Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
Arsenal went again to the highest of the Premier League yesterday night with a formidable 3-0 win at Brighton.
Mikel Arteta made modifications, bringing in Declan Rice, Jorginho, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka again into the staff, and we must always have been forward inside two minutes. A Martin Odegaard free kick discovered the top of Gabriel, normally so dependable in these conditions, however he planted his header large.
Brighton produced a beautiful flowing transfer which noticed Enciso shoot over from simply outdoors the field, a warning about what Roberto de Zerbi’s staff are able to, however we responded. Saka, who had been quiet within the opening minutes, burst into life when despatched behind by Ben White, and having in the reduction of onto his left foot you’d have backed him to attain however he curled large. Saka then arrange Jesus, whose first time effort was nicely saved, and the Brazilian headed large after good work from Kai Havertz.
It wasn’t fairly finish to finish stuff, however either side had practically moments by way of likelihood creation, and within the thirty first minute, we had a penalty. Jesus received the ball on the left, drove into the field, and though Lamptey received a tiny contact on the underside of the ball, he received all the man too, and for me that’s undoubtedly a penalty. I wouldn’t have any complaints if it was given up the opposite finish. Even de Zerbi, a person who will overtly speak about his disdain for almost all of the Premier League officers, stated it was a ‘clear’ penalty.
Saka stepped up, and regardless of their goalkeeper doing his greatest to place him off, tucked it completely into a spot he’d by no means have gotten it even when he went the appropriate approach. Brighton’s menace was all the time there, and simply earlier than the break, David Raya needed to make an excellent save to disclaim an Enciso roller that was definitely getting in in any other case.
I bear in mind considering that on the break, Mikel Arteta may to ponder what to do about midfield, as a result of Brighton had been discovering house in there that few different groups do. However in the end this was a consequence of taking part in the best way we did in opposition to them. By being courageous, and urgent excessive to disrupt their construct up, you play a threat/reward recreation, and you must belief the defensive qualities in your staff. That’s loads simpler to do when you might have somebody like Declan Rice within the aspect, who was in all places – and even when there have been instances Brighton ran past him, others received again. There was a second half second when Baleba charged previous him and drove in direction of our field, however it was substitute Gabriel Martinelli who offered the defensive cavalry and stemmed the tide. Excellent dedication and organisation.
Right here’s an instance of how Arsenal dedicated males to the press when Brighton had the ball on the again:
And right here’s the house Brighton discovered on the odd event they discovered a approach to play via it in central areas – when is the final time you’ve seen the Arsenal midfield so open and that a lot house between the back and front of the staff?
One other man whose defensive efficiency on the evening will in all probability get ignored – as a result of he received a objective and an help – is Kai Havertz, however that contribution was so essential. I believed this was simply his greatest recreation for the membership, and once you examine the participant we see now from the person who first arrived, it’s evening and day. He’s a reminder that some gamers simply take a little bit of time to settle in and to seek out their groove. He has 5 objectives and 4 assists from his final 7 Premier League appearances, and his place because the de facto centre-forward is, at this level of the season, maybe a bit sudden.
Arteta was requested about that afterwards and stated:
Quite a lot of the time gamers resolve the place they must play, and we will have sure concepts, however you then see sure relationships and a few issues circulate. And when it flows, you must let it go, and I believe Kai in the intervening time is flowing and he’s feeling actually snug there, the remainder of the staff is snug with him there and issues occur naturally.
I used to be so impressed along with his efficiency final evening, his defensive work was excellent, his selfless operating to stretch Brighton was an amazing instance of what Luton’s captain Tom Lockyer spoke about after our recreation in midweek, and his motion for the second objective was glorious. These areas in midfield did have me questioning whether or not or not we’d take into consideration bringing on another person for Jorginho, however when Odegaard’s very good go discovered the Italian worldwide within the house you anticipate both Saka or Ben White to be, he used all his expertise to supply the help for Havertz. That was 2-0. On Sky afterwards, de Zerbi stated as soon as the second objective went in, the sport was ‘completed’.
It was fascinating to see the best way this Arsenal staff then felt so snug to take a seat deeper, to guard the lead and permit Brighton possession. After Havertz made it 2-0, Brighton had 82% possession. Such is the defensive high quality on this staff, such are the degrees of organisation and understanding about the right way to snuff out the opposition, they did nothing a lot with it. Remarkably, in that interval once they dominated the ball and the territory, Brighton had only a single try on objective whereas Arsenal had 6!
A kind of was the third objective, Leandro Trossard made a deal with in midfeld, the ball fell for Havertz who despatched him via with simply the keeper to beat, and in opposition to his former membership the Belgian produced a splendidly calm end to make it 3-0 and to ice what was a really spectacular cake anyway. That was the primary time Brighton had been overwhelmed at residence since August, and even when they’d some gamers lacking, they’re nonetheless a really robust opponent. The stats bear it out, 3.4 was probably the most xG Brighton have conceded since de Zerbi took over, however an important of all was the three objectives Arsenal scored to return to the highest.
I suppose you do have to say the clear sheet too, not least due to the best way the Arsenal gamers celebrated Gabriel blocking a shot in our field. You’ll be able to perceive the participant making the block being happy with himself, however that instantaneous response from the likes of Trossard and Saliba who had been close by tells you a lot in regards to the mindset of this staff. They begrudge the opposition even a comfort, and that’s so nice to see.
Afterwards, Arteta stated:
I’m actually joyful, actually pleased with the boys. They put in a giant efficiency to beat this nice Brighton aspect. They haven’t misplaced right here since August and that tells you the issue of it, of the duty, however we had been actually good at this time.
In the long run, it’s about performances. It’s important to earn the appropriate to win the video games on this league and the groups, they ask you a variety of questions and there are a variety of issues you must management in a Premier League match to win away from residence. The staff appears to be controlling these moments significantly better and being snug in several phases of video games, when the groups are demanding all these things. That’s the largest step as a staff.
So, one other one down. One other good end in 2024. One other increase to confidence and perception, as a result of this was a difficult one, and no mistake. We’ve been on the fallacious finish of a few painful outcomes in opposition to Brighton, in order that will need to have been behind their minds, however they maintain ticking off these containers of gentle revenge. Each recreation is a must-win proper now, and we did this after Metropolis received in opposition to Palace. Whether or not it should put any strain on Liverpool later I don’t know. I doubt it. I think they will destroy Man Utd later, however we will solely do our job, and the best way we did it yesterday was vastly spectacular.
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Okay, let’s go away it there for now. We’re recording an Arsecast Further for you later at this time, so maintain a watch out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or for those who’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Podcast needs to be out within the night (we’ve a while zone stuff to take care of at this time!). Till then, get pleasure from your Sunday.
