How To Coach Attacking From Wide Areas Using Fullback And Winger Combos Like Mikel Arteta – Tactical Theory

In modern-day football, teams expect to come up against compact defensive blocks designed to crowd the central areas of the pitch.

When the opposition prioritises preventing teams from building the play through the middle, attacking from the wide areas is often the most efficient way to goal.

Based on teams playing in a 4-3-3 formation, this tactical analysis will analyse the key principles and tactics involved in attacking from wide areas, specifically the movements and combinations of the full-backs and the wide forwards such as overlaps and underlaps.

The movements analysed will focus on how teams move the oppositions full-back to allow either their wide forward or full-back to receive in behind.

This tactical analysis will both analyse the movements and suggest how coaches can implement this tactical theory.

The overlap

The above tactical diagram shows one of the most common wide-area rotations seen from sides playing a 4-3-3.

The aim here is for the ball-near full-back to exploit the space created behind the oppositions right-back by the wide forward, enticing the oppositions right-back towards the ball.

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