Good morning.
First up, congrats to Arsenal Ladies who demolished Hacken 4-0 final night time within the second leg of the Champions League qualifier. Having misplaced the primary leg 1-0, there was some actual stress going into this one, however the crew got here up with the products and go into the draw which takes place at midday right now. You’ll be able to see the objectives within the match report, and skim Jonas Eidevall’s response over on Arseblog Information.
Immediately, Mikel Arteta will meet the press forward of our sport in opposition to Leicester tomorrow, and I actually hope there aren’t extra questions in regards to the ‘darkish arts’. As I stated earlier within the week, we must always take it as a type of praise that persons are making such a fuss out of it, however it’s all very boring now. Certain, make it your speaking level after an enormous sport with Man Metropolis so you’ll be able to wring each click on out of it along with your engagement-bait protection, however can we come again all the way down to earth now please?
Each crew does it, each supervisor does it, each participant does it. Attempting to gaslight folks into pondering that is one thing distinctive to Arsenal is each tedious and patronising. Everybody is aware of higher. There have been a lot of folks in glass homes this week throwing a lot of stones. The absurdity of some ex-pros sticking the knife into our second half show on Sunday when you think about a few of the stuff they acquired as much as of their enjoying days is off the charts.
I truly assume it’s one thing Mikel Arteta will quietly take pleasure in as a means of additional fostering an ‘us in opposition to them’ mentality inside his squad. He’s a person who retains receipts, as we all know. Ivan Toney’s ‘good kick about with the boys’ Tweet festered with him till we subsequent performed Brentford, at which level he used as motivation for his crew. I’m positive there are numerous different examples which have by no means been made public, and this might properly be one in every of them.
He may fear about how these items being relentlessly regurgitated within the media means we play below a type of highlight which isn’t at all times useful, however these items tends to fade away as soon as there’s one thing else for them to get their tooth into. Additionally, it’s laborious to not assume plenty of that is linked to the schedule. Three actually powerful away video games in every week, and by the top of the final one we have been digging in with 10 males in opposition to one in every of most troublesome sides to play in opposition to in world soccer, making an attempt to carry them out with every thing we had left within the tank. Each crew would have performed precisely the identical as we did.
I believe the supervisor can be hoping {that a} comparatively kinder schedule within the weeks forward will permit us to simply play video games, rating objectives, and take factors, with out all of the fuss. Which is to take nothing as a right, however some durations of the season are harder than others, and we’ve come via a very tough one. We’ve got three dwelling video games earlier than the following Interlull, two within the Premier League (Leicester and Southampton) and one within the Champions League (PSG). Domestically, not less than, it’s a must to assume these are very winnable fixtures, and whereas PSG will definitely be a problem, that dwelling benefit could possibly be crucial on an enormous European night time.
I’m additionally positive {that a} subject of dialog on the coaching floor this week can be about self-discipline. I don’t have to say once more how ridiculous I feel it’s that Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have been despatched off and suspended for one thing as trivial as ‘delaying the restart’, however Arteta can be ensuring his gamers perceive they will’t give referees even a sniff of an opportunity to do what they appear to like doing most – making themselves the centre of consideration. To this point this season there have been 263 yellow playing cards and 6 purple playing cards within the opening 5 video games. I don’t know the way that stacks up in opposition to final season, or earlier seasons, however it looks like rather a lot, and all we will management is what we do – which is a message I feel Arteta can be eager to impress upon his gamers.
For some additional studying this morning, Tim’s column takes a have a look at how Arteta may tweak issues now that the three powerful away video games are performed. There’s a brand new Arsecast for you beneath, chatting in regards to the Bolton win when you haven’t had an opportunity to hear already, and you’ll be part of us a bit in a while Patreon as we sit up for Leicester tomorrow.
Bye for now.
