Morning all.
Ahead of the game against Crystal Palace on Mikel Arteta spoke about the players having a bit of time off before the Champions League semi-final:
They will have a day or two off and then a full preparation, three or four days about what we have to do to beat PSG. So we’re going to have some time to recover as well, some players are going to need that and then full focus on what’s coming.
There’s probably a school of thought that they should just be back on the training ground, ready to knuckle-down and put in the work ahead of PSG. Which, I get to some extent, but I do think we saw signs on Wednesday of how some time off could be useful for some of these players.
Is it coincidence that the two players who the shakiest moments against Palace are the ones who have played the most minutes for Arsenal this season? David Raya, with 4,440′ from 49 appearances in all competitions, had his dodgiest game in a long time. I actually can’t ever remember him being as unsure with his hands and his feet in the same match. I know when he first arrived he took a bit of time to settle in, the pressure of the Raya/Ramsdale situation playing out before, during, and after every game had to be a factor, but even then he was never quite as scatty over the course of 90 minutes as he was on Wednesday. He also lives with the pressure of knowing that our back-up keeper, Neto, tries to makes saves with his hands when he’s outside the box.
Just behind him in terms of minutes is William Saliba, with 4061′ from 46 appearances in all competitions. Generally, I thought he had a decent game and he was his usual self in one on one situations, but towards the end made a mistake which led to the second Palace equaliser. When he made a similar mistake against Real Madrid I quite confidently said you won’t see that from Saliba again for years, so I hold my hands up and accept the blame. It’s all my fault and not the fact he might just be physically and mentally fatigued from the amount of football he’s played this season.
It could just be coincidence, of course, but maybe not. Maybe it’s an indication that this season has been hard work for the players in the same way lots of it has felt like hard work for us as fans. We bemoan the absence of our best players because of injuries; I’m certain players feel it too because they know you have a better chance to win games when you have them available and/or fully fit. Even if I think Arteta has been smart with his messaging around injuries and the need to view it as a challenge, you can’t tell me that – even subconsciously – it doesn’t have an impact on the guys who have to rise to that challenge. Wouldn’t you feel more confident/assured when you have Bukayo Saka in your side at kick-off?
As fans we’ve had issues with the last couple of transfer windows, and while I’m sure there’s all the respect in the world for someone like Raheem Sterling among his current teammates, they can see what we see when he plays. I’ve said before I find it a bit sad to see a player who was so good in the past struggle so much and not even come close to that level in an Arsenal shirt. On Wednesday, we saw Arsenal players consistently eschew him as an option for a pass, and that tells you more than any fan opinion can. So, when they think about winning games and winning titles and trophies, they must, at some level, also consider how the squad has been built.
It’s far too simplistic to say a better signing than Sterling last summer might have turned 5 or 6 of our 13 draws into wins, but if I can’t help my mind going there, I’m sure I’m not alone in that regard. Which is to say, the players are human, and sometimes you just need a break. Even if it’s two days doing nothing much, away from the training ground, away from the pressure and the spotlight, that can help you enormously. It gives you a chance to wipe the slate clean (ish), and then refocus on the huge opportunity that lies ahead. So, I hope that’s exactly what the lads do, and we see that reflected in the performance on Tuesday evening.
Just finally, I mentioned 1 and 2 in terms of minutes played this season, but can I give a shout to number 4: Jurrien Timber (Declan Rice is at 3)? After such a big injury last season, to come back and deliver 3514 high quality minutes from 46 appearances is incredible really. I think it’s more than we might have wanted to play him, but the injury to Ben White and his inconsistent availability even after his return has meant we badly needed Timber to fill that gap.
For me he’s been so solid defensively, as the two games against Real Madrid highlighted perfectly. As a one on one defender, he’s as good as it gets, but as we saw on Wednesday, I think there’s more to come from him in an attacking sense. The injuries on that side this season (Odegaard, Saka), have played some part in us not seeing quite how effective he can be going forward, but you can see what he can bring in that regard. Hopefully next season that’s an area of his game we see more off.
Right, I’ll leave it there for now. For some extra reading, here’s Tim on Thierry Henry and his enduring presence in modern football – get stuck in, it’s great.
Have a good Friday folks.
