Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
Arsenal returned to motion final evening with a 2-1 win over Fulham on the Emirates. There was clearly some pleasant stuff, profitable was vital – particularly as Nottingham Forest continued their good kind – and Bukayo Saka marked his return from damage with a aim that in the end proved important.
On different hand, with the video games in opposition to Actual Madrid drawing nearer, the very last thing we would have liked have been extra accidents, and sadly they look like mounting up once more on the worst doable time. So, let’s cut up this weblog up, into the nice and the not so good, and let’s begin on a constructive word.
The nice
The primary half was stodgy, very post-Interlull fare. Fulham got here and caught 11 males behind the ball, realizing the low block stays an issue for us. I assume you may perceive it, however I don’t assume it’s actually who they’re. We had some moments, Ethan Nwaneri’s volley from a Gabriel Martinelli cross was one of the best likelihood we managed within the opening interval, however the lack of house and the way compact Fulham made the sport was an issue.
Nwaneri’s motion was key to the opening aim, Jurrien Timber’s move noticed him get behind Antonee Robinson, and his move discovered Mikel Merino. Look, the shot wasn’t precisely a rocket, he swung his unsuitable foot on the ball in a crowded penalty field, and the reward was a deflection which noticed the ball transcend Bernd Leno and into the again of the online. We don’t must over-analyse this one, however within the chilly mild of day I’m inclined to present credit score to the Spaniard for being in the correct place and having a go, whereas Fulham’s insistence on taking part in so deep was an element within the deflection (in that it served them proper). It’s 5 targets in his final 8 video games for Merino now.
I believed we have been quite a bit higher within the second half. Martin Odegaard ought to have scored however skied a shot after Martinelli did nicely once more. There have been a flurry of corners which put them beneath strain, after which the introduction of Saka for Nwaneri on 66 minutes is the large one. The reception was precisely what you thought it might be, and the way becoming was it that he confirmed how a lot we’ve missed him with a aim?
Once more, numerous credit score goes to Martinelli for his drive ahead after Declan Rice intercepted in midfield, and if the Brazilian’s flick from Merino’s cross is a deliberate try and get the ball to Saka, it’s a chunk of genius. I think he may need been going for the far nook himself. Both means although, the returning hero was there on the again publish to move residence and make it 2-0. Mikel Arteta stated:
I feel it’s a phenomenal second to see how a lot our individuals love, respect and admire Bukayo. He’s not a shock to any of us and I feel one of the best instance is his response. Instantly after scoring a aim, what does he do? He goes and says thanks for all of the exhausting work that each one the sports activities science guys, physios and everyone concerned within the restoration have completed for him to be within the situation that he’s. I feel he lifted the stadium, the vitality and it’s nice to have him again.
Clearly that’s the stand-out second of the sport, and also you’d need to have a coronary heart of stone to not adore it for all the apparent causes. However the stand-out participant for us was Martinelli. His relentlessness brought about Timothy Castagne all types of issues, there was that pretty nutmeg too, and from begin to end he appeared our simplest and harmful attacking participant. He deserves his flowers this morning, and it’s only a disgrace that late strike was offside. He deserved a aim too.
The unhealthy
With Ben White not within the squad because of a knee drawback he felt in coaching, and Riccardo Calafiori sidelined for some time due to the problem he picked up with Italy, the very last thing we would have liked was one other defensive damage. So, as is simply typical of this season, that’s precisely what we acquired. Gabriel pulled up within the 14th minute as he chased again, clearly a basic hamstring pressure, and he had to get replaced by Jakub Kiwior. I imply, I don’t even must let you know how huge a blow that’s at any time, however with Actual Madrid arising it’s a catastrophe. I don’t assume there’s any hyperbole in calling it what it’s.
That seems to have been compounded by a problem for Timber. He went down within the first half, however carried on, and to be truthful he appeared good. There was that second he mixed nicely with Odegaard to have a crack at aim, however he got here off with about 20 minutes to go, with the supervisor saying of him and Gabriel:
Gabi felt one thing in his hamstring, we don’t understand how huge that’s and with Jurrien as nicely, he was already struggling very early within the recreation. He managed to proceed and in some unspecified time in the future he couldn’t, so, that’s the draw back to it. Jurrien was the knee.
I’ve sympathy over the Gabriel state of affairs, hamstrings can go – and we talked earlier than this recreation about how lucky we have been he solely performed as soon as for Brazil and had a pleasant relaxation … for all the nice that seems to have completed him. If, nonetheless, Timber’s first half damage was exacerbated by retaining him on and he’s now going to be out for some time, I discover it too exhausting to be sympathetic in that case. Maybe it’s the opposite knee, maybe it’s not critical, however we’ve been there earlier than with him and different gamers, and it appears like a bit like a lesson we haven’t discovered sufficiently nicely.
Time will inform, however we might be going right into a Champions League quarter-final with out each our proper backs (Timber and White), and our first and second picks at left centre-half (Gabriel and Calafiori). And let’s not overlook we’re additionally with out Takehiro Tomiyasu. What have we completed to deserve this degree of ill-fortune relating to accidents? On the evening when Saka got here again to revive some pleasure, it feels very very like the soccer gods giveth, and the soccer gods taketh away.
The final quarter-hour of the sport have been wobbly. Fulham pushed to get one thing out of the sport, and missed an incredible likelihood when Muniz headed extensive on the again publish. They acquired one again very late, I don’t assume the defending was nice to permit the run down the road, however I additionally assume Kiwior ought to have completed extra. In the event you’re being variety, you’d classify the Polish worldwide as rusty, having not performed quite a bit, however I don’t assume lack of taking part in time actually explains the shortage of defensive instincts he shows in odd moments in practically each recreation he options.
So, we are able to benefit from the three factors, we are able to get pleasure from Saka’s nice second and Martinelli’s constructive contribution, however for me this morning the overriding emotion is one among fear as we put together for Actual Madrid. The Premier League nonetheless issues, as a result of each recreation issues actually, however everyone knows the place the slim chance of success lies, and that’s in Europe.
It at all times felt to me like our greatest likelihood of going by can be predicated on our solidity on the again and the wonderful defensive platform we’ve had at our disposal, even when a lot attacking expertise has been absent. Now although, we is perhaps shorn of that, so we’ll have to attend and see to what extent that’s the case. Arsenal and a makeshift again 4 in opposition to Actual Madrid within the Champions League is someplace we’ve been earlier than, however I feel this time it might be greater than a step too far, so hold all the pieces crossed for some excellent news within the subsequent few days.
Proper, I’ll depart it there for morning. We’ll acquired into this in larger element in an Arsecast a bit in a while, so stand by for that. For now, have one.
