Morning all.
As we don’t play till Monday night time, it’s prone to be a fairly quiet weekend from an Arsenal perspective. We’ll be keeping track of outcomes elsewhere, hoping that each Nottingham Forest and Man Utd can get one thing from their video games in opposition to Liverpool and Man Metropolis respectively, however I feel everyone knows what’s going to occur. Particularly within the Manchester derby which could possibly be a massacre, given what number of possibilities United dish up in each sport.
There’s an interview with Ben White within the Guardian which is price a learn. I’m in all probability a bit too lengthy within the tooth to have favorite gamers … however he’s my favorite participant. Let’s be trustworthy, there are such a lot of to select from on this Arsenal squad, as a consequence of their qualities and personalities, however there’s one thing about him which is only a bit uncommon within the fashionable sport. You may see when he does post-match interviews, for instance, that the media coaching all footballers get is there, nevertheless it comes out differently to most others.
The stuff about him not watching soccer is commonly handled as a little bit of a joke, once more as a result of it’s uncommon. It’s at odds with our personal expertise, as a result of even when it’s simply Arsenal, we spend lots of time and vitality watching soccer. However there’s a giant distinction between the idea of not watching soccer and never caring about soccer. It appears fairly clear to me that to be a hit on this Arsenal group, you should perceive the sport and the opposition, which would require some research (and watching soccer footage!). It’s simply he doesn’t try this when he goes dwelling. You don’t get to the place he has within the sport with out a actual aggressive nature, one thing he touches on, saying:
I wish to win all the pieces that I do. My missus and I play lots of video games at dwelling and I gained’t be letting her win. I bear in mind being younger and all the time desirous to play aggressively and do as a lot as I may to win.
It was onerous not to think about Ben White when questions have been put to Mikel Arteta in regards to the ‘darkish arts’ of the sport final week. His position at corners for instance:
There’s all types, standing in your toes, elbows. It’s OK. I simply have to face in the best way and see what occurs. A number of the movies I’ve seen … It comes again to doing something to win.
The main focus is nearly all the time on him as this type of penalty field pest, a goalkeeper’s irritant, nevertheless it’s a two method avenue. He’s getting some again as he stands in the best way, doing his greatest to keep up a face with the innocence of a choirboy, however we all know he’s simply attempting to be a bit naughty with out being caught. Just like the schoolboy with a peashooter who fires one on the blackboard each time the trainer turns round to write down one thing on it.
In the end although, for all these fascinating and pleasing character traits, and for all of the sly journeys and clattering Anthony Gordon and attempting to throttle Phil Foden all of us relish, on the coronary heart of it he’s a unbelievable defender and all-round footballer. The sport has modified lately, with way more versatility required – particularly in defensive positions – besides his transfer from centre-half to among the best right-backs within the Premier League deserves extra credit score. He’s a quintessentially fashionable soccer participant. Return in your thoughts to among the nice central defenders we’ve had in our time at this membership, and take into consideration what number of of them wouldn’t have simply survived being moved to full-back, however thrived. It’d be a fairly brief record of some unbelievable gamers.
It’s no marvel Arsenal have tied him right down to a deal new deal, set to be introduced within the not too distant future (I think the timing of it’s linked to FFP and accounting functions), nevertheless it’s a wrap. And it’s nice information. When he signed from Brighton for £50m, eyebrows have been actually raised. He wasn’t essentially excessive profile, though he had been a part of the England squad that summer season, however no person thinks twice about his price-tag anymore. It’s been cash very properly spent by Arsenal, and his greatest years are in all probability forward of him too.
Wingers, and goalkeepers, be careful. And let’s hope that can to win stays a key a part of Arsenal going the space this season.
Proper, let’s depart it there for now. We’ll have a Premier League preview podcast for you over on Patreon just a little later this morning, so please be part of us for that. It prices round £5.50 a month for immediate entry to all our unique content material, in addition to supporting all the pieces we do right here on Arseblog.
Have an amazing Saturday of us.
