Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
The brand new season started yesterday with a well-known trying group choice, acquainted goalscorers, and on the idea of what we noticed within the second half final season, a welcomingly acquainted end result.
I feel what stood out for me is that there are some gamers within the group who aren’t at 100%, whether or not that’s due to a truncated pre-season, or a chronic summer time, it’s exhausting to inform precisely, however I checked out Declan Rice and William Saliba as two guys whose performances had been actually not fairly on the stage we’ve come to count on from them. Gabriel Martinelli was vigorous once more, however nonetheless lacking that finish product, that cross or shot that opens issues up for him once more.
What luck for us then that we’ve got a few gamers in Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka whose impression is such that even when issues round them aren’t excellent, they’ll nonetheless produce. Can we speak about Saka for only a second? It’s barely a month since he performed within the remaining of Euro 2024, and I feel you may see – like some others – he’s making his approach again to full health and sharpness. And but, what a contribution.
His cross for Havertz’s opener was simply excellent, and it acquired the end it deserved from the German. A thumping header because the keeper got here and located himself in no-man’s land. That gave us a lead I feel we deserved within the first half, and it most likely ought to have been extra. There have been probabilities that I feel a sharper group makes extra of, however that is simply the primary day and there’s clearly nonetheless work to be carried out.
I assumed we would have had a primary half penalty too, a careless problem on Saka actually knocked him off stability as he reduce contained in the defender, however there was nothing doing there. A few of that rustiness was evident within the huge first half likelihood Wolves had, dropping the ball in midfield and Jorgen Strand Larsen getting the unsuitable aspect of Saliba to energy a header at purpose. Fortunately David Raya was there to make a incredible save, shifting again as he was going the opposite technique to stick a hand out to cease it.
Within the second half, Wolves had been loads higher, and made life tough for us on prime of us making life tough for ourselves. Saliba made an uncharacteristically careless cross throughout his field which introduced Wolves an incredible alternative to equalise, once more Raya saved however the effort on purpose was unconvincing. If there may be an ‘excuse’ for Saliba, it’s that he too went deep into Euro 2024, and he’s at all times been the type of man who takes a recreation or two to stand up to hurry.
There are not any excuses for Thomas Partey coughing up possession the way in which he did. He had a full summer time to organize, and whereas I understood his lack of kind on the finish of final season having been out for thus lengthy, I’m unwilling to present him the advantage of the doubt now. I feel this place is one thing of an issue for us now, his legs are heavy, he can’t get away from opposition gamers any extra (they usually can actually get away from him), and Arteta has some critical pondering to do right here. My suspicion is that the arrival of Mikel Merino (left of out of the Actual Sociedad squad for his or her recreation at this time), will see Rice play extra usually because the 6 with the Spanish worldwide additional forward within the midfield.
I’ll admit I used to be a bit nervous about Saka because the half went on. I regarded on the bench, and whereas Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard are good choices, I needed we had one thing else to name on. With all due respect to Eddie and Reiss, a signing would make a giant distinction to this squad. Within the meantime although, we’ll simply should make do with the extraordinary output, consistency and high quality of Saka (what a chore!). Choosing up a cross from Havertz, he reduce contained in the defenders to drill a shot past the keeper on the close to submit, and that was at all times going to make the sport secure.
The end was excellent, however his skill to step up and get us a purpose we actually wanted, on a day once I assume he was not 100% to start with and definitely flagging earlier than he cracked off that shot, is unbelievable. A purpose and an help to kick off the brand new season, his numbers could possibly be off the charts this yr.
What else? Nicely, I feel Wolves ought to have been all the way down to 10 males. Yerson Mosquera’s chokehold/slam on Kai Havertz was fully deliberate and the very definition of violent conduct. I actually don’t perceive how the officers checked out that and determined it wasn’t. I suppose they’ve set a really excessive threshold for the season forward. Additionally, whereas Jesus was being annoying when Wolves had been attempting to take a free kick, Mosquera grabbing his arse was very bizarre and I don’t blame our man for reacting the way in which he did. After all Jesus was the one who acquired a yellow card, whereas the Wolves man stayed out of the ebook. I suppose for all of the pre-season chat about officiating and new guidelines and so forth, not a lot adjustments when it comes to their ineptitude in key moments.
Raya needed to make one other save late on, Gabriel celebrated Arsenal successful a purpose kick with some typical gusto, and it was good to see Jurrien Timber make his official return after sustaining that harm on the opening day of final season. Afterwards, Mikel Arteta mentioned:
We generated loads – we most likely ought to have scored two or three, and the sport would have been a bit completely different. Within the second half, there have been moments the place we grew to become a bit sloppy and never managed, particularly with some giveaways, which towards this group is especially tough.
It was the primary recreation – there’s at all times uncertainty round how we’re going to answer that towards a very tough opponent. We scored two, clear sheet, win, job carried out.
Clear sheet, three factors, simply what the physician ordered to kick off the brand new season, however clearly there may be room for enchancment too. It’s not unusual, particularly after a match summer time, to take a little bit of time to seek out fluency and rhythm, however the fixture listing is such that we’ve got to attempt to stand up to hurry as shortly as doable. So, I count on a busy week on the coaching floor as we put together for our journey to Aston Villa subsequent weekend, however with that first hurdle efficiently cleared, we will do it in a optimistic way of thinking and hopefully we will be higher once more subsequent Saturday.
Proper, that’s it for this morning. Get pleasure from your Sunday, and be part of us tomorrow for the primary Arsecast Further of the brand new season.
