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Match report – Player ratings – Arteta reaction – Video
Arsenal started the brand new season with a win and three factors, after a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest yesterday.
Kick off was delayed due to an issue with the brand new ticketing system, leaving hundreds of individuals exterior. It regarded dangerous, and little question there shall be a full inquest internally to search out out precisely what occurred.
12.30 turned 1pm, and when the sport did kick off, the line-up was a bit shocking. Gabriel was on the bench, ending his run of 73 consecutive Premier League begins, and it was Thomas Partey nominally at right-back, however he spent a number of time inverting into midfield. I’ve to say, I’m all for Mikel Arteta being extra unpredictable when it comes to workforce choice and techniques, however this one doesn’t actually do it for me.
Maybe that’s influenced by what the sport turned within the second half greater than the primary, as a result of I believed we had been fairly good within the opening 45 minutes. Forest had an enormous likelihood after about 10 minutes, but it surely was a kind of freaky issues that occurs in soccer, a uncommon bounce that offers you a chance somewhat than us being reduce open by scintillating soccer. Fortunately Brennan Johnson fluffed his strains with simply Aaron Ramsdale to beat.
On the different finish, Forest sat with 11 males behind the ball always. At one level we had 90% possession (we ended the primary half having had 85% of the ball), and their plan was apparent. Deny us area, sit in that low block, and hope to counter – however after all you need to have the ball to try this. When it did break down, I actually preferred the way in which we labored exhausting to get it again immediately. It’s irritating and tough to play in opposition to groups who play like that, however there was a diligence about our soccer that was good to see.
Our second aim got here from a kind of moments the place Forest might have saved it, however we received it again excessive up the pitch and the good Bukayo Saka did the remainder. I noticed some chat about him and his pre-season kind, clearly he was simply saving it for when it actually issues. He made it look so easy, but it surely wasn’t. He left Matt Turner with no likelihood, the tempo and trajectory of his shot was world class.
That made it 2-0 after Eddie Nketiah had put us forward. Our different winger, Gabriel Martinelli, takes plaudits for his run and roulette which offered the striker with the ball, however Eddie did nicely to chop inside and hearth dwelling between the legs of the defender. As I’ve mentioned typically, he’s a participant who scores when he begins, and having been given the nod yesterday he made probably the most of his likelihood.
Arteta spoke about him afterwards, saying:
He’s a participant that was so disillusioned with the absence of Gabby, and to not play a last.
Plenty of gamers come and say: “ah, why am I not taking part in?”, and you need to attempt to clarify. Different gamers inform you the explanation why they need to play, that is precisely what Eddie does. That is precisely what he did after which he goes onto the pitch, and he performs as nicely. It’s a transparent instance and an excellent instance for everyone.
At 2-0 up and cozy, there was slightly hiccup with the damage to Jurrien Timber who picked up a knock earlier than the break, then went down with no one close to him very early within the second interval. That’s by no means signal, so fingers crossed he’ll be okay. Takehiro Tomiyasu changed him at left-back as Kieran Tierney was not within the squad.
At 2-0, I actually needed us to be a bit extra ruthless. We had been comfy, Forest barely threatened bar a few corners, however this scoreline is one we’re going to need to study to handle higher, I feel. I don’t know if it’s early season and we don’t fairly have the legs, however I believed we lacked a little bit of depth required to go and get one other aim. We got here shut when Declan Rice hit the put up, and credit score to Turner for making an amazing save in that second too – however then from the ensuing nook they scored an excellent counter-attacking aim. Sure, we might have defended it higher but it surely was executed nicely.
Then it’s 2-1, there’s about 10 minutes left, and you realize there’s going to be elongated added time too. I can reside with out these nerves, thanks very a lot. I really feel like that is already a ‘factor’ with us, it’s one thing Arteta referenced final season when it comes to urgent dwelling your benefit when you might have that sort of lead, however extra ruthlessness is required in these circumstances. I do know it’s simpler mentioned than finished, however having squandered this type of lead too many instances final season, we’ve received to do higher. On the very least, don’t concede the aim, however ideally rating extra.
Mad stuff can occur within the last levels of video games. Fortunately it didn’t on this occasion, and we truly had some moments the place we might have scored the third aim, but it surely’s knife-edge stuff and never good for the blood strain. Nonetheless, in the long run we took three factors and that’s the essential factor. We nonetheless look slightly under-cooked when it comes to bodily health, and with three new gamers within the workforce, not fairly as fluent as you would possibly like as these relationships develop.
I believed Rice was the choose of the brand new boys, clearly the Timber damage is a fear, and I believed Kai Havertz was all proper. Definitely not as dangerous as a few of the Twitter response I’ve seen, however then increasingly more that specific platform thrives on excessive, somewhat than thought-about, opinion – not simply when it comes to soccer both. I feel he can do higher, however like most new signings at any soccer membership he wants a little bit of time. It’s far too early to be definitive.
Arteta now has week to work along with his gamers, and get them on top of things for a tough away journey to Crystal Palace subsequent Monday night time. We’ll need to be higher than this to take all three factors there, however I a lot desire knuckling right down to that tough work with three factors within the bag secured by a few Hale Finish lads. We’ve had a lot worse begins to seasons prior to now.
Proper, let’s depart it there for now. Have an amazing Sunday everybody, and congratulations need to go to Disgustingly Candy Power Drink Leipzig for his or her win within the DFL-Supercup yesterday – not less than Harry Kane could have the expertise to assist his new teammates come to phrases with profitable candy F.A.
Until tomorrow!
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