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Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
Arsenal kicked off 2025 in the fitting means, taking all three factors in what was a tough away sport towards Brentford.
Rumours of a bug within the camp abounded pre-game, and when the workforce sheet was introduced there was no Kai Havertz, the German was too sick to play. Mikel Arteta revealed afterwards that even a few of those that performed had been affected, however insisted that his determination to begin Ethan Nwaneri was concerning the 17 yr outdated deserving it reasonably than the rest. Extra on him anon.
We started properly, with loads of the ball of their half, nevertheless it was the house aspect who went forward. A Martin Odegaard go was intercepted of their half, they took it ahead, the spectacular Bryan Mbeumo took it on, acquired onto his left foot in our field, and his shot contained in the close to submit caught David Raya out. I feel he was anticipating a roller to the far nook, it was a pleasant end from an in-form participant, nevertheless it felt like a mushy aim to concede.
It might need been a really completely different night time after Raya let a shot slip via his arms, however not for the primary time this season his unbelievable response occasions bailed us out. Because the ball bounced in direction of the online, he raced again rapidly to paw it to security, and the replays confirmed simply how shut it got here to entering into. Had it gone to 2-0, it could have been far tougher to get one thing from the sport – that felt like a giant second. It was a multitude of his personal making, however he did brilliantly to maintain it out.
Lower than a minute later we have been degree. It acquired a bit scrappy on the sting of the Brentford field, a dodgy contact from Mbeumo ended up with Thomas Partey taking up a shot which the keeper saved, however Gabriel Jesus was there to go house the rebound from shut vary. Was it probably the most stunning aim ever? Removed from it, nevertheless it was good centre-forward play from the Brazilian who was in the fitting place, anticipated the rebound, and utilized the end. 1-1.
Whereas it was a primary half we didn’t create massively in, we nonetheless completed it having had 9 pictures to Brentford’s 4, and I feel we deserved to go in degree. It was then about what we’d do within the second half towards a workforce with – then at the least – the joint finest document at house within the Premier League. The reply was emphatic, two objectives in a few minutes that fully knocked the stuffing out of them.
First, a nook from the left taken by Ethan Nwaneri noticed a Jesus shot blocked, however Mikel Merino was there to stab the ball house for his second aim of the season. Then simply a few minutes after that, Nwaneri’s fast toes delivered a cross which Brentford couldn’t clear properly sufficient, it fell for Gabriel Martinelli and his end gave the keeper no likelihood to make it 3-1.
After that, it was like a special match. Brentford barely threatened, we stored issues beneath management, and within the context of the schedule we discover ourselves in, I feel we performed a sport of containment. Generally you’re feeling like one aim for the opposition would change issues, however they by no means regarded like getting it. After a primary half he gained’t have been too keen on on his return to Brentford, I believed Raya was superb within the second, enjoying with precisely the reassurance we would have liked from him at 3-1 up.
The again 4 have been strong, Partey had a great sport anchoring the midfield, and we made a load of adjustments with out it impacting the best way the sport was enjoying out to its inevitable conclusion. The one actually adverse be aware was a primary half reserving for Jurrien Timber which guidelines him out of Saturday’s journey to Brighton.
Afterwards, Arteta stated:
It’s a really troublesome place to come back, whenever you see their document at house, the best way they play, the best way they trigger points to opponents, very spectacular, on high of that, we went a aim down. So then, it turns into a giant mountain to climb, however I feel the workforce confirmed plenty of composure, was very calm emotionally as a result of we would have liked that in immediately’s sport and as properly had the fitting want to maintain insisting, attacking them and do it in a means that may trigger them issues, which is troublesome. So, general, I feel we deserved to win the sport.
By any measure it is a superb consequence towards a aspect who’ve been glorious at house this season. It regarded at the least banana-skin adjoining, with the accidents and absences and the early aim for them it grew to become extra sophisticated, however we reacted rather well and I feel we completely deserved all three factors. It’s additionally actually, actually necessary that gamers like Martinelli and Jesus present end-product proper now, in order that’s one other large constructive to take from this one.
Understandably, the supervisor was additionally requested about Ethan Nwaneri who began on the fitting, and stated:
That was a choice we made as a result of I believed he was the perfect participant to play within the place to begin the sport and since there was a narrative there, along with his debut right here. He made his Premier League debut and typically that feeling is available in and you are feeling it’s the fitting one.
I used to be glad to see him get the nod, I’ve to say. I did surprise if Ipswich at house might need been a ‘safer’ strategy to give him his first Premier League begin, however maybe there’s one thing extra to take from yesterday. It’s at all times robust away from house, and I feel he got here via this sport with flying colors. He was good on the ball, courageous in possession, concerned in two of our objectives, and what a efficiency like that does is reassure a supervisor {that a} younger participant is a very viable possibility.
In the identical means Myles Lewis-Skelly took a giant step ahead after being handed a begin within the Champions League towards Monaco, I feel this might be the second for Nwaneri. We’re quick on numbers in assault, and whereas clearly it’s unsuitable to match him to Bukayo Saka, he offers us one thing related in that place which is likely to be one thing the supervisor considers as he picks his groups all through this hectic interval. Nwaneri ought to be more than happy along with his night time’s work, and I anticipate to see extra of him any more – whether or not it’s on the fitting or elsewhere.
A ultimate factor on him: given the significance of set-pieces to this workforce, it was notable he was provided that duty yesterday. The ‘straightforward’ possibility could be Odegaard, nevertheless it’s one other little feather in Nwaneri’s cap that he was trusted – and supplied respectable supply too. So general, a really pleasing strategy to begin 2025. It’s the primary of two difficult away video games this week, so hopefully we are able to relaxation up, recover from a few of the sickness points, and repeat the feat once we journey to Brighton on Saturday.
Proper, let’s depart it there. We’re gonna have an Arsecast Further for you in a short while too. We’ve put out the decision for questions on BlueSky @gunnerblog.bsky.social and @arseblog.com with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or in the event you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, depart your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod ought to be out round lunchtime. For now, have a great one.
