Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
How good it’s to write down about three factors within the Premier League once more. Sure, there have been a few Interlulls, however you had to return to October fifth for our earlier win – the 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Mikel Arteta’s group contained a few surprises. There was a uncommon begin for Jorginho, with Declan Rice and Thomas Partey on the bench, whereas the ahead line of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus was removed from our traditional/strongest. We started nicely although, and it regarded as if we’d scored an early objective by way of Jurrien Timber, but it surely was dominated out for offside.
I can’t say for positive if it was, or wasn’t. VAR took an age, and finally determined it was, however who is aware of actually? A blur of shoes and body-parts made it very laborious to inform. I additionally don’t know how the linesman determined to place his flag up given how tight it was, but it surely confirmed some early intent from Arsenal.
It didn’t take lengthy to truly go forward although. With Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka combining nicely on the fitting, it was no shock these two had been concerned. A pleasant give and go noticed Saka take the ball on, search for an angle for a shot, and regardless of it showing as if he is likely to be going too far, he rocketed a shot past Mats Sels and into the again of the online. An excellent end from a participant we nicely know is able to that.
I believed we performed some good stuff within the first half. Intricate one-touch combos which spoke to a confidence that has maybe not all the time been current this season. Odegaard had an opportunity however couldn’t fairly make ok contact along with his proper foot; Saka pressured Sels into a superb save with a primary time shot from a Jesus lay-off; the keeper made save once more to disclaim Trossard; and by the tip of the primary 45 we’d had 11 photographs to Forest’s 2, and dominated possession and territory.
There was a half-time change, with Partey changing Jorginho who had been booked within the first half. I believed he was enjoying fairly nicely, so it’s a bit unlucky, however given how tender all of the bookings had been in that first half, I perceive why Arteta was taking no probabilities. We’ve performed the ten males factor sufficient this season already. It was a substitution that paid off too. Partey doubled the lead with a superb whipped end from outdoors the field, and that gave us respiratory area.
There’s been a lot dialogue of Martin Odegaard in the previous couple of weeks, and whereas it’s apparent what he brings to the group by way of creativity, I believe yesterday we noticed one more reason why he’s so vital. His recreation intelligence, his capability to manage and dictate the tempo of the sport is second to none. He can harm the opposition within the remaining third, he can transfer them round and pressure them backwards when he drops deep to select up possession in our half. His heat-map is instructive.
Forest had a few forays ahead within the second half, however barely threatened and couldn’t construct any attacking momentum – largely due to how we managed the tempo of the sport. The captain was key to that, and afterwards, Arteta mentioned:
Clearly, when he’s within the group, you possibly can sense one thing is completely different. It’s troublesome to place a finger on it but it surely’s completely different.
He offers the group, and people round him, a way of safety when we have now possession, and unsettles the opposition with the sense of chance when he’s probing their back-line for weaknesses. I believed he was glorious yesterday, even when it was the younger man who changed him late on who caught the attention.
A cameo that leaves you wanting extra has been a function of Ethan Nwaneri’s season thus far. He got here on for Odegaard and instantly posed Forest a menace, curling a shot not too far large. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than he bought his first ever Premier League objective, combining with fellow sub Raheem Sterling earlier than ending neatly contained in the close to submit to make it 3-0. It may need been his first objective within the league, but it surely’s his fourth senior objective of the season after three within the EFL Cup, and with a complete enjoying time of simply 230 minutes, that’s a outstanding return.
Understandably, Arteta was requested about him afterwards, and the clamour that exists to see extra of such an thrilling younger participant. I believed his reply was actually attention-grabbing, saying:
I’m accountable to construct a profession for him. You need to try this brick by brick. At this time he put one other brick. Now we have now to place one other cement, be sure that it doesn’t get dry so we will put one other one and that can stick.
Then we put yet one more layer, yet one more layer. If you wish to put 5 in a row consider me it gained’t work. We’ve to handle not solely his expectation however his load as nicely, which is absolutely vital.
Like everybody studying this morning, I can’t wait to see extra from Nwaneri, however I believe for those who learn between the strains, there’s in all probability good cause for just a bit warning. For me, it’s not about his expertise, his potential, his capability, his mentality – we’ve already seen all of that’s there. He ticks all these containers already. What I believe Arteta is referring to is one thing bodily, the place the knowledge accessible to him that’s not accessible to us is what’s informing his choice making.
What number of occasions have we seen a younger participant burst by way of at a really early age, and endure the implications later of their profession? Are there some rising pains for a younger man who doesn’t flip 18 till March to take care of? I do suppose there are video games he might have featured extra in when Odegaard was absent, however I’ve to just accept that my exterior view lacks the element of the supervisor and his teaching employees.
I believe what is evident is that he’s somebody we’re going to see increasingly more of because the season goes on, and that’s an thrilling prospect. In all competitions he’s our third highest scorer thus far, and his capability to trigger menace – even when he’s on the pitch for a brief period of time – would possibly nicely see him discover an vital position as a recreation altering sub all through this marketing campaign. Till such time as he turns into a starter, at which level, I don’t suppose there’ll be any trying again.
Total, the supervisor was happy, and defined why he felt his group had been extra completed yesterday:
There was one thing else that was completely different. What occurred is that as a substitute of with 12 or 13 gamers, we educated with 19 for the primary time in six weeks. All of a sudden you might be like, wow, competitiveness, the extent, the standard, the understanding, the competitors, all the things rises and that’s why we’d like each single day to coach at that degree.
That’s right down to the provision of lots of gamers that haven’t been in a position to do this. When that occurs the extent will rise for positive.
You may see with among the subs that he was ensuring to not overload gamers who’ve been out, and even leaving Havertz and Martinelli on the bench all through felt like one thing of a luxurious when you think about what we’ve needed to take care of. All in all, it was simply what the physician ordered. Three factors, three targets, a clear sheet, and a managed, convincing efficiency. A confidence increase forward of two away video games this week, with a visit to Portugal up subsequent.
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. The Arsecast Further was initially scheduled for this night, but it surely’ll be out tomorrow as traditional, so please be part of us for that. Within the meantime, have an amazing Sunday.
