Match report – Participant Scores – Arteta response – Video
Arsenal returned to profitable methods final night time with a 1-0 victory over Shaktar Donetsk, but it surely’s truthful to say it wasn’t probably the most convincing victory we’ve ever had.
Mikel Arteta performed a powerful facet, with solely two modifications from the facet that misplaced to Bournemouth on Saturday. Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling dropped out, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli got here in. I assumed we began brightly, taking part in with first rate tempo, and we should always have been forward early on when Riccardo Calafiori had a terrific probability, however scooped the ball over the bar from shut vary.
It wasn’t classic stuff by any means, however there have been first rate probabilities within the first 45 minutes that we did not profit from. Kai Havertz arrange Leandro Trossard however he fully miskicked with a transparent sight of aim; Trossard put one vast on the close to submit after good work from Martinelli; Havertz was denied by a superb piece of defending after Jesus set him up, once more an opportunity that stemmed from a Martinelli supply; whereas Jesus himself had a superb alternative to finish the aim drought that goes again to January, however there wasn’t sufficient conviction within the end and the keeper saved along with his toes.
By that time we have been a aim to the great although. Martinelli shifted the ball nicely contained in the field and his deflected shot hit the submit, then the goalkeeper’s arse, and into the again of the web. It was a contact lucky, I suppose, but additionally reward for the Brazilian’s decisiveness. He was most likely our greatest participant on the night time, drawing reward from the supervisor afterwards who mentioned:
He regarded actually sharp, he regarded actually contemporary, more energizing than anyone else on that pitch. You seen that towards Bournemouth, you would inform that was completely different. He had one other gear, he added one other degree of menace, he began the sport very well and he had a terrific efficiency right now.
So, whereas it wasn’t sensible, we have been set nicely for the second half which was, by any measure, dreary stuff. Afterwards, the supervisor mentioned the group regarded drained, citing the very fact we’d performed with 10 males for over an hour simply two and a half days in the past. And look, I don’t assume that’s an unreasonable commentary by any means. We take into consideration a pink card and its influence on the sport we’re taking part in in that second, however there are bodily penalties too whenever you play once more so rapidly – and 9 of final night time’s beginning XI performed towards Bournemouth too.
There was a half-time change with Merino approaching for Ben White, who was on a yellow and the supervisor determined a zero-risk technique was the order of the day. I don’t assume that essentially helped as Thomas Partey moved to proper again after what I assumed was most likely his finest midfield 45 minutes of the season. The Spaniard continues to be feeling his approach into this group additionally, so it wasn’t maybe as fluent as we wanted it to be, whereas I assumed Trossard was having one other sport the place his affect was not as constructive as you’d like.
Raheem Sterling got here on for Jesus (full of life and efficient normally, however desperately in want of a aim) and produced one other nothing show. Up to now his performances have been fairly detached in an Arsenal shirt. There’s time and room for enchancment, clearly, however he supplied mainly nothing. I’m aware of the truth that my very own need to see Ethan Nwaneri could make his lack of minutes disappointing, but it surely’s a disgrace he didn’t get on to supply some spark.
I feel, maybe, the very fact we misplaced Calafiori to harm could have performed a component. He was changed by Myles Lewis-Skelly and I believe in a good sport like this Arteta felt two 17 12 months olds was most likely a bit too dangerous. I don’t essentially agree, I’m simply making an attempt to see it from his standpoint. On that change, it’s fascinating that Lewis-Skelly received on whereas Oleksandr Zinchenko didn’t. It’s most likely a health factor, however he’s been on the bench for the final two video games and also you’d have thought his seniority and expertise might need been helpful.
Additionally, can we please be a bit extra decisive about gamers when it’s clear they’ve accomplished *one thing* doubtlessly critical, even when we don’t know what that’s. The character of Calafiori’s slip had me wincing watching on TV, so make the change instantly. They’ve replays on the sideline, have somebody have a look at that whereas the physio is on and talk that to the pitch whereas he’s giving the participant therapy. Calafiori tried to play on, went down once more instantly, and all I might consider was Jurrien Timber final season. Hopefully it’s not something as critical as that, however absolutely we are able to do extra to minimise the chance.
Talking of danger, the one aim lead was all the time a bit precarious. It shouldn’t have been, as a result of we have been awarded what I assumed was a reasonably beneficiant penalty for handball after a VAR intervention. I’m shocked Kai Havertz didn’t take it. I want he had as a result of Trossard’s effort was actually poor and the keeper saved along with his legs. It meant that we needed to thank David Raya for a implausible save late on which may have earned a degree for the guests, these are the fantastic margins in video games like this.
Afterwards, Arteta mentioned:
I feel there have been two very completely different halves, first one we have been very dominant, we created 4 massive, massive probabilities we should always have transformed them and put the sport to mattress with the quantity of dominance we had, the second half very completely different, we glance drained, we lacked that sharpness with and with out the ball to regain the ball in the suitable moments as nicely in the suitable areas and giving sure balls away that permit sure transitions.
General it’s Champions League, get the win, clear sheet. Let’s transfer on.
Clear sheet, three factors, all good. General efficiency, potential harm to a different key participant, not a lot. As I mentioned, there are some mitigating circumstances, and perhaps it’s a superb factor that we are able to play like that and nonetheless win. Nonetheless, it was laborious not to take a look at final night time and pine closely for what Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka convey to this group when it comes to creativity and attacking effectivity. Any group would miss them, in fact, however the sooner they’re again the higher for all of us – most of all how this group could cause the opposition issues within the remaining third.
Arteta promised in his press convention the group could be ‘flying’ after we face Liverpool on Sunday, so let’s hope that’s the case, as a result of a efficiency like this one most likely received’t sufficient to get the outcome we wish. For extra on final night time, be part of us slightly in a while for a post-game Arsecast, which ought to be out mid-morning.
For now, have a superb one, and preserve the whole lot crossed for Calafiori.
