Arsenal have a specific defensive question to answer before facing Leeds United: who takes responsibility when an opponent finds shooting space outside the penalty area?
For Mikel Arteta, the response should begin with the relationship between his midfield and defence. Declan Rice and the players around him need clear instructions about when to close the ball and who protects the space behind them.
This is our assessment of an area worth addressing before the Premier League resumes, rather than evidence that Arsenal’s entire defensive structure needs rebuilding.
Arsenal’s long-range numbers carry a warning
According to Opta’s analysis of the Brighton defeat, three of Arsenal’s four Premier League goals conceded this season had come from outside the box after the September 19 match.
The broader sequence was seven of their last 18 league goals conceded. That second figure spans more than this campaign.
At Brighton, Pascal Gross scored from around 20 yards before Charalampos Kostoulas struck from roughly 25 yards, with Rice and Gabriel backing off before the second finish.
Those numbers justify scrutiny, but they cannot tell us how often Arsenal have allowed such shots or how much pressure the shooters faced across the full sample.
A handful of excellent finishes can make the goals conceded look alarming. The coaching question is whether opponents are repeatedly being given time to set themselves.
Chelsea’s opener shows why one solution will not cover everything
Morgan Rogers’ goal in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea came through a different sequence.
Chelsea’s official report describes Reece James delivering a free-kick, Maxence Lacroix winning the aerial contest and Jorrel Hato keeping the move alive. The ball reached Rogers outside the area, where he finished first time.
That distinction matters. Closing down someone carrying the ball towards goal demands different decisions from reacting to a bouncing clearance.
Against a settled attacker, the nearest midfielder may have time to narrow the shooting angle. After a scramble, the priority is anticipating where the loose ball will land and reaching that zone before the attacker can strike.
Arsenal therefore need to review both their protection in open play and the positions they take around their own box at defensive set pieces.
Treating every goal from distance as an identical mistake would make the diagnosis too simple.
Declan Rice needs cover when he steps towards the ball
The temptation after a long-range goal is to demand that somebody gets closer. That instruction only works if the next action is covered.
Consider a midfielder receiving possession centrally, just outside Arsenal’s box. If Rice advances to challenge him, a teammate must protect the passing route Rice has left.
Otherwise, the opponent can use the pressure against Arsenal by slipping the ball into a runner rather than shooting.
Our preferred adjustment would be a clearer division of responsibility: one player approaches the ball under control, another protects the central passing lane, and the defensive line remains alert to movement behind.
The approach matters as much as the aggression. Charging straight at an attacker can invite a sidestep; arriving at an angle can encourage a less dangerous touch or pass.
The trigger for stepping out should also be clear. A receiver taking a heavy touch gives the nearest Arsenal player an opportunity to close the gap.
A receiver controlling the ball cleanly with a runner moving beyond him may require a more cautious approach. Players sharing that judgement are less likely to leave one teammate pressing alone while everyone else retreats towards goal.
Arsenal’s objective should be to reduce the shooter’s options before he sets himself. A desperate block after the shot has been struck is already a recovery action.
That puts responsibility on communication across the unit, including players recovering from further forward.
Arteta’s second-ball criticism remains relevant
Speaking to Sky Sports after Brighton, Arteta said:
“They were always first in the first duel, in the second actions, second balls”
We have already examined how Brighton’s man-to-man press disrupted Arsenal’s build-up. Protecting the edge of the defensive penalty area raises a related issue: what happens after the initial challenge?
A defender can make the first clearance and still leave his team under pressure if the next player is waiting for the ball to arrive.
At defensive set pieces, Arsenal should have a clear plan for covering the likely landing zones outside the box. Whoever occupies those positions must balance attacking the loose ball with protecting a pass back into the area.
An immediate second clearance will sometimes be the sensible outcome. Trying to secure possession with a difficult first touch can give an opponent another opportunity to press or shoot.
A midfield change would still need a clear purpose
Arteta could consider changing personnel, but any switch should answer a specific question.
If the problem is late pressure on the ball, he needs better anticipation and shorter distances between teammates. If it is an unprotected passing lane, he needs someone holding position while another player advances.
Simply adding another defensive midfielder could reduce Arsenal’s attacking options without fixing either issue.
There is also a balance to strike when Arsenal have possession. Sending more players forward may help sustain attacks, but it leaves fewer players available to contest the next loose ball if possession breaks down.
The useful selection debate is therefore about complementary duties. Whoever Arteta chooses, those responsibilities should remain recognisable throughout the match.
What Arsenal should show against Leeds
Leeds visit the Emirates on October 10, starting Arsenal’s next five-match sequence before meetings with Lille, Nottingham Forest, Bayern Munich and Everton.
The clearest signs of progress will be visible before the final score: fewer opponents receiving centrally with time to face goal, quicker pressure on shooting touches, and better coverage of loose balls around the box.
A clean sheet would be welcome, but an unpressured effort that flies over the bar still deserves attention. Equally, a goal from an exceptionally difficult shot does not automatically mean the defensive plan has failed.
Arteta’s task is to make those attempts harder to take cleanly. Arsenal can begin by ensuring the space in front of their centre-backs always has someone responsible for protecting it.
