Defeat to Liverpool in Philly + Mikel Merino move nears

Before we dig into things, a massive thanks to Andrew Allen for covering yesterday’s blog after I, well, let’s not dress it up, I got my days mixed up. Next drink’s on me!

As for Arsenal and last night, it’s comforting to tell ourselves pre-season means nothing when we lose. If only the actual season had such an easy out after a disappointing result. Still, as much as pre-season is an exercise in team building and getting minutes in the legs, there will still be conversations around performances, results, individuals when these games are played. Sometimes, like after the win against Manchester United the other day, those conversations are positive. Sometimes not so much.

Waking up this morning after defeat to Liverpool overnight and things feel more like the latter.

As things often go as pre-season goes on and the real thing closes in, there was a more senior feel to the team against Liverpool compared to the two previous games. All three goals in the 2-1 loss came before the break, with Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho scoring for Arne Slot’s side in Philadelphia before Kai Havertz pulled one back following some lovely work from Martin Odegaard. Arsenal were the team forcing the issue and pushing for the remainder of the game but there was no breakthrough and the US tour ended with a loss after the draw with Bournemouth and the 2-1 win against United.

After that win in LA, I was on duty here in Blogs’ absence and wrote about Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, touching on how big seasons from both — after disappointing to differing extents in 2023/24 — could be crucial for Arsenal looking ahead. Both players looked threatening again, picking up where they left off a few days ago but without offering the finishing touches. Punishing teams was a topic last season and Mikel Arteta will not want it to become one again:

I think we started the game fantastically well. I think after six or seven minutes we should be 2-0 up. Then we lost control,…

Source link : https://arseblog.com/2024/08/defeat-to-liverpool-in-philly-mikel-merino-move-nears/

Author : Lewis Ambrose

Publish date : 2024-08-01 07:07:48

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