Morning guys.
Brighton it seems have provided the blueprint – and I expect to see many other teams try to imitate the Seagulls’ combative tactics this season but not everybody have the deep quality of B&H Albion, fortunately.
Leeds meanwhile came into yesterday’s game unbeaten in the EPL with a team that is evolving into one of the biggest around. They reminded me of an American television series called The Land of the Giants. Leeds also had a disciplined offside trap and Arsenal fell into it three times in the opening 6 minutes. But that was after a Madueke dribble had almost put Saka in after less than 2 minutes, Saka was offside so it lessened the disappointment.
Leeds looked dangerous from a subsequent free kick and a corner so the threat was there from early on, all the same Arsenal showed some encouragingly smart movement on and off the ball, but for all the movement, Arsenal didn’t have an effort on target until the 21st minute. Madueke, who had got the nod over Eze, had been really dangerous and overall was one of our most effective players during the entire game, playing the full 90 minutes and his dribble and cross found Havertz just on the edge of the goal area, but his header lacked conviction and Trafford saved without any anxiety.
On 28 Noni again looked set to break away but he was fouled by Justin, referee Tierney played an advantage as Madueke regained his feet but the move came to nothing. Justin laid injured and following treatment left the pitch, but he should have been cautioned. Tierney is a referee who tends to ignore obvious fouls then cautions someone for taking a minute too long to take a free kick as he later did to Odegaard who looked as equally nonplussed as I felt as I drank my tea. Tierney is a very odd man!
On 35 minutes it was all hands to the pump as Leeds threatened again, out came Raya who cleared a high ball into the box and was switched on enough to get back and save a lob that was arching into our goal from his clearance. Raya immediately sent a long pass to Havertz, who was not having one of his best games, but Kai did well to put Madueke away but his low cross couldn’t be finished by Saka who had a Leeds defender all over him.
Then Leeds broke again and only a very poor pass saved our bacon as Raya was completely exposed. Tierney then yellow carded two Leeds players which cut down some of the Yorkshiremen’s enthusiastic challenges.
Both teams now were playing a tight offside and it squeezed the game towards the central area as any space was at a premium. On 42 Noni set up Kai again but he headed over, I wonder what Viktor was thinking at that stage? On 44 Raya made a crucial save at his near post as conceding just before the break would have been hard to take. On 46, Konsa showed what an improved and classy defender he has become as he nullified Calvin Lewin who had looked likely to break clear, top quality by Ezra. The halftime whistle brought to an end, for me, a quite intriguing contest, attritional and an indication of the kinds of tactics we’ll be facing this season, so strap in… H/T 0-0
I half expected some changes at the break but Arteta did what he usually does and kept faith with his original selections. The opening 5 minutes of the 2nd half just saw several more offsides although I sensed a more confident Leeds team and an Arsenal XI lacking someone to break the lines, like Eze for example?
Calafiori, who had been playing really well won a 40/60 tackle on 51 through sheer determination and set Noni off on another mazy run. He set up Odegaard but his shot lacked velocity and Trafford saved easily, a great chance spurned and it was costly. Leeds surged back and after a rare Rice mistake Raya had to tip a Tanaka drive over the bar. Then on 55 Justin scored despite a heroic effort by Gabriel to clear on the line. Two minutes later Leeds almost added a 2nd with the spectre of the Seagull’s looming over Ashburton Grove.
Arteta decided to make some changes and as Eze and Gyokeres got ready we equalised. Calafiori arrived in the Leeds’ box like an ice cream van and gave the northerners a 99 after great work again by Noni who had crossed to the far post. Ben White, the recipient of the cross headed back, and our movie star left back finished with aplomb. Man, did we need that, it lifted the whole place and from then on there was only going to be one winner.
On 64 minutes off came White, Myles and the disappointing Havertz for Timber, Bruno and Gyokeres. Straight away the pace and movement of Viktor unsettled the Leeds defenders and Bruno sprayed around passes as if he had radar in his boots.
On 67 Calafiori almost scored again but screwed his shot agonisingly wide after two successive corners from the Gunners. We were really cooking now. Bruno, who had opened up the Leeds defence several times was fouled and just took a quick free kick before Leeds got organised. Saka found Odegaard who slipped a pass to Rice who helped it into space and into it Bruno charged and fired low past Trafford, then he ran off towards the crowd and was engulfed by the fans. Sensibly, Mr Tierney didn’t book him which showed an uncommon common sense from the referee, his colleagues should take note because scoring goals and celebrating is what the game is all about. Well done referee!
Bruno and Odegaard were linking up beautifully giving us a glimpse of what was in store for us as our new Brazillian develop’s relationships with his new team mates. On 75 minutes Gyokeres broke clear after some Leeds pressure, space was opening up, he found Bakayo and sprinted through waiting for the return but Saka took it on, came inside and fired over the bar, a wasted opportunity me thinks. On 82 Hincapie came on for the excellent Calafiori as Arteta decided enough was enough, no need to take risks and I would have to agree. A minute later Odegaard inexplicably missed from almost on the goal line after being set up by Rice, a slight deflection saw the ball hit his heel and Trafford saved.
On the 90 there was a big cheer as Merino came on for Odegaard and Mikel did a sterling job filling space and closing down, he is an invaluable player I just hope we can keep him happy and retain him. On 92 Trafford got caught on the ball by Viktor but the goalkeeper saved his blushes by closing off the angles and stopping Gyokeres getting a clear shot as he wound up to blast it home, the chance went away and on the 96 Saka missed a one-on-one with Trafford as the final whistle went for full time, it just wasn’t Bakayo’s day.
A testing contest against a much improved Leeds who have already won at Nottingham Forest so this result shouldn’t be a case of ‘it was only Leeds’. Anyone who thought this season was going to be a cakewalk should have gone to specsavers, I’m expecting a hard fought campaign against teams who know how to close down space, press and defend.
There are no Croatia vs England games in the Premier League…
We March On
By Kev.
Morning Cicero, Leeds are certainly enjoying their moment in the sun but credit where credit is due, Farke has done a good job and built a team that’s hard to beat and which should comfortably retain its status instead of yo-yoing.
Mourinho and Real Madrid are in the midst of a right old carry-on with Jose in full gaslighting mode to camouflage his teams inadequacies, I think we missed out on a load of aggro when Vini Junior signed on again in Madrid.
Pleasure Kev.
Chelsea have looked good going forward this season but defensively I think they can be vulnerable.
Morning Cicero. I thought Leeds were very good but perhaps they gave too much in the first half. Fresh Arsenal legs did for them.
The Hincapie news is rotten if true.
Good morning Kev, Rico.
Let’s be nice about Leeds, let’s just say they are street-wise. Just as they were in the dark and distant days of Don Revie’s hard men.
Blatant fouls aplenty, bookings? Yes but judicious rotation of the perpetrators ensured the red card was unused.
The risible booking of Odegaard, for time wasting, just meant even more time was wasted. Refs eh?
Worrying news that Hincapie had to be carried off, in the warm down, with an ankle injury. That guy has as much bad luck as poor old George Russell does in Formula one. 😏
Morning Rico, thanks for the edit.
Chelsea looked imperious yesterday and then you see it’s their first win in four games (2 defeats, 1draw) and on top of that you hear flowery comments like ‘they’re the great entertainers’ or ‘they’re scoring goals for fun’ and that is 15 they’ve got now!
The thing is they’ve also conceded 13.
Liverpool meanwhile are unbeaten after 5 but have drawn 3 so are hovering just above mid-table, those are the two who could be a threat this season if City implode?
Morning Kev, all.
Good post. Tough game against a very strong and resilient Leeds Utd who are no longer a team to be beaten easily. Farke has done well to turn things around.
A day for the subs as when Arteta made the changes, the likes of Rice, Odegaard etc came alive.