Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
The brand new season started yesterday with a well-known trying group choice, acquainted goalscorers, and on the idea of what we noticed within the second half final season, a welcomingly acquainted end result.
I believe what stood out for me is that there are some gamers within the group who aren’t at 100%, whether or not that’s due to a truncated pre-season, or a protracted summer season, it’s laborious to inform precisely, however I checked out Declan Rice and William Saliba as two guys whose performances have been definitely not fairly on the degree we’ve come to anticipate from them. Gabriel Martinelli was full of life once more, however nonetheless lacking that finish product, that cross or shot that opens issues up for him once more.
What luck for us then that we have now a few gamers in Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka whose affect is such that even when issues round them aren’t good, they will nonetheless produce. Can we speak about Saka for only a second? It’s barely a month since he performed within the ultimate of Euro 2024, and I believe you can see – like some others – he’s making his manner again to full health and sharpness. And but, what a contribution.
His cross for Havertz’s opener was simply excellent, and it acquired the end it deserved from the German. A thumping header because the keeper got here and located himself in no-man’s land. That gave us a lead I believe we deserved within the first half, and it most likely ought to have been extra. There have been possibilities that I believe a sharper group makes extra of, however that is simply the primary day and there’s clearly nonetheless work to be executed.
I assumed we’d have had a primary half penalty too, a slipshod problem on Saka definitely knocked him off steadiness as he in the reduction of contained in the defender, however there was nothing doing there. A few of that rustiness was evident within the massive first half probability Wolves had, dropping the ball in midfield and Jorgen Strand Larsen getting the flawed facet of Saliba to energy a header at aim. Fortunately David Raya was there to make a improbable save, shifting again as he was going the opposite approach to stick a hand out to cease it.
Within the second half, Wolves have been lots higher, and made life tough for us on prime of us making life tough for ourselves. Saliba made an uncharacteristically careless cross throughout his field which offered Wolves an important alternative to equalise, once more Raya saved however the effort on aim was unconvincing. If there’s an ‘excuse’ for Saliba, it’s that he too went deep into Euro 2024, and he’s at all times been the form of man who takes a recreation or two to rise up to hurry.
There are not any excuses for Thomas Partey coughing up possession the best way he did. He had a full summer season to organize, and whereas I understood his lack of kind on the finish of final season having been out for thus lengthy, I’m unwilling to present him the good thing about the doubt now. I believe this place is one thing of an issue for us now, his legs are heavy, he can’t get away from opposition gamers any extra (and so they can definitely get away from him), and Arteta has some severe considering to do right here. My suspicion is that the arrival of Mikel Merino (left of out of the Actual Sociedad squad for his or her recreation right this moment), will see Rice play extra typically because the 6 with the Spanish worldwide additional forward within the midfield.
I’ll admit I used to be a bit apprehensive about Saka because the half went on. I appeared on the bench, and whereas Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard are good choices, I needed we had one thing else to name on. With all due respect to Eddie and Reiss, a signing would make an enormous distinction to this squad. Within the meantime although, we’ll simply must make do with the extraordinary output, consistency and high quality of Saka (what a chore!). Selecting up a cross from Havertz, he reduce contained in the defenders to drill a shot past the keeper on the close to publish, and that was at all times going to make the sport secure.
The end was excellent, however his capability to step up and get us a aim we actually wanted, on a day once I suppose he was not 100% to start with and positively flagging earlier than he cracked off that shot, is unbelievable. A aim and an help to kick off the brand new season, his numbers might be off the charts this yr.
What else? Effectively, I believe Wolves ought to have been right down to 10 males. Yerson Mosquera’s chokehold/slam on Kai Havertz was fully deliberate and the very definition of violent conduct. I actually don’t perceive how the officers checked out that and determined it wasn’t. I assume they’ve set a really excessive threshold for the season forward. Additionally, whereas Jesus was being annoying when Wolves have been making an attempt to take a free kick, Mosquera grabbing his arse was very bizarre and I don’t blame our man for reacting the best way he did. After all Jesus was the one who acquired a yellow card, whereas the Wolves man stayed out of the e book. I assume for all of the pre-season chat about officiating and new guidelines and many others, not a lot adjustments when it comes to their ineptitude in key moments.
Raya needed to make one other save late on, Gabriel celebrated Arsenal profitable a aim kick with some typical gusto, and it was good to see Jurrien Timber make his official return after sustaining that harm on the opening day of final season. Afterwards, Mikel Arteta stated:
We generated lots – we most likely ought to have scored two or three, and the sport would have been a bit completely different. Within the second half, there have been moments the place we turned a bit sloppy and never managed, particularly with some giveaways, which towards this group is especially tough.
It was the primary recreation – there’s at all times uncertainty round how we’re going to answer that towards a extremely tough opponent. We scored two, clear sheet, win, job executed.
Clear sheet, three factors, simply what the physician ordered to kick off the brand new season, however clearly there’s room for enchancment too. It’s not unusual, particularly after a match summer season, to take a little bit of time to search out fluency and rhythm, however the fixture checklist is such that we have now to try to rise up to hurry as shortly as doable. So, I anticipate a busy week on the coaching floor as we put together for our journey to Aston Villa subsequent weekend, however with that first hurdle efficiently cleared, we will do it in a optimistic state of mind and hopefully we will be higher once more subsequent Saturday.
Proper, that’s it for this morning. Take pleasure in your Sunday, and be part of us tomorrow for the primary Arsecast Additional of the brand new season.
