Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
For the primary time since December 2015, Arsenal prevented defeat away to Man Metropolis. For the primary time in 58 video games on the Etihad, Man Metropolis failed to attain a purpose. It’s not a recreation that may go down within the annals as a traditional, however within the context of our document there, it’s one which Mikel Arteta will be grateful for – even when it does go away us behind Liverpool within the title race.
The workforce noticed Gabriel Jesus begin for the primary time for the reason that finish of January, enjoying on the left hand facet, whereas the remaining was just about as anticipated. The sport rapidly settled into a well-known sample, with numerous Metropolis possession, and plenty of it in our half. It was fascinating to listen to Martin Odegaard speak afterwards about how Arsenal enjoying that deep wasn’t a part of the plan, it was simply the way it transpired:
We needed to defend quite a bit, a bit extra deep than we deliberate to. I really feel like we had been harmful in sure moments on the counter once we managed to maintain the ball for slightly bit. however it’s onerous once you’ve defended for some time and also you get the ball and your legs are heavy.
Nonetheless, that is an Arsenal workforce who’ve constructed a platform on defensive solidity this season. We ended the primary interval with as many pictures as Metropolis, and there have been moments of attacking menace too. Jesus shot broad on the again publish, then curled one other past the far publish. His tendency to hold onto the ball a bit too lengthy is a frustration, however given he hasn’t performed a lot of late, I assumed he was efficient sufficient yesterday.
Metropolis’s solely actual probability was a Nathan Ake header from a nook which might have been much more harmful if he’d made correct contact, however David Raya was there to cease it. There was additionally a scrappiness about Arsenal within the first half that was a bit uncharacteristic. Raya slipped a few instances and made unhealthy passes, Odegaard’s vary wasn’t fairly there – at one level enjoying a go off Declan Rice’s again the place usually he’d have threaded it the place he wished it to go – and in defence we had two members of the again 4 whose passing stats had been nicely under what you’d usually anticipate.
Jakub Kiwior was at 54% passing accuracy, which might typically occur to a full-back once they’re one thing an outlet with not a lot taking place forward of them, however the often impeccable William Saliba at 66% was very uncommon. It was a part of why we had been underneath such strain, as a result of we saved coughing up possession. Solely Ben White actually stood out for us in that first half, enjoying at one thing near his ordinary stage whereas others struggled to search out their rhythm as Metropolis’s possession choke-hold restricted us.
We had been tidier within the second half, as Metropolis grew extra pissed off and the sport bought a bit tetchy at instances. There was one other probability for Jesus when Saka fizzed a very good ball throughout, however quite than a failing of the ahead, I feel it’s truly a wonderful little bit of defending from Manuel Akanji who simply gave him slightly nudge as he was making an attempt to throw himself on the ball. It put him off his stride sufficiently, and if Saliba or Gabriel had finished that, we’d be speaking about their canny defending.
With nothing doing with the gamers they’d on the pitch, Metropolis needed to change issues, taking off the ineffective Foden and Kovacic to placed on Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku – two wingers who can actually trigger you issues. Arteta responded with Tomiyasu and Partey for Kiwior and Jorginho. Leandro Trossard quickly adopted, and an clearly fatigued Saka was changed by Gabriel Martinelli.
These two ought to have offered a possible match-winning second for Arsenal, when Odegaard performed the Belgian in behind. Martinelli’s run on the far facet was good, Trossard’s first contact was something however. It meant the possibility to search out the go was minimize out, he finally had a shot which was simple for the keeper, and Arteta’s frustration on the sideline was evident. Regardless of Metropolis’s dominance, I feel Arsenal had the very best possibilities to attain on this recreation, so if there’s a tinge of remorse, it’s that we didn’t fairly take advantage of them – particularly one which late within the recreation.
Up the opposite finish, Erling Haaland flitted between Saliba and Gabriel to see if he might get any pleasure. There was no pleasure. He, like Kevin de Bruyne, has brought about us so many issues previously, however the two centre-halves and Declan Rice in midfield labored so onerous to negate their menace virtually utterly. A number of set-pieces from de Bruyne, and nothing a lot from the very best goalscorer within the Premier League. That takes a number of effort.
I can’t sit right here this morning and say I used to be utterly chilled out throughout that second half, as a result of you understand with the standard Metropolis have a purpose might come at any second, however the best way this workforce stays organised and disciplined goes an extended technique to instill a way of belief that Metropolis might huff and puff and never blow the home down. So it proved. There was no means by for them, and whereas I don’t assume this was a must-win recreation for us, it was definitely one we couldn’t lose. That document on the Etihad is one we needed to put a halt to, and we labored very, very onerous to make sure that we bought one thing from this recreation.
I fairly loved the Gabriel/Haaland stuff on the finish, it was an actual battle between the 2 and the best way they hugged it out was fairly good. I can’t say the identical for Pep Guardiola’s determination to come back onto the pitch to berate Jack Grealish so publicly, that felt performative and bizarre to me, and Metropolis’s lack of ability to interrupt Arsenal down had a lot much less to do with him than among the others.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta stated of the consequence and efficiency:
Clearly, it generates perception, it continues the momentum, and the great place that we’re in. We’re enhancing, and we’re competing higher, and we’re understanding how you must play these video games, however there are extra steps to make to win championships. It’s extraordinarily troublesome to do this however that tells you the dedication of each participant, the self-discipline that they confirmed and the way they compete
Was this recreation a traditional for the impartial? Completely not, however Arsenal haven’t any obligation to entertain the impartial, solely to do what’s greatest for them. I feel when you supplied any fan 4 factors from 6 in opposition to Man Metropolis and Liverpool initially of the season, they’d have bitten your hand off for it. It in all probability says quite a bit about how a lot progress we’ve made that there’s a tinge of disappointment to not taking all three factors yesterday, however as a marker of progress, I feel it’s evident that it is a workforce that has now closed the hole on the 2 greatest sides within the Premier League during the last 5 or 6 years.
There’s extra to do, clearly, however it’s simple to neglect how a lot that felt like a pipe dream once we had been being routinely rattled by Liverpool and Metropolis, house and away. There’s a maturity there now, and a a lot under-discussed vein of cynicism that’s completely mandatory. Witness Raya’s time-wasting on each purpose kick, fully deliberate, and whereas some won’t look after that form of factor, you might have to have the ability to do it. Equally, I cherished Odegaard simply taking Rodri out when he tried to spin past him. Small issues, however necessary issues.
I feel it’s additionally price mentioning this recreation happening immediately after an Interlull, when preparation is clearly impacted, and the degrees of gamers fluctuate as a result of they’ve both been away or haven’t performed for a few weeks. You typically see that mirrored in performances, and that was true of yesterday. Now although, this massive one is out of the best way. This boil has been lanced, and now we flip our consideration to Wednesday night time and a house recreation in opposition to Luton.
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In the meantime, Large congrats to Arsenal Ladies who gained the Conti Cup yesterday in extra-time due to a Stina Blackstenius purpose. Beating Chelsea is all the time good, particularly when you think about among the post-game response from their supervisor, however an important factor is the trophy itself, particularly in a season which has been a bit underwhelming.
For extra, Tim has all of the response on Arseblog Information.
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Okay, let’s go away it there. We’re recording an Arsecast Further for you this morning, so maintain a watch out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or when you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Podcast needs to be out round midday. Till then.
