Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
In yesterday’s preview, I wrote about how there will likely be video games when Arsenal have to dig in and scrap their approach to three factors, and the 2-1 win over Brentford was precisely that. Their recreation plan made life way more troublesome for us than most of our latest fixtures. It was scrappy, bodily, stop-starty – which was exactly what they wished.
The ball was in play for lower than 50% of tonight’s match between Arsenal and Brentford.
Whole time: 105:01Time in play: 49:26
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) March 9, 2024
They did nicely initially to cease a quick Arsenal begin, nevertheless it wasn’t lengthy earlier than we have been on high, and deservedly forward by way of Declan Rice. His header from Ben White’s cross was glorious, and it was fairly one thing to see him repeatedly pop up as a de facto centre-forward. The licence to play increased up when Jorginho is alongside him in midfield seems like one thing he relishes – and that was his sixth Premier League purpose of the season. He additionally has six assists to his identify, and it’s attention-grabbing to suppose that in all of the chat about whether or not Kai Havertz may substitute what Granit Xhaka gave us final season (7 targets, 7 assists), Rice has mainly achieved that with out an excessive amount of fanfare about that side of his recreation.
We should always have been 2-0 up earlier than the break, Havertz dinking a sensational Jorginho go large. The flag went up however he seemed onside to me. What a distinction which may have made to Aaron Ramsdale’s night time although. Simply earlier than the break, he was closed down shortly by Yoane Wissa, who blocked the tried clearance into the Arsenal internet to make it 1-1. There’s no approach to sugarcoat it. It’s a nasty mistake. I felt actually sorry for him, nevertheless it was his fault – simply taking an additional step when he may have performed the ball.
So, a bit just like the Liverpool recreation a number of weeks again, a recreation we must always have been main on the break noticed us go in all sq.. Afterwards, Havertz was requested about the way it felt, and mentioned ‘Not good’, for apparent causes, however when the purpose you concede is so avoidable, and with all of the highlight on Ramsdale, the Raya side and it coming in opposition to Brentford and so on, there have been further ranges.
For probably the most half, Arsenal dominated the second half. 10 pictures, 8 corners, plenty of stress, but when we spotlight the Ramsdale mistake, we’ve got to spotlight the issues he did nicely in that second half too. Brentford’s possibilities have been at all times more likely to be few and much between, however they’d them. Ivan Toney’s opportunistic effort seemed for all of the world prefer it was going to sail over Ramsdale’s head, however he leaped, obtained a great hand on it and made an outstanding save. It’s a kind of that had it gone in would have seemed actually dangerous for the keeper, however with out it being his fault essentially. Arsenal’s goalies are requested to play excessive, nicely off their line, so there’s at all times that threat, however he pulled off an important save earlier than I even had the prospect to complete the ‘Oh no’ thought.
His second save, from Nathan Collins, was additionally superb, and actually necessary. This was the 71st minute, going behind at that time would have made successful most unlikely, so it was essential to maintain the scores stage. It’s additionally value stating that if we acknowledge Ramsdale made a mistake on the primary purpose, Arsenal’s defence utterly switched off after a Brentford throw, with no one close to Collins because the cross got here in. If Havertz spared Ramsdale’s blushes with that late purpose, the keeper did the identical for his mates on this scenario. It’s simply not as apparent.
On the different finish, I believe we have been unfortunate to not be awarded a penalty when Leandro Trossard was pulled again. There was an earlier shout involving Martin Odegaard, however I believe that was simply robust defending. Nonetheless, had the Trossard incident occurred up the opposite finish and Brentford obtained a spot-kick, you wouldn’t be capable to complain about it. Rice nearly obtained one other to place us forward, curling a improbable effort onto the purpose of the crossbar and submit with the keeper stranded, and Brentford tried to make the sport as scrappy as potential from then on.
Gamers went down, they blocked off Ramsdale greater than as soon as as he tried to distribute the ball shortly, and the clock was ticking. Then got here a passage of play which noticed Odegaard do rather well to maintain the ball, with a header to Ben White. It got here again to the captain, he noticed the run, White delivered a cross into center and Havertz was there to plant a header house to make it 2-1. For the second time this season the German worldwide broke Brentford hearts within the dying phases of the sport, and there’s no query that was an enormous purpose for this staff.
Not merely the three factors, however the message it sends. That this staff can and can battle for all the things. That this staff has the flexibility to maintain going. That this staff has perception in its means to win video games on the demise. How usually have we seen the easiest groups, the groups that win issues, do precisely this? I do know we’ve got one thing of a observe document of this in latest instances, and the plain rationalization is that good groups do that recurrently. We’re a great staff.
At that time, Brentford’s aversion to Arsenal losing time was very humorous. I’ve no actual concern with their gameplan, it’s one thing we’ve got to cope with, and in fact it’s most likely significantly better preparation for Porto on Tuesday than any sort of 6-0 win you possibly can consider. That is what we’ll face within the Champions League. Nonetheless, when a staff spends ages time-wasting, then will get all riled up as a result of they get a bit again when the scoreline adjustments, it’s extraordinarily amusing.
As for Thomas Frank’s insistence Havertz shouldn’t have been on the pitch as a result of he should have had a second yellow for diving, give me a break. That is pure distraction from a supervisor whose staff sit only a single level above an Everton facet who haven’t received a recreation since December sixteenth, and who’ve have been docked six factors this season. I get it, when you could have simply two wins in your final fourteen Premier League video games, you want one thing to take the highlight off you because the supervisor and your accountability for that, and that’s all that is.
Was it a penalty on Havertz? No. Was it a second yellow card? Completely not. You’ll be able to’t ship a participant off for that. There was some contact that he made probably the most of, however that’s it. Frank’s post-game rubbish additionally conveniently ignores the penalty Trossard ought to have had, and the one Gabriel should have had proper on the finish. If the Brazilian was booked for a shirt pull early within the first half, what’s the distinction between that foul and the one dedicated on him within the field? Precisely.
His reverse quantity, Mikel Arteta, was in significantly better kind, as you’d think about, reacting afterwards:
It felt nice, clearly we needed to dig in and earn the fitting to win it, however I’m actually happy with the efficiency, the maturity, the emotional management that we confirmed, and the way we overcame difficulties. If you wish to be up there, it’s important to win a lot of these video games and the staff confirmed that it has the instruments and particularly the dedication, and the assumption to take action.
And he had some phrases for Ramsdale too, whose night time within the highlight was definitely eventful:
He’s an individual with an enormous character and braveness, very decided. Errors are a part of soccer, it’s onerous to react about it, particularly for the keepers as a result of it’s most likely probably the most troublesome place however he did it in an incredible means. I’m not stunned as a result of the entire staff and complete stadium was behind him. He has that respect and admiration and actually wished to win for him that second and he actually helped us to win the sport.
There’s plenty of speak about how this might need been his final Arsenal look, and which may nicely be the case. You by no means know although, damage or suspension may see him required once more, and I’m glad for him that he responded nicely to his mistake, and that we obtained the purpose which meant that error wasn’t the largest speaking level this morning.
General, a troublesome night time, however nothing we didn’t anticipate. There’s not a lot turnaround time between now and Tuesday, so all the main target for the gamers and supervisor will likely be on Porto. For followers although, we will watch in the present day’s recreation between Liverpool and Man Metropolis, and hope for a beneficial end result with the three factors we wanted in our again pocket. Oh, and fast a point out for my man Ben White with two assists. Golden Thighs comes up with the products.
Proper, have an important Sunday people. Again tomorrow with extra and a model new Arsecast Additional.
