Match report – Player ratings – Arteta reaction – Video
Arsenal went 4 factors clear on the prime of the Premier League with a win over Wolves that was very comfy … till it wasn’t. We had been dominant however needed to face a nervous remaining quarter-hour after a mistake on the again allowed the guests a objective out of nothing.
The previous adage about 2-0 being probably the most harmful scoreline in soccer is perhaps a little bit of a cliche, however ask any Arsenal fan they usually’ll again it proper up. We’ve seen it greater than as soon as, and it was arduous to not fear we weren’t going to let a few factors slip on a day when all three ought to have been secured lengthy earlier than that error allow them to again into it.
We began brilliantly, Bukayo Saka combing with Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu to place us forward within the sixth minute. Mikel Arteta has spoken just lately about gamers needing to be environment friendly in tight areas, and whereas Wolves would possibly really feel they may have defended higher, Saka’s motion is simply so sharp, and he made no mistake with the end.
Seven minutes later and the lead was doubled. Saka’s cross from the suitable was simply too heavy, however we recycled possession, Zinchenko’s give and go together with Jesus was very good – the cushioned return from the Brazilian was inch excellent – and the Ukrainian pulled it again for Martin Odegaard to comb the ball residence for 2-0. It wasn’t a straightforward end both, however he made it look that approach.
Early objectives change the complexion of video games, and after sticking 5 previous Lens within the first half on Wednesday, you hoped we had been on target to no less than add one other earlier than the break. A superb take from an Odegaard move noticed an opportunity for Leandro Trossard however the keeper made a great save, Rice had a great effort deflect huge, and Gabriel Martinelli hit the submit – the rebound squirting the flawed approach for each Saka and Jesus.
A Zinchenko mistake required wonderful defending from Martinelli who did so effectively to bail his teammate out, which is a part of why he drew reward from his supervisor afterwards. It was an indication all wasn’t proper defensively with the left-back although. Late within the half it ought to have been 3-0 when Jesus was in behind, his end was tame – a bit like Eddie’s final weekend – however he must have appeared as much as see Rice arriving for what would have been a tap-in, and it wasn’t a tough move to make both.
Hesitation between William Saliba and Zinchenko brought about us a serious downside simply earlier than half-time, however David Raya stood up effectively to disclaim Hwang Hee-chan. Once more, it was the left-back largely at fault, he under-cooked the move again to his keeper and we had been lucky to not have been punished.
The second half started with a penalty shout when Jesus’ arm was clearly pulled within the field as he was making an attempt to attach with a cross. Right here’s my pondering on this one: if that foul is adequate for a Leandro Trossard objective to be chalked off by VAR when Ben White did the identical factor to a goalkeeper, it’s sufficient for a penalty when it occurs to a ahead. However VAR appeared and determined it wasn’t sufficient. What are you able to do?
The second half was, as I stated above, comfy. We had been in management, and whereas I don’t suppose we had been completely busting a intestine to attain extra, I don’t suppose the workforce was as informal as some folks have made out. In the event that they felt safe with the defensive document/capability we have now, I perceive that. Wolves, let’s be sincere, provided little in assault. We handled all the pieces, Raya had one save to make early within the half and that was it. It was, for many of that half, an indication of Arteta’s need to kill a recreation with 300,000 passes.
Let’s additionally not overlook the possibilities we needed to rating extra. Saka curled one simply over the far submit. Trossard actually ought to have achieved higher when put by way of by Odegaard, and even after Mattheus Cunha acquired that objective again, there was an opportunity for Eddie Nketiah to right away make the sport protected, however he hit the submit when he ought to have scored. When a striker is clear by way of like that, lacking the goal is unhealthy, even should you come very shut.
So, it wasn’t a collective casualness, it was largely an informal second from a participant who had too lots of them yesterday. Would Zinchenko even have been on the pitch at that time if Tomiyasu hadn’t needed to go off? He’s not a participant I’ve a number of religion in within the late levels of a recreation anyway, however that mistake was within the submit all day. Afterwards, Arteta stated of him:
You need to love him, how he’s, each participant as effectively. He has strengths and weaknesses and Alex has acquired many extra strengths. This occurred, it will probably occur to any participant, we have now to be taught from it, as a result of in these areas it’s a giant no to play particularly after sure issues on the earlier phrase and that’s it, we are going to get higher.
Generally, even should you’re enjoying for a supervisor like Mikel Arteta who calls for you retain the ball, you simply have to put your foot by way of it in defensive areas, and that was a kind of moments. It made the previous few minutes, with all of the added time, extra tense than they wanted to be. Total although, I believe the efficiency was good, simply lacking a few of the attacking effectivity we noticed in midweek. Had it completed 4-0, I don’t suppose Wolves may have complained, however maybe a reminder that it’s important to be extra scientific and be smarter on the again isn’t a foul factor in a recreation whenever you nonetheless take all three factors.
A fast phrase to complete for the captain who I believed was excellent yesterday. I don’t suppose it’s a coincidence that two video games during which we may have scored a load of objectives featured him again at one thing near his finest. He made 6 key passes yesterday on prime of the objective he scored, and he ought to have had a few assists to his identify however for wayward ending. It’s nice to see that the little bit of relaxation/time-off has recharged his batteries so effectively.
Proper, let’s hope for mayhem within the Premier League right now, though I think we would see Man Metropolis rack up a document win of their recreation in a while and shut the hole again to a degree.
We’re recording the Arsecast Further for you early right now, so hold an eye fixed out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or should you’re on Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Podcast ought to be out earlier than noon. Till then.
Trending Merchandise
