In Arsenal’s recent match against Burnley, their aerial dominance played a crucial role in securing a victory. William Saliba, standing at an imposing 6ft 4in, showcased his aerial prowess by scoring two goals from headers. The first goal came as he rose above the Burnley defense to meet Leandro Trossard’s corner, while the second goal was a result of Burnley’s Dara O’Shea inadvertently heading the ball onto his own crossbar under pressure from Saliba.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Saliba’s performance and highlighted the team’s focus on set-pieces as a means of scoring goals. The statistics also reflect Arsenal’s improvement in aerial duels, with the team winning 153 across the pitch and attempting 21 headers at goal in their 12 league matches so far this season, compared to 138 aerial duels won and 18 headers at the same stage last season.

The defensive line, consisting of Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, provides a physical presence that has been lacking in previous Arsenal squads. Even the full-back, Tomiyasu, at 6ft 2in, possesses an unusual build for his position. Additionally, players like Kai Havertz contribute to Arsenal’s aerial dominance further up the pitch.

Arteta’s tactical approach involves exploiting the aerial advantage against teams that sit back and concede possession. In the match against Burnley, Arsenal had 13 corners compared to Burnley’s three, allowing them to regain control of the game. Despite Burnley creating some chances, Arsenal’s ability to win aerial battles proved decisive. +This strategy showcases Arsenal’s versatility and their ability to adapt to different opponents. It is a blueprint that Arsenal fans can expect to see more of throughout the season.