Match report – Player Ratings – Arteta reaction – Video
Arsenal returned to profitable methods final night time with a 1-0 victory of Shaktar Donetsk, however it’s truthful to say it wasn’t probably the most convincing victory we’ve ever had.
Mikel Arteta performed a powerful facet, with solely two modifications from the facet that misplaced to Bournemouth on Saturday. Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling dropped out, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli got here in. I believed we began brightly, enjoying with respectable tempo, and we should always have been forward early on when Riccardo Calafiori had a fantastic likelihood, however scooped the ball over the bar from shut vary.
It wasn’t classic stuff by any means, however there have been respectable possibilities within the first 45 minutes that we did not benefit from. Kai Havertz arrange Leandro Trossard however he fully miskicked with a transparent sight of purpose; Trossard put one large on the close to put up after good work from Martinelli; Havertz was denied by an excellent piece of defending after Jesus set him up, once more an opportunity that stemmed from a Martinelli supply; whereas Jesus himself had an excellent alternative to finish the purpose drought that goes again to January, however there wasn’t sufficient conviction within the end and the keeper saved along with his toes.
By that time we have been a purpose to the great although. Martinelli shifted the ball properly contained in the field and his deflected shot hit the put up, then the goalkeeper’s arse, and into the again of the web. It was a contact lucky, I suppose, but in addition reward for the Brazilian’s decisiveness. He was most likely our greatest participant on the night time, drawing reward from the supervisor afterwards who stated:
He seemed actually sharp, he seemed actually recent, brisker than anyone else on that pitch. You observed that towards Bournemouth, you could possibly inform that was completely different. He had one other gear, he added one other stage of menace, he began the sport rather well and he had a fantastic efficiency as we speak.
So, whereas it wasn’t good, we have been set properly for the second half which was, by any measure, dreary stuff. Afterwards, the supervisor stated the crew seemed drained, citing the actual fact we’d performed with 10 males for over an hour simply two and a half days in the past. And look, I don’t assume that’s an unreasonable commentary by any means. We take into consideration a pink card and its affect on the sport we’re enjoying in that second, however there are bodily penalties too while you play once more so shortly – and 9 of final night time’s beginning XI performed towards Bournemouth too.
There was a half-time change with Merino approaching for Ben White, who was on a yellow and the supervisor determined a zero-risk technique was the order of the day. I don’t assume that essentially helped as Thomas Partey moved to proper again after what I believed was most likely his finest midfield 45 minutes of the season. The Spaniard continues to be feeling his manner into this crew additionally, so it wasn’t maybe as fluent as we would have liked it to be, whereas I believed Trossard was having one other recreation the place his affect was not as constructive as you’d like.
Raheem Sterling got here on for Jesus (full of life and efficient typically, however desperately in want of a purpose) and produced one other nothing show. Up to now his performances have been fairly detached in an Arsenal shirt. There’s time and room for enchancment, clearly, however he provided mainly nothing. I’m aware of the truth that my very own need to see Ethan Nwaneri could make his lack of minutes disappointing, however it’s a disgrace he didn’t get on to supply some spark.
I believe, maybe, the actual fact we misplaced Calafiori to damage might have performed an element. He was changed by Myles Lewis-Skelly and I think in a good recreation like this Arteta felt two 17 yr olds was most likely a bit too dangerous. I don’t essentially agree, I’m simply making an attempt to see it from his perspective. On that change, it’s attention-grabbing that Lewis-Skelly obtained on whereas Oleksandr Zinchenko didn’t. It’s most likely a health factor, however he’s been on the bench for the final two video games and also you’d have thought his seniority and expertise might need been helpful.
Additionally, can we please be a bit extra decisive about gamers when it’s clear they’ve completed *one thing* probably severe, even when we don’t know what that’s. The character of Calafiori’s slip had me wincing watching on TV, so make the change instantly. They’ve replays on the sideline, have somebody take a look at that whereas the physio is on and talk that to the pitch whereas he’s giving the participant remedy. Calafiori tried to play on, went down once more instantly, and all I may consider was Jurrien Timber final season. Hopefully it’s not something as severe as that, however certainly we will do extra to minimise the danger.
Talking of danger, the one purpose lead was all the time a bit precarious. It shouldn’t have been, as a result of we have been awarded what I believed was a reasonably beneficiant penalty for handball after a VAR intervention. I’m shocked Kai Havertz didn’t take it. I want he had as a result of Trossard’s effort was actually poor and the keeper saved along with his legs. It meant that we needed to thank David Raya for a implausible save late on that may have earned some extent for the guests, these are the high-quality margins in video games like this.
Afterwards, Arteta stated:
I believe there have been two very completely different halves, first one we have been very dominant, we created 4 large, large possibilities we should always have transformed them and put the sport to mattress with the quantity of dominance we had, the second half very completely different, we glance drained, we lacked that sharpness with and with out the ball to regain the ball in the suitable moments as properly in the suitable areas and giving sure balls away that enable sure transitions.
Total it’s Champions League, get the win, clear sheet. Let’s transfer on.
Clear sheet, three factors, all good. Total efficiency, potential damage to a different key participant, not a lot. As I stated, there are some mitigating circumstances, and perhaps it’s factor that we will play like that and nonetheless win. Nonetheless, it was onerous not to have a look at final night time and pine closely for what Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka convey to this crew when it comes to creativity and attacking effectivity. Any crew would miss them, in fact, however the sooner they’re again the higher for all of us – most of all how this crew could cause the opposition issues within the closing third.
Arteta promised in his press convention the crew can be ‘flying’ after we face Liverpool on Sunday, so let’s hope that’s the case, as a result of a efficiency like this one most likely received’t sufficient to get the consequence we would like. For extra on final night time, be part of us a bit in a while for a post-game Arsecast, which needs to be out mid-morning.
For now, have one, and preserve every part crossed for Calafiori.
