The space behind the full-back 🧠

Watch Brighton against Arsenal from the weekend. Brighton's opener comes from a simple pattern. Pascal Gross drifts inside from the right, and Arsenal's left-back follows him. The space behind opens immediately -17.

Once the full-back steps into midfield, the centre-back has to decide. Does he cover the channel? If he hesitates, the runner arrives. That is the whole goal, a passing lane that disappeared the moment the full-back left his post.

The ball does not create the chance. The empty space does.

Question: When your full-back pushes high, who is responsible for the channel behind him?