I often watch Arsenal Bench Cam on YouTube which shows how Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff react during games. In recent seasons it’s been like watching someone close to breaking point, but last season I detected a change from Mikel in his attitude and posture, particularly towards the 4th official and the other officials in general, where as he became less adversarial and more agreeable, joking and chatting instead of complaining constantly. This obviously comes from experience and confidence, it may also come from introspection, maybe he could see how his anxiety was affecting the team.
But at Cardiff I didn’t see any pyrotechnics from Mikel or his staff as we scored against City, instead he simply held his arms aloft and celebrated quite cordially almost with a calmness, a calmness which I saw in the way Arsenal were playing. They continued in the same vein against the Sky Blues of Coventry yesterday evening, a calmness borne out of finally getting it over the line and this Arsenal team didn’t cook the books to get there. A weight seems to have been lifted from the players’ shoulders, their confidence is brimming over and I just hope the fans stay as balanced when we do occasionally drop points.
Coventry came out and had a go. They were enthusiastic, maybe just a little too enthusiastic, with some of their challenges bordering on yellow cards but the Gunners rode out the opening 5 minutes with a few bruises but nothing worse. Then Tzolis gave us a glimpse by receiving the ball, feinting then cutting inside to shoot over and the crowd responded positively.
After 7 minutes, some intensive Arsenal passing ended when Odegaard found Tzolis on the ‘right’ wing where he spun and hit a dangerous cross into the heart of the City box but it was scrambled clear. Then on 10 minutes Coventry piled forward, their confidence growing because their centre forward was causing Gabriel some issues but it was dealt with and it suited us because 5 minutes later a long ball to Tzolis was won then mis-controlled by the City right back who presented the ball to Calafiori. Quick as flash he sent a low driven cross into the box and Havertz calmly side footed home.
On reflection this game as a contest was pretty much over after that. Coventry still attacked of course but you could see that their belief had ebbed away after our goal. It was simple and deadly, welcome to the Premier League chaps.
On 22 Declan Rice picked up the ball in our half and surged into the City half causing consternation all around him in the City ranks, they’d seen this before on Match of the Day and it doesn’t end well for the defending team. Rice exchanged passes with Odegaard, their confidence growing, the ball then finding its way to Brian Marwood, er sorry, Tzolis and his driven cross into the box eventually found its way to Saka and despite the goalkeeper’s despairing attempts to stop it Bakayo just stabbed it home. If anyone had had any doubts after 1-0 there was none after 2-0. This Arsenal team, these champions were playing like a well-oiled machine.
On 33 Saka and Odegaard created a great chance for Ben White but his composure deserted him with just the keeper to beat and the chance was gone, Ben really should have scored. On 46 a short corner, we used a lot of short corners, found it’s way to Declan Rice but his carefully constructed banana shot drifted just wide, Fyffes would not be happy! H/T 2-0
No changes by either side at half-time and away we went again. After some sparring we put the game to bed on 49 minutes. Saka and Odegaard linked up and as Ben White, a rejuvenated Ben White, surged past, they played him in, City were in chaos, the ball eventually reached Odegaard whose miss kicked shot apologetically sailed past the helpless City keeper.
3-0, now do we go for it or do we play sensibly, manage the game, keep a clean sheet and maybe nick another and it was the latter. We have an enormous amount of games ahead of us and regardless of the strength of our squad, our resources are finite and need to be used intelligently and that is exactly what I feel they did.
On 65 minutes a corner was partly clear to Tzolis who blasted his shot on target, but it was saved and pushed for another corner, he is going to be a revelation this season. On 68 Arteta took off Rice and Saka for Zubimendi and Madueke, Zubi looked really good, Noni looked like Noni.
On 76 the excellent Odegaard and Tzolis were replaced by Eze and Merino, Merino looked really good, Eze tried hard but it wasn’t happening on this occasion. On 81 the outstanding Calafiori came off for Hincapie. During this period Arsenal just ticked over, a Rolls Royce of a football team.
Finally on 86 Coventry had an effort on target and it should have been a goal but the City forward headed limply straight at Raya after an excellent cross. Were we getting sloppy? I’m sure that Mikel will have words with his players over that. On 91 we almost got the 4th, Noni won the ball and laid it off to Merino who quick as a flash, no touch, took the shot – a strikers instinct – it was creeping in but the keeper saved it and that was that pretty much.
3 points, no injuries, clean sheet, job done.
We March On!
By Kev
I like Gyokeres and really hope he’s not part of any deal for a winger/striker. Especially if it’s Alvarez.
I think Eze will get plenty of minutes if Arteta rotates, Nwaneri too.
Despite the criticism of Gyokeres regarding style and technique I am so glad we didn’t sign Sesko
I wonder what this season holds in store for Eberechi Eze especially as Odegaard looks back to his best?
Hull City second in the Premiership. 😉
According to the Muppet commentators, Hull “are everybody’s favourite to go straight back down”. On today’s performance United look the far better bet for relegation.
Didn’t Hull City only make the playoff final because Southampton were booted out. Hilarious that they are beating Utd 2-0 with just minutes to go.
Limey, I reckon it’ll be Alvarez..
Hull City could be difficult on their own patch.
A great win and stress free from early on,unlike some other first games I can recall,especially on Friday nights. We lost to Brentford in covid times and further back beat Leicester 4-3 in a crazy game.
I checked the BBC website at half time to see what they were saying,bearing in mind Coventry hadn’t had a shot on target then,their pundit was saying if Coventry get the next goal it’s game on. The media really are desperate for us not to win. I find it quite funny.
It will be fascinating to see who leaves,I wonder if Gyokeres could be part of a swap to bring in another striker ?
I doubt it but who knows.
Hull have just scored against Man United,Ayden Heaven starting for United.
Would have been sensible to switch him for Gyokeres Kev, the last thing we need is early injuries. But I guess Arteta had other changes in his plans.
You, me any many others Kev. Even if he’s off I’d have still liked to have seen him in the squad..
You know Rico, I did notice that, how Havertz’s influence disappeared even during the 1st half, probably post WC fitness.
Yes Cicero, Mosquera had a very solid performance, I still worry that his inexperience is going to result in a costly mistake but he made some very effective interceptions when we were stretched. I think he’s more comfortable on the left side and playing the Gabriel role but needs must. We’re lucky to have him, more great work by Berta.
It does seem a bit odd that the Premier League doesn’t synchronise with the CL when it comes to the number of substitutes allowed? I make Arteta right on that one.
We don’t want Konsa is get a Bruno type injury post the WC, so yeah, having him as insurance on the bench seems sensible and we don’t want him to experience a difficult debut at Villa Park because those Midlands monkeys will certainly pile on him, they all hate Arsenal as much as they hate West Brom and Birmingham.
Afternoon Cicero and Rico, thanks for the edit Rico it flowed better.
We don’t know about Martinelli, we’ve seen players apparently on their way out re-born, becoming a major factor in our team again. Martinelli’s goals in Europe camouflaged his poor return in the Prem last season, one goal. For £180,000 per week that’s really not enough despite the effort he puts in elsewhere in the game. I want him to stay, I want him to recapture his form of 22/23 when he was on a par with Saka in the scoring charts, maybe this recent time out of things will see him return with a bang – I do hope so.
Me too re Odegaard, I thought he might go this summer so to see him back to his best is great..
MLS, just brilliant again. Even the one time he lost possession, he got the ball back straight away.
Havertz scored then gradually drifted out of the game but a lovely goal.
The Martinelli situation doesn’t sit well with me..
Error He hasn’t played a game since the World Cup, it should read.
Good morning Kev, all.
Good to see our new centre back/right back safely signed, sealed and delivered but I suspect it will be a while before we see him partnering Gabriel at the heart of our back four, two reasons the first simply match fitness, he has played a game since the World Cup. The second, the form of Mosquera he’s becoming a very good defender, he has pace and physicality, he reads the game well and can pick out a pass. Even Willo will be hard pushed to reclaim his starting position when fit.
I’m so pleased that Odegaard looks to have regained his fitness and form, I admit to having felt his time at Arsenal was up after such a poor season last time out.
A special word for our midfield dynamo, Lewis-Skelly, a ball winner, a great passing range and tough enough to handle the agricultural tackles of midfield opponents. I thought he deserved at least a share of Odegaard’s MotM award.
The future’s bright, the future’s red and white. 😉