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Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
A 3-0 win type of does and doesn’t inform the complete story of final evening’s win over Monaco. Had we scored all of the targets within the first half, there would have been little grievance, however two of them got here after the break once we struggled to match the standard of the primary interval, so it felt slightly bit unusual.
The workforce was attention-grabbing, with Thomas Partey at right-back, and Myles Lewis-Skelly handed a primary Champions League begin on the opposite facet. That meant Jurrien Timber and Kieran Tierney stayed on the bench. For the previous, it felt like a participant whose health was being managed, and while you noticed how the 18 yr outdated performed, you perceive why the latter wasn’t chosen.
It was attention-grabbing that when requested concerning the Scottish worldwide earlier than the sport, Mikel Arteta mainly stated he wouldn’t ask him to play that ‘inverted’ function anymore if he did choose him, as a result of – based mostly on previous expertise – it wasn’t actually one thing he was comfy with. Lewis-Skelly popped up these positions right away, comfy in possession in tight areas, and in a position/keen to play excessive up the pitch if wanted.
The guests had an early pop at objective which went not far vast, however after that Arsenal actually turned it on and performed very nicely within the first half. I don’t assume it’s an exaggeration to say we should always have been a number of targets to the great by the point half-time got here round. As a substitute, it was simply the one and what a stunning objective it was too. Lewis-Skelly obtained the ball from Martin Odegaard beneath a little bit of strain from the opposition, however confirmed his midfield prowess by turning away nicely from his marker and threading a stunning go via to Gabriel Jesus. His ball to the again put up was glorious, and it was a simple end for somebody pretty much as good as Bukayo Saka. 1-0.
Both facet of that although, there have been superb alternatives. A improbable lengthy ball excessive from Jakub Kiwior despatched Jesus via with simply the keeper to beat. He’s clearly determined to get on the scoresheet once more, didn’t fairly compose himself nicely sufficient and the end – whereas struck nicely sufficient – lacked conviction and the keeper made a save. Minutes later Gabriel Martinelli’s go noticed Jesus trend one other probability from contained in the field. He did nicely to carry off the defender, however this time I believe it was extra a great save than a nasty miss.
Odegaard, who had already seen a few curling efforts drift vast, robbed the ball within the Monaco half and scampered via for a one on one probability himself. He put it vast when he actually ought to have scored, and when the captain created for Martinelli within the field, he too was off the mark along with his end, side-footing vast of the put up. The optimistic was that we had been creating way over we did in opposition to Fulham (from ‘open play’ too!), however the missed possibilities made you surprise in the event that they’d come again to hang-out us.
Monaco made a half-time change, bringing on former Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino and he made a distinction. You possibly can see from the assault momentum graph how a lot the sport modified after the break.
I believe they had been higher, I believe we had been worse, and it meant an excessive amount of of the sport was being performed in our half. Nonetheless, their finest second solely got here William Saliba uncharacteristically gave the ball away, they labored it shortly to Breel Embolo who shot past the put up with Raya at full-stretch.
Arteta made modifications with Rice, Lewis-Skelly and Martinelli making manner for Jorginho, Timber and Trossard, and we began to chip away at their dominance. I believe it was the introduction of Kai Havertz for Jesus that basically tipped issues again our manner although. Instantly we had a bit extra presence, not simply up entrance however in our personal half, and the German’s first actual contribution of notice was to carry off Monaco gamers and use a difficult bouncing ball nicely to set us away on the counter assault.
He was concerned within the second objective, closing down the keeper shortly after an iffy go again to him from one in all his defenders, and Saka was there to make it 2-0, after which the sport was mainly gained. Havertz thought he’d scored the third late on, however UEFA corrected the report and put it down as an personal objective for Thilo Kehrer. A bit unlucky however I believe that’s in all probability proper, it was the defender’s toe that poked the ball dwelling from Saka’s shot. I’m certain the Monaco captain would have reasonably it went down as a objective for his compatriot, however it added some gloss to the scoreline that we in all probability deserved based mostly on the primary half.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta stated:
Very proud of the win, with a clear sheet, with the truth that we needed to change a number of gamers, gamers that haven’t performed that a lot and so they nonetheless carried out rather well and put us in a great place within the group.
And whereas Saka was the star man for us final evening, it was inevitable he fielded questions on Lewis-Skelly, saying:
It’s a extremely proud second. He’s one in all our personal, 18 years outdated. He makes his beginning debut within the Champions League and he’s only a pleasure to observe him you already know. It’s a privilege to have the chance to present an opportunity to any individual, to begin to change his profession, He actually took the prospect and it’s nice that we are able to belief him, that he can play on this atmosphere and on this stage and I used to be actually glad along with his efficiency.
I believed this was an attention-grabbing choice from a supervisor who many really feel – and sometimes with some justification – defaults to the skilled possibility. However this time he went with potential and it paid off. It was the type of spectacular efficiency that may reassure you concerning the 18 yr outdated’s capability to cope with strain and the extent of competitors (one thing Saka stated to him and about him afterwards). And, as I wrote earlier within the week, so long as left-back stays a little bit of a problematic place on account of accidents, giving these minutes to a participant who has the potential to be a longer-term possibility made sense to me. It might sound harsh on somebody like Tierney, however it’s important to look to the longer term when you possibly can, and Lewis-Skelly is completely going to be a part of that.
When you’re searching for different positives, I believe there have been some green-shoots from Jesus regardless of his ending woes. He seemed energetic, extra concerned, bought an help, and labored onerous. It was in stark distinction to what we noticed in opposition to Fulham, which might solely be a great factor. Plus, three factors, a clear sheet, and a really respectable place on this elongated Champions League desk with a few video games to places us in a great place to keep away from the additional two video games within the new yr.
Job carried out, an honest evening’s work, now for Everton on Saturday.
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We’ll have an Arsecast for you slightly later this morning, recapping final evening’s occasions and extra, however within the meantime, why not benefit from the a centesimal episode of the Arsenal Girls Arsecast by which Tim Stillman has an unique sit down with Leah Williamson. Get it now in all the standard podcast locations, or watch beneath through our YouTube channel.
