Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
For the second season operating Arsenal beat Man Utd at house due to a late, late objective. Final season it was Eddie Nketiah, this time it was Declan Rice – adopted by some Gabriel Jesus icing on the cake. A cake which made my coronary heart charge go so excessive my Garmin watch buzzed a warning at me. Significantly.
That it got here not lengthy after United had had a objective disallowed for the tightest offside you’ll ever see made it all of the extra fulfilling. They thought they’d gained it, then we broke their hearts into tiny little items. You’ll be able to’t ask for way more than that.
Effectively, I suppose you may have requested Bukayo Saka to complete that probability late within the sport which in all probability would have gained it for us with out such late drama. You could possibly have requested for a bit extra from our efficiency, however soccer is such a loopy sport you could ask for one factor, and get one thing you simply don’t count on. Though late objectives on the Emirates are actually changing into one thing of a characteristic for this time, and this time – fortunately – we didn’t do the early concession factor, which was good.
The staff regarded just about like I believed it could. Gabriel got here again in, Zinchenko was there too, and Eddie began up prime. It was a bit tentative at first, however Kai Havertz had an ideal probability when the ball broke to him within the field however whiffed at his shot and United acquired it away. He actually ought to have executed higher. United appeared content material to play it round in their very own half, with Andre Onana ending up with extra touches of the ball than Antony, however we have been completely happy sufficient to allow them to try this too. I might have preferred, maybe, slightly extra from us once they had that sterile possession.
Once more like final season, Marcus Rashford put United forward. We misplaced the ball excessive up the pitch, they acquired it ahead rapidly, and I do suppose Ben White and William Saliba may need been a bit higher defensively. Nonetheless, it was a hell of successful, Ramsdale acquired fingertips to it, however couldn’t hold it out.
If not precisely towards the run of play, it was the primary time United regarded in any approach threatening, however our response was speedy. Beautiful interaction down the left, and a few one contact passing noticed Eddie feed the full of life Gabriel Martinelli whose pull again was swept house by Martin Odegaard. Simply 35 seconds after they went forward, we acquired stage. After which we let United have the ball loads, nearly 60% possession till half-time.
That they had some moments within the second half, Ramsdale saved from Martial, White and Saliba made essential blocks, then on the hour mark we have been awarded a penalty when Havertz drove into the field and went down. There was contact, which is why I used to be stunned it was overturned – I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen one like that reversed earlier than, however there you go. I bear in mind seeing David Luiz despatched off for us for much less contact than this. Havertz was sandwiched between two United gamers, and I feel they acquired a bit lucky.
I loved Lisandro Martinez clattering into Eddie and getting booked, but in addition injuring himself within the course of. Soccer’s reply to Scrappy-Doo needed to go off and he was changed by Harry Maguire. Martinelli shot simply large from a superb nook routine, Vieira and Jesus got here on, and we had that chance for Saka on 81 minutes. He didn’t make good contact, however that was precisely the sort of routine you recognize they’ve labored on in coaching numerous occasions, and he’s ok to have utilized the end.
The possibility for Garnacho, which was dominated out for offside, got here when Jesus was tackled from behind, one thing I believed was not allowed lately, however hey. I suppose in that sense justice prevailed as Gabriel leaned again and the United man was caught simply the fallacious facet of the strains.
And whereas all of us have our points with VAR and its implementation, maybe the least controversial factor of it’s offside. Typically it feels harsh, however it’s a black or white factor. It’s or it isn’t, so Erik ten Hag’s post-game bleating about that particularly appeared actually bizarre to me. I do know he was in all probability deflecting slightly bit, however they benefitted when the penalty was overturned so he ought to in all probability simply keep quiet on this one.
The board confirmed 8 minutes of damage time when it went up, and we have been into the sixth minute of it when Odegaard’s shot deflected out for a nook. Saka took it, aimed it to the again put up, and Declan Rice swivelled and shot, the ball taking a deflection on its approach past Onana. United needed a foul on Jonny Evans, however that’s nonsense. The truth is, if you happen to convey on Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans, you get what you deserve. That will be like us complaining we didn’t defend effectively with a centre-half partnership of Mustafi and Steve Bould.
What a second for Rice to attain his first Arsenal objective. It was fascinating to listen to him discuss on Sky about how, when he was youthful, he may need tried to put that ball off as a substitute, however he took the duty, and executed it rather well. One factor that hasn’t been talked about an ideal deal is that it was technically fairly tough to tug off, however he cracked it completely and in it went. Delirium.
As I discussed, the Gabriel Jesus objective was icing on the cake. Vieira’s by ball as we broke was good, and the way in which he sat down the defender then rolled by the ball house was high quality and quietness personified. It was fairly becoming he scored as I feel he had a very spectacular cameo when he got here on. 3-1. Sport over. Three factors. And three essential factors too due to how Man Metropolis have began the season.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta stated:
All of us labored so arduous and plan the whole lot to stay moments like this. These moments are going to stay with us. To see the gang so linked with the staff once more and rejoice in a giant match like at the moment with the historical past of this conflict is one thing nice, so very completely happy.
And on the efficiency:
We’ve performed 4 video games, we deserved to win 4 video games, it might’ve be very completely different however the margins that we’re arriving on the late levels of the sport doesn’t mirror what the staff has executed earlier than. There are issues which can be nonetheless in our management that we will do higher, and the staff will attempt to progress and evolve in that route to shut video games earlier and win them simpler.
Typically it’s arduous to search out the stability between the euphoria you’re feeling if you win a sport like that, with chilly mild of day evaluation of the efficiency. The place I’m this morning is being delighted we gained, clearly, however I additionally really feel like we nonetheless haven’t actually clicked as a staff but this season. Nonetheless, the truth that we’ve taken 10 factors from 12 whereas we’re on this section the place issues aren’t fairly as fluid as you want to looks like a constructive to me. Some individuals would possibly view it in a different way, that maybe we’ve been a bit fortunate, however on this league you may have to have the ability to scrap out factors if you’re not at your finest. I feel earlier iterations of this staff would have dropped factors yesterday, whereas this model had the mentality to take all three.
Clearly there’s room for enchancment, and I hope we see that, however whereas we’re heading in that route, moving into the behavior of profitable video games is essential, and we appear able to doing that (even when we did fluff our strains a bit towards Fulham). So, total – a great way to enter the Interlull. The actual fact we will search to do higher with these factors on the desk is a pleasant place to be.
Proper, let’s depart it there. James and I’ll have an Arsecast Further for you slightly afterward this morning. Preserve a watch out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or if you happen to’re on Arseblog Member on Patreon, depart your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
For now, have a superb one.
