Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
After giving West Ham six of one of the best final week, Arsenal put in a 5 star efficiency within the rain and shine of Burnley yesterday.
With solely Emile Smith Rowe again within the squad from our assortment of injured gamers, it wasn’t a shock that Mikel Arteta named an unchanged crew. They had been excellent in opposition to the Hammers, and yesterday it took simply 5 minutes to place their stamp on the sport. Gabriel Martinelli bought down the left hand facet, performed it throughout the field to Martin Odegaard, and the skipper’s half-volleyed end into the underside nook was hit with the form of energy and precision that made it unstoppable.
It had appeared that within the opening couple of minutes Burnley’s plan was to match Arsenal’s high quality with some physicality, however that light fairly rapidly. We had moments, when Leandro Trossard went via for instance, and Martinelli triggered his full-back some issues, however the hazard we triggered them didn’t fairly flip into clear possibilities. Trossard had a recent air shot in entrance of purpose when he ought to have made it 2-0, and shortly afterwards gained a penalty after being performed in behind by Kai Havertz whose motion triggered Burnley issues all afternoon. There’s not a number of contact, however it’s a careless lunge from the defender.
Odegaard stepped up, put the ball down, and Bukayo Saka stepped as much as take his second penalty in successive video games. James Trafford went the proper means, and whilst you wouldn’t precisely say it was a mistake from the keeper, I’d say he was a bit pissed off with himself that he didn’t preserve it out. That made it 2-0 on the break, and I don’t assume it was something lower than Arsenal deserved primarily based on the efficiency.
If Burnley’s half-time crew discuss was about protecting it tight early on and seeing if they may nick a purpose to get again into the sport, we put a fork in that fairly rapidly. Havertz discovered Odegaard, he performed it to Saka and also you nearly may see the defender considering ‘I can’t let him in the reduction of on his favoured left foot’. A part of what makes him so particular is his means (and willingness) to make use of his proper foot, and he rifled the ball into the roof of the web to make it 3-0. A superb end to just about seal the sport at that time.
There was a protracted stoppage when Burnley’s Aaron Ramsey landed awkwardly after a problem from Odegaard. The TV replays confirmed his knee buckle as he landed, and he wanted oxygen earlier than being stretchered off. If that was an Arsenal participant we’d all be fearing the worst this morning, so let’s hope it not as critical because it seems (however a speedy restoration whether it is).
There then adopted an nearly comical sequence of Trossard lacking likelihood after likelihood. Martinelli bursting via, getting tackled, then someway offering an assist-worthy go whereas on his arse was fairly one thing – not least as a result of the Belgian squirted the ball past the put up when it appeared simpler to attain. Ultimately he discovered his vary, the ball coming to him off a defender after we’d triggered the Burnley defence issues, and he made no mistake for 4-0.
Profitable video games in addition to that is clearly a number of enjoyable, however one of many different advantages (except for actually bettering purpose distinction) is it offers the supervisor the power to make adjustments. Relatively than asking the likes of Saka and Rice to offer 110% for 90+ minutes, we will save their legs a bit and provides an opportunity to some others. I don’t assume any of the subs had been notably spectacular or something, however with the Champions League beginning up once more, protecting gasoline within the tank of our greatest gamers is de facto essential.
The fifth got here from a protracted throw by Jakub Kiwior, who had one other spectacular day at left-back and appears much more settled now. He despatched Havertz down the left, and the German minimize into the field, nutmegged a defender, and completed along with his proper foot. I used to be completely happy for him to make that contribution, as a result of I believe his total efficiency deserved it. He was concerned in a number of what we did effectively yesterday, the interchanging of him and Trossard is a tactical improvement that groups haven’t fairly discovered but, and it was only a beautiful purpose to place the icing on the cake.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta stated:
I’m actually completely happy clearly with the efficiency and the end result, with the person and collective as effectively. The contribution of each single participant has been very, superb and the truth that the crew appeared prefer it wished extra. They weren’t happy, they wished to attain extra and didn’t wish to concede a purpose, so I’m actually happy to see that consistency.
It’s laborious to pick people on a day when so many performed effectively, however I’ve to offer a nod to Odegaard whose type of late has been excellent. Earlier within the season it felt like he was simply taking a contact too many at occasions. Now the ball goes the place it wants to precisely on time, and his means to squeeze the ball into areas is excellent. No participant has made extra passes into the penalty space this season (not together with set-pieces), and he feels basic to how this crew clicks. He’s not alone, clearly, just about everyone seems to be taking part in effectively proper now, however he – together with Saka – simply have one thing a bit additional that we’re going to wish if we’re gonna go the space on this title race.
For the reason that Dubai journey, Arsenal have performed 5, gained 5, scored 21, conceded 2, and after yesterday sit 2 factors forward of Man Metropolis with our purpose distinction 5 higher than theirs. There’s loads nonetheless to do, clearly, however it’s been an excellent response to that run of poor type, which I at all times thought was anomalous to what we’d seen from this crew till then. I believe it’s protected to say now although that we’ve gone up a degree, and protecting this type of consistency between now and Could would be the purpose. Whether or not we will do it or not we’ll have to attend and see, however there’s no query it is a very, superb Arsenal facet, and one we should always get pleasure from as a lot as doable.
So, for the gamers and the supervisor, it’s a query of ‘job performed’, placing this one behind them, and turning the main focus utterly to the midweek journey to Porto. As followers we will get pleasure from it a bit longer, after all, and you’ll be a part of James and I for an Arsecast Further tomorrow to relive all of it once more.
For now, have an excellent Sunday people.
