Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
So, we go into the ultimate Interlull of 2024 on the again of a 1-1 draw towards Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Not the win we would have liked, however we stemmed the tide after two successive away defeats.
The group information noticed a a lot welcome return to the group for Martin Odegaard, whereas Declan Rice was deemed match sufficient to start out. Chelsea started nicely sufficient, David Raya making a superb early save from Cole Palmer who was given an excessive amount of time to shoot. In addition they had various pleasure with vertical passes straight by way of the centre of our midfield. As soon as we made a tactical tweak, we lower off that avenue for them, and grew into the sport ourselves.
It wasn’t a primary 45 minutes replete with probabilities. Chelsea’s greatest alternative got here when Pedro Neto crossed from the left and Malo Gusto someway contrived to move over from shut vary. Nearly immediately, we had one up the opposite finish when Bukayo Saka’s shot was blocked, the ball fell for Gabriel Martinelli, however on his left foot his end lacked actual conviction.
We had the ball within the web by way of Kai Havertz after Rice discovered him with a fast free kick, however he was simply offside when receiving the ball, and that was about it for the primary interval. Within the second I assumed we have been by a ways the higher group, and far of that was as a result of Odegaard had warmed up and grown into the sport.
Our objective got here when he gained the ball excessive up the pitch, saved it alive with Thomas Partey, and his lofted move discovered Martinelli within the field. The Brazilian’s end on the close to publish was sensible if you happen to’re an Arsenal fan; and one which might have you ever leaving questions of your goalkeeper if you happen to’re a Chelsea fan. However, it was a second of ultimate third creativity that made the distinction, one thing we’ve been missing of late.
Their equaliser 10 minutes later was avoidable, I believe. You may’t take something away from the end, however Neto was allowed an excessive amount of room to shoot from exterior the field. We have been a bit disorganised positionally after a nook, but additionally a bit sluggish to get out after the set-piece had been taken. It wasn’t the primary time I observed that yesterday both, and one thing Arteta stated afterwards in all probability went some strategy to explaining it:
What I’m simply praying is that after the worldwide break I’ve the group totally outfitted bodily, they’re accessible and they’re match as a result of it has been an absolute nightmare for eight weeks. Concern after difficulty, not solely those that aren’t capable of play, however the ones which might be capable of play just for sure moments, just for sure days, not capable of practice. Now we have gamers on the market that they can not play greater than 60 minutes. They’re taking part in and struggling, you already know.
We have been planning adjustments earlier than their objective went in, and made them instantly afterwards with Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard approaching for Rice and Martinelli. There’s been fairly a little bit of chat in regards to the summer time signing within the final week or so, however I assumed he was actually good when he got here on, and made our midfield extra progressive. He acquired the ball and fairly than taking part in it backwards or laterally, he made positive it went forwards. There have been some good physique feints and actions in tight areas, and it was an encouraging cameo from him. Attention-grabbing too to see him click on with Odegaard immediately, however they’ve earlier from their time collectively at Actual Sociedad, clearly.
I assumed each subs made us brighter, but it surely was about whether or not or not we may style the possibility that will win us the sport. Gabriel Jesus got here on to switch Saka who needed to go off after a foul by that woolly snitch Marc Cucurella. He made an opportunity which Trossard blasted over from shut vary, however there was a touch of offside within the construct up, and the identical was true of that second proper on the dying when William Saliba, of all individuals, supplied the overlap on the left hand aspect. He squared it throughout the 6 yard field, if Trossard had left it it was a tap-in for Havertz however the Belgian tried the lovable end and nicked it away from the German.
Wouldn’t it have stood anyway? It’s so arduous to inform, possibly his shoulder is simply forward of Cucurella within the center, but it surely felt like such an enormous second. It’s water beneath the bridge this morning after all, however who was there making that move to Saliba? Martin Odegaard, within the 96th minute of his first Arsenal look since August thirty first. I believe he visibly and understandably drained as we headed in the direction of full-time, however that’s the standard he can deliver.
Talking afterwards, Arteta stated of his captain:
I don’t know some other participant within the league that’s able to doing that after six weeks* out, he had a day and a half, a coaching and a half. Simply bodily and mentally to be linked the best way he was with the group is unbelievable.
*It’s an extended than six weeks, of us, but it surely confirmed how a lot we missed him, and the way he influences the best way we play. You watch him gesture to his teammates to get larger up the pitch, coordinating the press, and you’ll see that his remit goes manner past being the artistic fulcrum within the remaining third. Hopefully he now spends two weeks actually engaged on his health on the coaching floor, and we don’t do something foolish like let him go away with Norway.
Equally, Arteta sounded fairly destructive about Rice and Saka, however I believe that could be to make sure that their worldwide commitments with England come second place to making sure they’re match and prepared for Arsenal after this upcoming Interlull. Each of them have performed rather a lot for membership and nation this season, and all all through final (together with the summer time), and I don’t assume anybody may begrudge them a few weeks with out the depth of aggressive soccer. Let’s see what occurs there.
Total, I don’t assume we are able to complain an excessive amount of a couple of draw within the context of the sport itself. It’s irritating to be in a profitable place and to be pegged again once more, however that was our fourth successive away sport, and because the supervisor identified, this squad has been pushed to its limits bodily. On prime of the gamers lacking, you additionally must consider Gabriel, Ben White and Jurrien Timber have had accidents of late, whereas Odegaard was taking part in his first sport in months.
Each group has to take care of this type of stuff, after all, and there’s no query Arsenal want to enhance – significantly within the remaining third – however I don’t assume you need to dig too deep to attempt to discover the solutions as to why the opening quarter of the Premier League season has fallen beneath expectations. Now it’s about discovering kind and rhythm as soon as we get underway once more, however that’s a dialogue for the subsequent couple of weeks.
I’ll depart it there for now. We can have an Arsecast Further for you in a short time, after all. We’ve put out the decision for questions on Threads @gunnerblog and @arseblog with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or if you happen to’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, depart your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod ought to be out round midday. For now, have a very good one.
