Morning all.
It was all going on at Arsenal yesterday. Josh Kroenke was in town in to watch the early evening game against Leeds. Before though, he spoke to Arsenal Media about the success in the women’s game with Arsenal winning the Champions League and England the Euros. He thanked the fans for their support, urging for more of the same over the next ten months. He also spoke about transfers:
Over the summer we’ve strengthened all our teams with significant investment. We’ve welcomed six new signings to our men’s team, alongside four new women’s players joining the Arsenal family and we’ve invested in our academy too. We have made the signings we set out to do. We’re also equally delighted that a number of players have committed to the club. It makes us all incredibly proud to see Myles and Ethan break through and commit their futures to the club that’s nurtured and developed them into Arsenal players. They know what it means ‘to be Arsenal.’
As kick off drew near, this:
Arsenal’s signing number 7, Eberechi Eze, our new number 10, and what an entrance he made too. So cool, casual and just brilliant. No gimmicks, no weird head masks, just a stroll through the tunnel to the fans. Once all the applause and cheers died down, North London Forever belted out and then the game kicked off.
I thought we started quite well. Bright and lively but with Leeds settling into defence mode, the game soon settled into one which saw Arsenal dominate possession without really causing too many problems. In fact Leeds probably caused themselves as much of a problem as we did. An early chance fell to Odegaard but he could only find the side netting and another opportunity arose when our pressing from the front handed possession to Zubimendi. He played the ball into Gyokeres but he stuck his shot wide.
Leeds won a corner which caused Arsenal’s defence a problem. Struijk got his head to it but Raya was there with a big hand to push the ball over the bar.
35 minutes in, we struck gold. A wicked Rice corner met by the head of Timber who simply guided the ball into the net. It wasn’t long after that when Odegaard, who’d previously landed awkwardly following a challenge, left the pitch. Hopefully his shoulder is just bruised rather than anything more serious. Nwaneri replaced him and looked right at home in midfield.
Just before Gillet blew his whistle for half-time, Saka doubled our lead with a thunderous shot off his right foot. Having put pressure on Leeds in their own third, Rice won possession, he passed to Zubimendi who in turn, played the ball to Timber. The Dutchman slipped a lovely pass to Saka who had eyes only the goal. No sooner had the Leeds keeper seen the ball coming, it was past him. Brilliant.
Shortly after the break, the moment we have been waiting for arrived when Calafiori played the ball down the left to Gyokeres. The big fella wriggled his way past a couple of defenders as he cut into the box before striking the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net. His first of many I hope.
Another piece of rotten fortune came shortly after when Saka went over with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Hopefully it’s not a really bad one. He was replaced by Trossard with Madueke switching to the right.
Arsenal didn’t let up. 3-0 became 4-0 from another Rice corner which Leeds couldn’t clear and Saliba couldn’t get his foot to but Timber was in there and somehow managed to poke the ball home. With three substitute options still available to Arteta, he used all of them. Mosquera replaced Timber, Lewis-Selly replaced Calafiori and Dowman replace Madueke. As the game went into added time, Dowman went down our right, jinked his way into the box before Anton Stach stood on his toe. Jarred Gillett didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. Gyokeres hammered the kick home.
A bitter sweet day really though. The bitter, both Saka and Odegaard picking up injuries which look likely to keep them out for a few weeks at least. The sweet was the confirmation of Eze, two goals for Gyokeres and Timber, 5 for the team. A Premier League debut for Dowman who looked right at home at this level. Nwaneri in the centre of midfield look comfortable too. Madueke made his first start and I thought he played well, especially after switching to the right.
Next up is a trip to Anfield.
The thought of Martinelli on the left and Madueke on the right with Gyokeres central at Anfield is quite exciting imo.
Good morning Rico, an excellent write up for a very good 5 – 0 win. Goal difference could be crucial come the season’s end.
Calafiori brings a bit more guile and attacking intent than M L S who is prone to pass the ball back from whence it came, in my opinion.
I’m looking forward to Tuesday’s Newcastle/Liverpool game, could be a feisty affair.
Good morning Rico and all
Nothing beats a good match report following a good match.
Two matches, two clean sheets. 6 goals scored. Not bad having faced a hate filled cauldron up North and a home game. Fingers crossed we take that into the next match, dont concede any and score once. And I don’t care if Saliba heads it in. Calafiori has scored, Timber with two. So that is three goals by defenders and three goals by strikers. The midfield have a lot to do to catch up in my opinion. Hopefully they catch up in the coming game against Liverpool
Too much to ask for??? Nah. Its what I believe in.
I hope that if Odegaard doesn’t play its Nwaneri in his place. Or it might be Merino who knows. Merino has played the Ode position before so he and Zubi know each other, while he is used to playing with Rice as well.
What I find a bit difficult to agree with was the fact that Arteta used all subs by the 64th minute. Yes there was no drop in performance, two were forced, and we were comfortable. But I have a question….when does Kepa get a look in?? because yesterday all subs were done with thought and according to situation. Coming on so early means that Arteta trusts them, however does anyone feel that Arteta should have saved one of the options and give Kepa a look in seeing that we were 3 or 4 up?? Unless Raya gets injured, Kepa will not play against Liverpool for sure. Yes, he will play in the cups and probably the EPL however I consider him to be a very good keeper as well.
Dowman will start more games than he will not and for his age that is amazing.
There might be a day, in a distant future, when Arsenal will play Saka, Nwaneri, Dowman, Madueke and Eze. Hopefully it will translate on the international stage.
Don’t know that Dowman will be starter but he will get minutes as the season progresses.
If you add White and Lewis Skelly to that list and you have the famous England 7 from the 1930’s.
Morning Cicero, thanks. I hope it is a feisty affair with a few crunching challenges going in… lol
Morning Devil, I hope Dowman doesn’t start any games outside of the domestic cups. A lot of time from the bench yes, but let’s let this guy learn to walk first..
Arsenal agree Irish record deal for Shamrock teen Ozhianvuna’
Arsenal have agreed an Irish record deal for Shamrock Rovers teenage midfielder Victor Ozhianvuna, according to The Athletic.
It is claimed the fee for the 16-year-old will surpass Tottenham’s £1.6m deal to sign Mason Melia from St Patrick’s Athletic earlier this year.
Ozhianvuna has reportedly already completed his medical and will sign a pre-contract with Arsenal, meaning he will join when he turns 18 in January 2027.
It is also claimed that Arsenal technical director James Ellis and academy manager Per Mertesacker led Arsenal’s pursuit of the right-footed midfielder.
@Potter – make that 8 – Declan Rice
Personally I feel that Dowman, while not starting league games, should be given as many minutes as possible so that he is ready when more senior players either get banned, injured or leave.
Absolutely agree. He’s more than shown he can cope at this level, I strongly suspect he already has a target on his back. Sad as that sounds.
Fingers crossed that this year he will not begin any games but gets 20 minutes as a sub regularly especially in Europe. yes he will be targeted but opposition knows that his control is such a high level that to get near the ball they need to touch him. and if that is in the penalty area the outcome will be only one.
Nice post Rico.
The moment for me was when that awful manager, Mikel Arteta, who doesn’t like or trust young players, put on Mosquera, Myles and Max, finally putting to bed that weird theory.
Hey Rico, I like the edit facility, very A.I. 😁
It’s just what I need … 😉
Bang on Kev. You couldn’t have written it better
What editing facility?
Thanks Kev, glad you like it 😂
Re the subs, that’s what Arteta can do when the result is pretty much in the bag.
I still haven’t figured out how Harvaetz got injured.
Two more were injured yesterday. It’s a good thing we didn’t make it to the Club World Cup. But the injury list is growing.
For Liverpool, play with those still available. I think they’ll still be a strong team. There will also be more departures.
The women’s team also lost to Totts.
The women’s game was a pre season friendly..
At least this season we have plenty of cover, quality cover too.
Apparently Saka was walking around in the changing room after so nothing too serious hopefully..