Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Morning. It’s Friday.
Prepare for data overload. That’s proper, the supervisor will meet the press at this time forward of our sport in opposition to Nottingham Forest tomorrow, and we’ll get some data. Which can nonetheless really feel like an overload as a result of we’ve had nothing for weeks now.
It seems like a very long time has handed since that Chelsea sport. Maybe that’s an excellent factor. I’m no fan of the Interlull, however this one might need simply allowed us to attract a line beneath the primary a part of the season (solely 11 Premier League video games, 27 to go!), and get targeted once more. What little margin for error there’s all through a season may effectively have been used up in that opening interval, so it’s essential that the supervisor elicits outcomes and performances when issues kick off once more tomorrow.
One factor I’m hoping to see because the weeks go on as an Arsenal workforce that feels extra balanced than the one we’ve seen up to now. I feel there are apparent causes as to why we’ve struggled. Towards Brighton we performed a lot of the second half with 10 males; in opposition to Man Metropolis we performed your complete second half (and a shitload of harm time with 10 males); and in opposition to Bournemouth it was over an hour with 10 males. We’ve had points with accidents too, which have impacted consistency of choice, and I don’t assume it’s unreasonable to assume there’s been a bodily influence from taking part in these video games a person gentle.
As Lewis identified this week, the return of Martin Odegaard is essential for our enchancment (and I feel between now and January, Arteta and people who are filling in for Edu proper now have to assume very strongly about our lack of depth in his absence), however I’m curious to see if midfield may begin to form up in a different way going ahead. When it grew to become clear through the summer season that Mikel Merino was a switch goal, I questioned if we’d see the ‘first selection’ trio turn out to be Declan Rice, Merino, and Odegaard.
Rice anchoring, Merino because the ‘left 8‘, and the captain doing the stuff we all know he can do, with the peace of mind of these two behind/alongside him. If that was the plan, it was derailed instantly as Merino picked up an harm shortly after arriving, and it’s apparent that has delayed his integration into the workforce. He’s had a barely inconsistent begin to life at Arsenal, however has finished so in a workforce which has collectively inconsistent too, so it’s to not pin all of it on him as a person. I don’t assume it’s coincidence that his most eye-catching look got here when he performed with Odegaard exterior him within the remaining a part of the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. That’s the midfield I’d wish to see extra of within the coming weeks and months.
The opposite side of that’s that it permits us to play Kai Havertz because the 9, and I feel this workforce operates extra effectively when he’s the focus. The ‘job share’ bit with Leandro Trossard final season labored okay, however the Belgian isn’t in good type proper now, so I’d wish to Havertz performed primarily because the centre-forward, flanked by a completely match Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
These 6 weeks or so earlier than the brand new 12 months are additionally essential for each Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling. If Arteta has to consider how now we have an enormous reliance on Odegaard, he’s additionally bought to consider the shortage of finish product from these two gamers. I don’t assume it’s sustainable if we actually need to problem for trophies this season, so there’s some stress on these two, and possibly some ruthlessness required. Sure, their minutes have been scant to date, however they’re senior gamers with tons of expertise, they know the drill and what’s anticipated.
So, let’s hope we discover the steadiness, let’s hope those that have under-performed to now can discover some type, as a result of the underside line for me is that we’re able to rather a lot higher than we’ve seen up to now. Now could be the time to point out it.
Lastly, congrats to Tim whose unbelievable work for Arseblog masking Arsenal Ladies earned a Silver within the Soccer Content material Awards final night time, and congrats to our pals at ArsenalVision and Poorly Drawn Arsenal who received golds of their classes!
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. There’s a model new Arsecast beneath by which I chat to Miguel Delaney about his new e book ‘States of play: How sportswashing took over soccer’. There’s rather a lot to unpack from the e book itself, the best way soccer, cash and politics have turn out to be inextricably linked over time is clear, however what influence has it had on the sport, and what’s subsequent?
We talk about all that and plenty extra. And for lots extra Arsenal chat, be part of us over on Patreon later for our Nottingham Forest preview podcast.
