Arsenal.com
Morning all.
How good was it to see Emile Smith Rowe back in the starting eleven? Even better was that he left the pitch for reasons other than injury. We talk about the return of Thomas Partey and the eventual return of Jurrien Timber but Smith Rowe is equally as important.
Mikel Arteta on Smith Rowe and what impressed him?
That he went for it, that he was free, he was flowing, he was moving, he was participating, his body language was good – he’s just a beautiful footballer to watch. I’m really pleased because he was really connected with the team and I thought he played the game in a really good way.
He’s not afraid to shoot either….
The game was all about Arsenal, especially in the first half. Possession stats were through the roof but as often has been the case this season, when it comes to turning possession into chances and goals, Mikel Arteta’s team was lacking. We had chances, but none were taken
However, after the break, that changed when Gabriel Jesus hit the woodwork, sent a shot way too high from close range but then scored from an angle which looked impossible. Soon after, Bukayo Saka made it 2-0. The team should have seen the game out with ease but uncharacteristically, the defence had a nightmare. Forest scored, the nerves set in but the boys held on to secure three massive points on the road.
Words were exchanged between Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White after the game, no doubt to do with the sloppy goal the team conceded.
Mikel Arteta:
I love it, they demand more from each other and they are not happy with the way they concede that and they are trying to resolve it. It was a bit heated, but that means it is not enough playing the way we played, the result has to be bigger. That’s pushing each other and being not happy conceding and I have to encourage that and promote it in the right way and a respectful way.
Something of nothing I’m sure and by the time the players reached the dressing room I strongly suspect they were best of buddies again. But, the defending is something which needs working on.
I still think Arsenal play the ball around a bit too slowly and I also think at times, players are far too shot shy. There were moments in the first half when a boot through the ball might have been more successful than taking the extra 4/5 touches which ended up with us losing possession. I know the perfect goal is easy on the eye but I’m a firm believer of it doesn’t matter how they go in as long as they go in. Goals win games, not the number of passes made during a game.
Nevertheless, a win at Forest is a great result, especially as since returning to the Premier League, they have beaten us back in May, Liverpool, Manchester United last season too and neither Chelsea of Man City managed to win at The City Ground. This season, they’ve beaten Villa, Utd and Newcastle.
Talking of Newcastle, they thrashed Aston Villa last night. Yes, I quite like seeing Villa lose. The surprise of the night though was Luton battering Brighton 4-0. Tonight sees Liverpool face Chelsea, Totts play Brentford and Man City play Burnley. Three away wins would be good for us and a few red cards for the team in red at Anfield. Lol
Catch up in the comments.
Have we signed anyone yet?
Morning Rico, an exemplary post.
I’d forgotten it’s DD Kev…
Morning to you, thanks. I think 😜
Morning Rico
A good result. We got the job done, but we need to take some more shots rather than passing non=stop.
Imagine watching that drivel that Nuno sent out regulalrly? Defend deep at home and hardly get the ball beyond the half way line. A master class in Portuguese defensive tactics. Dull Dull Dull.
A special mention for the commentators on TNT…suck that up you biased idiots!
Morning Rico and,
Arteta sounds very happy with ESR, but will he start him next week or drop him again. now Saka and Jesus have scored lets hope they an find more goals over the next few weeks.
Morning Pete, agree. More shots please Mikel…
TNT didn’t like it when the ref stopped play for Saka but not for Forest. Tough eh…
Morning Geoff, I don’t think it’s as simple as that with ESR. Arteta has to manage his workload and it’s about fielding the team to beat Liverpool rather than just whether or not one player starts etc. I think ESR will be on the bench for Liverpool and Mikel will start with Havertz..
I can understand White’s reaction . The irony of their goal is that Zinchenko having played 88 minutes no where near left back turns up to keep them onside to score .
ESR was a breath of fresh air , there was an urgency whenever he had the ball and his shot in the first twenty minutes was refreshing and let Forest realise that they couldn’t just defend their line and wait for us to find the perfect pass and his battling in the area set up Saka for another close chance.
More of this please.
It was also noticeable that when they came on both Havertz and Trossard were more lively . Perhaps sitting on the bench watching him for an hour made them realise that they might be sitting there a lot more often if they didn’t buck their ideas up too.
Just why I love watching ESR too. Everything he does is positive. A sideways or backwards pass for him is a go to rather than a first thought I think. He’s a head up player, busy too. Sadly for him and the team, he was often ignored when he’d found space.
I wonder if when Timber is back, Tomiyasu too, it’ll spell the end of Zinchenko at left back. He’s a midfielder in my opinion who occasionally can be seen defending. Badly too.
G’day Rico, thanks for the post.
Last night I was feeling frustrated at the way we played, first half particularly, but we got the three vital points we needed and so got the job done so shouldn’t really complain I suppose.
I’m longing for the return from injury of Timber, once he’s back to full match fitness I sincerely hope to see Zinchenko confined to the bench where he belongs. He’s twenty-seven so should be at his peak, as such he should be worth a decent fee when we sell him in the summer. If as reported, the spat between him and Ben White was about his poor positioning when Forest scored, I’m really glad that Ben had the gumption to take him to task. At the end of the game Arteta appeared to be telling him a few home truths too, gesturing to where he was supposedly defending. Frankly, I would prefer to see one of our youngsters at left back rather than our wandering Ukrainian.
Afternoon Cicero.
We agree re Zinchenko at left back. He’s non existent most of the time and yes, if White and Arteta were pointing out his lack of positional sense then good. Someone needed to. But as said earlier, a good midfielder…
Watching Arsenal can be hard going these days but when the opposition put 10 outfield players around their own penalty area, at home, it’s not exactly conducive to a sparkling and entertaining match up. We don’t have a Cyborg centre forward or a world class attacking-midfielder like de Bruyne or even a snide but top class midfielder like Bernardo Silva who can work miracles, we have what we have and they cannot work miracles, but they’re doing ok.
I think the way we play is as much about minimising mistakes and just wearing down the low block, if you don’t get an early goal it’s going to be a slog because you daren’t concede or it’ll be even worse.
There were times yesterday when Raya was playing sweeper, some of the Forest players were sitting so deep they were actually in the Trent End, it was all about sucking us in and mugging us off as West Ham, Newcastle and Villa did.
I’m not exactly enjoying this football but until we get a prolific, quality striker and a de Bruyne then it is what it is.
I think you’re doing Zinchenko a disservice. He essentially plays in midfield and is one of our best creators. He set up the first goal last night (note to TNT commentators – you can’t be offside from a throw on!)
I agree that his defensive work can be a little undisciplined, particularly late in games, but you have to weigh that against his creativity. For me he is one of our best ball players, so I am willing to overlook his defensive shortcomings.
Why not play him in midfield then Nigel and have a proper defender doing the defending?
I think we all acknowledge how important he is in the team, just not as a left back…
Kev, we can open low blocks up with quicker play surely?
Nigel? I like it… Naughty Nigel!
That’s the thing Ricardo, Zinky does play in midfield already, with a back 3 behind. We spend most of the games playing 3-4-3. Another defender takes away a midfielder. There aren’t many players that can fulfil that position. Tomi didn’t look bad, Kiwior looks a fish out of water and Timber, well we just don’t know yet.
I like that Pete, Ricardo 😜
I realise re Zinchenko but it’s a dangerous game to play I think because we’re left exposed and opponents target .our left far too often.
I was about to respond to Geoff’s early comment about the selection choice of Havertz and Emile but Rico nailed it exactly as I was thinking.
I would handle Emile in particular the following way for the foreseeable future :
Share the starts in MF with Havertz depending on the opponents, being a great bench option when he doesn’t start. Injects energy whether we’re chasing a goal or not.
Somebody mentioned his heads up style… exactly the opposite of Martinelli.. I would use him in Gabs place occasionally too, and even Ødegaards if he needs rest. Plenty of minutes to go around. Havertz, Trossard, or Emile at false 9 to save Jesus knee more.
Did I notice that Kiwior was about to be brought on just before we conceded? Probably in Zinchenkos position.
The problem with Zinchenko wandering into midfield is that Gabrielle is forced to move out towards the left touchline which widens the gap to Saliba, then Rice tends to drop back a bit to close that gap. If Zinchenko held his position Rice would be able to move forward and play in his best midfield role.
I’d quite like to see ESR in the number 10 role Nigel, he and Saka have a good rapport on the pitch which I think the team could benefit from.
Exactly re Zinchenko- it’s not so much his roaming but the impact it has on our shape in defence. Then of course, it has an impact on how we build again. Maybe we’d move the ball around better if players knew where others were or were going to be.
I see Gabriel Paulista has joined Atletico Madrid..
Looks like Lino Sousa is going to Villa on a permanent deal…
Hertha BSC have agreed the permanent transfer of Bradley Ibrahim
Cicero,
I generally agree about Zichenko .. but I don’t usually call it wandering because he’s coached to take calculated risks to help unlock all the low blocks we face.
But as an example, if I remember correctly he was caught out against Aston Villa early in the game, when I thought we should’ve been more careful, as they were much more positively trying to press, win the ball,, and score, not just clog the box and look for a draw.
I blame Arteta for sending us out in our usual gameplan that day, which had Zinchenko leaving Gabriel and Saliba too wide open for an easy goal as you describe well.
As far as yesterday’s goal, I thought most keepers would be furious vocally after the way the goal happened. Sometimes keepers do that to spread the blame from themselves in front of the fans.. but yesterday anger was appropriate.
I think once Tierney was allowed to leave, the days of a so called traditional left back were gone.
It’s across the academy, the U18’s and U21’s play with a full-back who drops into midfield, of the the academy teams don’t have anyone as good as Saliba and Gabriel so it can go all Pete Tong as it did in the FAYC.
of course the academy
So it doesn’t work in any of the teams then… 😜
I reckon the more ESR starts, the better he will be, and the players will have a better understanding of how he plays, I just feel he is being wasted sitting on the bench, if Klopp found a way to start Alex oxlade-chamberlain several times then why can’t ESR start for us
It’s a complete disaster Rico 😄
I was partially watching Liverpool Chelsea in the first half.. looked to me like Pool were getting every single edge and call from refs on fouls and everything. Not just the normal Anfield bonus. Now it’s the Klopp farewell feel-good tour.
This is the real reason he made the announcement and the timing. Before Chelsea, and more importantly Arsenal away.
Look for them to get all the help Leicester got when winning the league from now till the end. Penalties and all.
so ex chelsea player Joe Cole can’t stop laughting at Arsenal being called a top side and reckons Arsenal are no way a top side, So Joe when did Chelsea last win the league, the only title you have won in the last few years is the most amount of managers,
Nigel, Lord help us on Sunday then.
I hope we can play them off the park, don’t give the referee a decision a make, and come out winners.
New post up.