Morning all.
As we don’t play till Monday evening, it’s prone to be a reasonably quiet weekend from an Arsenal perspective. We’ll be keeping track of outcomes elsewhere, hoping that each Nottingham Forest and Man Utd can get one thing from their video games in opposition to Liverpool and Man Metropolis respectively, however I feel everyone knows what’s going to occur. Particularly within the Manchester derby which may very well be a massacre, given what number of possibilities United dish up in each sport.
There’s an interview with Ben White within the Guardian which is value a learn. I’m most likely a bit too lengthy within the tooth to have favorite gamers … however he’s my favorite participant. Let’s be sincere, there are such a lot of to select from on this Arsenal squad, as a consequence of their qualities and personalities, however there’s one thing about him which is only a bit uncommon within the trendy sport. You may see when he does post-match interviews, for instance, that the media coaching all footballers get is there, however it comes out otherwise to most others.
The stuff about him not watching soccer is commonly handled as a little bit of a joke, once more as a result of it’s uncommon. It’s at odds with our personal expertise, as a result of even when it’s simply Arsenal, we spend quite a lot of time and vitality watching soccer. However there’s an enormous distinction between the idea of not watching soccer and never caring about soccer. It appears fairly clear to me that to be a hit on this Arsenal staff, it is advisable perceive the sport and the opposition, which would require some examine (and watching soccer footage!). It’s simply he doesn’t try this when he goes dwelling. You don’t get to the place he has within the sport with out a actual aggressive nature, one thing he touches on, saying:
I need to win every part that I do. My missus and I play quite a lot of video games at dwelling and I received’t be letting her win. I keep in mind being younger and all the time eager to play aggressively and do as a lot as I might to win.
It was arduous not to consider Ben White when questions have been put to Mikel Arteta concerning the ‘darkish arts’ of the sport final week. His function at corners for instance:
There’s all kinds, standing in your ft, elbows. It’s OK. I simply have to face in the way in which and see what occurs. Among the movies I’ve seen … It comes again to doing something to win.
The main target is nearly all the time on him as this type of penalty field pest, a goalkeeper’s irritant, however it’s a two approach road. He’s getting some again as he stands in the way in which, doing his greatest to take care of a face with the innocence of a choirboy, however we all know he’s simply making an attempt to be a bit naughty with out being caught. Just like the schoolboy with a peashooter who fires one on the blackboard each time the instructor turns round to jot down one thing on it.
Finally although, for all these fascinating and pleasurable character traits, and for all of the sly journeys and clattering Anthony Gordon and making an attempt to throttle Phil Foden all of us relish, on the coronary heart of it he’s a implausible defender and all-round footballer. The sport has modified lately, with rather more versatility required – particularly in defensive positions – besides his transfer from centre-half to the most effective right-backs within the Premier League deserves extra credit score. He’s a quintessentially trendy soccer participant. Return in your thoughts to among the nice central defenders we’ve had in our time at this membership, and take into consideration what number of of them wouldn’t have simply survived being moved to full-back, however thrived. It’d be a reasonably brief record of some implausible gamers.
It’s no marvel Arsenal have tied him right down to a deal new deal, set to be introduced within the not too distant future (I think the timing of it’s related to FFP and accounting functions), however it’s a wrap. And it’s nice information. When he signed from Brighton for £50m, eyebrows have been actually raised. He wasn’t essentially excessive profile, though he had been a part of the England squad that summer season, however no one thinks twice about his price-tag anymore. It’s been cash very nicely spent by Arsenal, and his greatest years are most likely forward of him too.
Wingers, and goalkeepers, be careful. And let’s hope that may to win stays a key a part of Arsenal going the gap this season.
Proper, let’s go away it there for now. We’ll have a Premier League preview podcast for you over on Patreon a bit of later this morning, so please be part of us for that. It prices round £5.50 a month for immediate entry to all our unique content material, in addition to supporting every part we do right here on Arseblog.
Have a terrific Saturday people.
