Morning all.
Wow! That was one heck of a performance from Mikel Arteta and his players. Professional too which sounds crazy considering it’s a professional game but it was. A first half with two goals and other opportunities to make it 3 or 4-0 and then when PSG upped their game a tad, defensively the boys were strong. Very strong. In the words of Frank Lampard, “PSG were given a footballing lesson”.
Watching the game, one might have thought it was Arsenal who were the serial Champions League competitors rather than PSG. Yes there were moments the away team looked dangerous but that’s no different to any club Arsenal play but it’s how we as a team/squad deal with those dangerous moments which matters. Arsenal were superb.
Kai Havertz opening goal was brilliant. Not in a goal of the season kind of way but the cross from Leandro Trossard was perfect, the movement from Havertz well timed and the jump to outdo one of the best keepers in Donnarumma was brilliant. To then find the target was utterly deserved. Our second came from Bukayo Saka. A free kick into the box eluded every player including Donnarumma before nestling into the back of the net.
PSG hit the woodwork twice and played with more urgency in the second half but ultimately, Arsenal were just too good.
I thought Thomas Partey had his best game of the season so far and Trossard was everywhere. He was really good. Poor old Gabriel Jesus though as he continues to look a bit lost at this level.
Jurrien Timber had to go off after experiencing muscular pain which meant Riccardo Calafiori switched to the right with Jakub Kiwior coming on at left back and I thought he did well too.
Calafiori and Ruiz had a bit of a tussle in the second half which resulted in both players being booked but other than that, the referee didn’t make a fuss over anything. The English referees could learn a lot from him.
Mikel Arteta on managing the game after our two goals in the first half:
Especially the way we played the first half and how determined and brave we were, the quality we showed again against this kind of opponent and be so dominant, score the two goals. Then we wanted that different second half probably, continue to be that dominant and with the ball to be more composed than we were. We had three big chances to score the third one, and probably that would’ve killed the game, it didn’t. Credit to them as well, the changes they made, the adaptation that they made, they forced us to play again in a different area of the pitch and we had more problems after and to continue to play the way we played in the first half.
Myles Lewis-Skelly had a few minutes on the pitch again and what a huge boost it was to see Mikel Merino make his debut. He’s bound to be a bit rusty but when he’s 100% he’s only going to make Arsenal stronger. As will the return of Takehiro Tomiyasu which is imminent. Having such dept in strength gives Arteta more options to rotate without the team suffering a drop in performance.
Next up for Arsenal is Southampton on Saturday at The Emirates.
Catch up later..
Skelly not Nwaneri…
Thanks Joey, why I typed Nwaneri I’ll never know..
And I watched it…
I had to watch it on yet another channel,Amazon Prime and PSG are a very good team and it was a very good result .I thought Timber was excellent in the first half and surprised he didn’t appear in the second half,which you have now explained.
. Martinelli has the speed but hasn’t regained his finishing touch and I get worried with Calafiori who is great attacking but gets caught out defending and got another booking
.Jesus now has gone 20 games without scoring and I feel he has a very limited future at Arsenal but Trossard made a great goal and is always looking to score
I agree Rico ,Partey had a very good game..Saka again was masterful.We need to win something this season to keep one or two of our star players imo .
I have Prime anyway so a bonus for me.
Calafiori was playing on the right though which being left footed couldn’t have been the easiest, especially against a top side such as PSG. I really like him.
Agree re Saka Kelsey, I loved his comment about keeping the captains armband.
Trossard was superb I thought, he’s made it look like we’re not missing Odegaard.
Great result,
This team is outstanding and a lot of fun to watch. Looking at the remaining Champions league fixtures,I can see us winning most,away to Inter Milan looks toughest but you wouldn’t bet against us winning that.
The only thing that makes me nervous is the bookies have made us slight favourites.
I quite like the Amazon coverage,pity they had Alan Shearer on co commentary,he has such a dull voice similar to Alan Smith,at least Smith is a former player.
I thought Partey is back to his best,he did struggle earlier in the season (interesting that he has played nearly every game) He has qualities no one else has really,it’s been up and down,maybe it’s down to fitness but he was great in the Man City game and is hopefully now back.
Agree Limey, Shearer doesn’t like us either so add that to his dull commentary it’s not good. I like Frank Lampard though, he talks a lot of sense imo and dishes out praise when it’s deserved.
Good afternoon Rico and all
A professional post on a professional performance Rico. well done
I enjoyed the new steely look by Dark Arts FC. I love it. Especially when we throttle the opposition slowly.
The highlight of yesterday’s game???? The reaction of MLSkelly’s mum when her little baby came on the pitch for his champions league debut…..enjoy.
https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=3977924225820343
I think that Saka is leaving the LB position up for grabs.
Saka began as a left back and now is one of the best RW in the world.
Timber began his Arsenal career at L and now plays everywhere across the defence.
Tommy began his Arsenal career at L and now plays everywhere across the defence.
Myles Lewis Skelly is a midfielder but Arteta is playing him at LB to ease him in the DM position
Calafiori began at LB but I have a feeling he will end up as a playing across the defence.
My piece of advice??? Begin as a LB and you will be sure to become a future star at Arsenal even though it might be elsewhere.
Afternoon Devil, thanks.
Hasn’t Tomiyasu always been a central defender for his country?
Great video. One proud mum indeed…