solution. “If I got to see that incident with just a television screen and a different angle, I would be able to say to the referee in 30 seconds, she didn’t touch it with her hand. That game is too big for the referees and officials to be that definite about an incident.”
Infrastructure Barriers Block VAR Implementation
Both Wright and Houghton agreed the WSL lacks necessary infrastructure for VAR rollout. Wright highlighted practical obstacles: “You can’t be putting VAR equipment at Tottenham at Brisbane Road. You have also got West Ham playing at Dagenham and Brighton at Crawley. The infrastructure is not there for it.”
Arsenal were denied three legitimate goals during Saturday’s draw—Blackstenius’ phantom handball, Frida Maanum’s questionable offside, and Alessia Russo’s strike that stood despite offside debates. Sky Sports pundit Izzy Christiansen claimed Arsenal were “robbed,” while Wright insisted Chelsea were fortunate not to lose 3-1.
The controversy could prove decisive in the title race, with Arsenal remaining five points behind Chelsea after dropping two points through officiating incompetence.
Read More: Arsenal in the Hunt for 18-year-old Teenage Sensation from RB Leipzig
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