Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
In yesterday’s preview, I wrote about how there will probably be video games when Arsenal have to dig in and scrap their technique to three factors, and the 2-1 win over Brentford was precisely that. Their recreation plan made life way more tough for us than most of our current fixtures. It was scrappy, bodily, stop-starty – which was exactly what they wished.
The ball was in play for lower than 50% of tonight’s match between Arsenal and Brentford.
Whole time: 105:01Time in play: 49:26
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) March 9, 2024
They did nicely initially to cease a quick Arsenal begin, nevertheless it wasn’t lengthy earlier than we had been on prime, and deservedly forward by means of Declan Rice. His header from Ben White’s cross was wonderful, and it was fairly one thing to see him repeatedly pop up as a de facto centre-forward. The licence to play larger up when Jorginho is alongside him in midfield appears like one thing he relishes – and that was his sixth Premier League objective of the season. He additionally has six assists to his title, and it’s fascinating to suppose that in all of the chat about whether or not Kai Havertz might change what Granit Xhaka gave us final season (7 objectives, 7 assists), Rice has principally completed that with out an excessive amount of fanfare about that facet of his recreation.
We should always have been 2-0 up earlier than the break, Havertz dinking a sensational Jorginho go broad. The flag went up however he regarded onside to me. What a distinction which may have made to Aaron Ramsdale’s night time although. Simply earlier than the break, he was closed down shortly by Yoane Wissa, who blocked the tried clearance into the Arsenal internet to make it 1-1. There’s no technique to sugarcoat it. It’s a nasty mistake. I felt actually sorry for him, nevertheless it was his fault – simply taking an additional step when he might have performed the ball.
So, a bit just like the Liverpool recreation a number of weeks again, a recreation we must always have been main on the break noticed us go in all sq.. Afterwards, Havertz was requested about the way it felt, and mentioned ‘Not good’, for apparent causes, however when the objective you concede is so avoidable, and with all of the highlight on Ramsdale, the Raya facet and it coming in opposition to Brentford and many others, there have been further ranges.
For essentially the most half, Arsenal dominated the second half. 10 pictures, 8 corners, a number of stress, but when we spotlight the Ramsdale mistake, we have now to focus on the issues he did nicely in that second half too. Brentford’s probabilities had been all the time more likely to be few and much between, however that they had them. Ivan Toney’s opportunistic effort regarded for all of the world prefer it was going to sail over Ramsdale’s head, however he leaped, acquired an excellent hand on it and made an outstanding save. It’s a kind of that had it gone in would have regarded actually dangerous for the keeper, however with out it being his fault essentially. Arsenal’s goalies are requested to play excessive, nicely off their line, so there’s all the time that threat, however he pulled off an amazing save earlier than I even had the possibility to complete the ‘Oh no’ thought.
His second save, from Nathan Collins, was additionally excellent, and actually essential. This was the 71st minute, going behind at that time would have made profitable most unlikely, so it was essential to maintain the scores degree. It’s additionally price mentioning that if we acknowledge Ramsdale made a mistake on the primary objective, Arsenal’s defence utterly switched off after a Brentford throw, with no one close to Collins because the cross got here in. If Havertz spared Ramsdale’s blushes with that late objective, the keeper did the identical for his mates on this state of affairs. It’s simply not as apparent.
On the different finish, I believe we had been unfortunate to not be awarded a penalty when Leandro Trossard was pulled again. There was an earlier shout involving Martin Odegaard, however I believe that was simply robust defending. Nevertheless, had the Trossard incident occurred up the opposite finish and Brentford acquired a spot-kick, you wouldn’t be capable of complain about it. Rice nearly acquired one other to place us forward, curling a improbable effort onto the purpose of the crossbar and put up with the keeper stranded, and Brentford tried to make the sport as scrappy as doable from then on.
Gamers went down, they blocked off Ramsdale greater than as soon as as he tried to distribute the ball shortly, and the clock was ticking. Then got here a passage of play which noticed Odegaard do very well to maintain the ball, with a header to Ben White. It got here again to the captain, he noticed the run, White delivered a cross into center and Havertz was there to plant a header dwelling to make it 2-1. For the second time this season the German worldwide broke Brentford hearts within the dying phases of the sport, and there’s no query that was an enormous objective for this crew.
Not merely the three factors, however the message it sends. That this crew can and can battle for all the things. That this crew has the flexibility to maintain going. That this crew has perception in its capability to win video games on the demise. How typically have we seen the easiest groups, the groups that win issues, do precisely this? I do know we have now one thing of a observe document of this in current occasions, and the apparent rationalization is that good groups do that usually. We’re an excellent crew.
At that time, Brentford’s aversion to Arsenal losing time was very humorous. I’ve no actual subject with their gameplan, it’s one thing we have now to cope with, and in fact it’s in all probability a lot better preparation for Porto on Tuesday than any form of 6-0 win you may consider. That is what we’ll face within the Champions League. Nevertheless, when a crew spends ages time-wasting, then will get all riled up as a result of they get a bit again when the scoreline modifications, it’s extraordinarily amusing.
As for Thomas Frank’s insistence Havertz shouldn’t have been on the pitch as a result of he should have had a second yellow for diving, give me a break. That is pure distraction from a supervisor whose crew sit only a single level above an Everton facet who haven’t gained a recreation since December sixteenth, and who’ve have been docked six factors this season. I get it, when you’ve gotten simply two wins in your final fourteen Premier League video games, you want one thing to take the highlight off you because the supervisor and your accountability for that, and that’s all that is.
Was it a penalty on Havertz? No. Was it a second yellow card? Completely not. You may’t ship a participant off for that. There was some contact that he made essentially the most of, however that’s it. Frank’s post-game rubbish additionally conveniently ignores the penalty Trossard ought to have had, and the one Gabriel should have had proper on the finish. If the Brazilian was booked for a shirt pull early within the first half, what’s the distinction between that foul and the one dedicated on him within the field? Precisely.
His reverse quantity, Mikel Arteta, was in a lot better kind, as you’d think about, reacting afterwards:
It felt nice, clearly we needed to dig in and earn the correct to win it, however I’m actually happy with the efficiency, the maturity, the emotional management that we confirmed, and the way we overcame difficulties. If you wish to be up there, you must win these kinds of video games and the crew confirmed that it has the instruments and particularly the dedication, and the assumption to take action.
And he had some phrases for Ramsdale too, whose night time within the highlight was definitely eventful:
He’s an individual with an enormous persona and braveness, very decided. Errors are a part of soccer, it’s laborious to react about it, particularly for the keepers as a result of it’s in all probability essentially the most tough place however he did it in a tremendous approach. I’m not stunned as a result of the entire crew and complete stadium was behind him. He has that respect and admiration and actually wished to win for him that second and he actually helped us to win the sport.
There’s loads of speak about how this may need been his final Arsenal look, and which may nicely be the case. You by no means know although, damage or suspension would possibly see him required once more, and I’m glad for him that he responded nicely to his mistake, and that we acquired the objective which meant that error wasn’t the largest speaking level this morning.
General, a tricky night time, however nothing we didn’t count on. There’s not a lot turnaround time between now and Tuesday, so all the main target for the gamers and supervisor will probably be on Porto. For followers although, we are able to watch as we speak’s recreation between Liverpool and Man Metropolis, and hope for a beneficial end result with the three factors we would have liked in our again pocket. Oh, and fast a point out for my man Ben White with two assists. Golden Thighs comes up with the products.
Proper, have an amazing Sunday people. Again tomorrow with extra and a model new Arsecast Additional.
