Morning all.
I felt a tad disappointed when the squad was announced yesterday morning as I’d hoped to see more academy players on the bench than just
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji but Mikel Arteta opted for players with experience over what position they played.
I think we all expected the front three to be as it was with Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri all starting. The back five and midfield was as expected too. To say that front three didn’t work well would be an understatement. Nwaneri was excellent though but he just didn’t have the support in the box. Twice he hit the woodwork.
Ndidi had Leicester’s best opportunity just before halftime but thankfully, his header went wide.
After the break, Ethan Nwaneri was just a whisker away from giving us the lead. He’d moved the ball from slightly right to centre before curling a left footed shot just a millimetre or so too high.
Around the 70 minute mark, Mikel Arteta replaced Raheem Sterling with Mikel Merino. Leandro Trossard moved left with the Spaniard in the middle. Finally, a target man. A player who very nearly gave us the lead within minutes of coming on but couldn’t get a touch on Jurrien Timber’s cross. As we went in search of three points, only some smart defensive work from Myles Lewis-Skelly prevented us from going a goal down. Up the other end, the woodwork prevented us from going ahead. Nwaneri struck it well with his right foot, or should I say his wrong foot, and their keeper was beaten, but it wasn’t to be his day as far as scoring goes.
But it was his ball into the box which was perfect yet again only this time, there was a big guy waiting. Mikel Merino was that guy and he made no mistake with his header. A lovely goal all round.
Mind you, so was Mikel Merino and Arsenal’s second.
This time it was Leandro Trossard who supplied the cross from the left after Riccardo Calafiori not only won his challenge in midfield, but managed to squeeze a pass out to the Belgian.
Mikel Merino:
It’s amazing. It’s just an unbelievable feeling. The supporters are showing me so much love. I’m really thankful for that. I can only answer by working hard, trying to give them all the love back. and hopefully in the future I can make them proud.
I’m ready to do the job that the coach and the rest of my team is relying on me to do. Hopefully it will end up with two goals like this every time!
As said earlier, the game itself wasn’t the best yet it had moments of magic within it. Watching Ethan Nwaneri work his magical feet, his two strikes, both of which on another day might have gone in. Three if one counts the curling effort which went just over. The moment when Myles Lewis-Skelly’s last ditch defending prevented us from going behind. I mention these two players again because they’re still very young in footballing years yet already key pieces within Mikel Arteta’s jigsaw.
The decision to bring on Mikel Merino was an excellent one. I’m pretty sure if one was to look hard enough, the words lucky and Arteta will be written in the same sentence but I prefer to see the move as being inspired. Trying something different. We needed a presence in the box and Merino was that man. It worked, or as I wrote yesterday, Boomshakalaka!
Whether Mikel Arteta sticks with his namesake next Saturday for home match against West Ham, who knows but I’m not sure he can afford to risk starting Raheem Sterling again. His loan move to Arsenal simply hasn’t worked. He’s out of form and looks out of confidence too. It’s a shame for him as much as it is the team but with so many players missing through injury, those who are fit cannot afford to carry passengers.
Now it’s Liverpool’s turn to feel a little bit of pressure. They’ve been in the news this week for negative reasons with Slot and his assistant waiting to find out what penalty they’ll be given for ranting at Michael Oliver at full time against Everton. Wolves might be lurking at the bottom of the table but they are more than capable of spring a surprise. I hope they do.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico, I agree with all that. Re Sterling, Maresca had seen that he was a busted flush but I think Arteta’s closeness to the player clouded his judgement and made him think he could still get a tune out of him. After yesterday it looks like a no-brainer to start with Trossard on the left, Nwaneri on the right and Merino up top against W Ham.
Morning Anthony, honestly, I think Arteta will stick with Sterling and I kind of understand why. Funny enough, I’m just writing something about him for this week. Merino coming on worked an absolute treat but would it have been the same had he started? We’ll never know of course.
Good morning Rico and all.
I enjoyed reading the match report Rico. Yesterday I went ballistic when Merino scored but your post gives me pleasure reading it
As much as I criticize Sinclair I feel his time will come. Maybe we will all eat a humble pie when he scores the winners against Liverpool and Newcastle.
Although we criticized Arsenal a lot before the first goal we have to remember that had Trossard scored, nwaneri’s two posts gone in and Merino’s attempt went in we would have been talking about a 6-0 win.
In a way I am glad we suffered a bit before we won…..had we had an easy win we might have been given a rude awakening next game.
So I hope don’t batter someone till end of season but rather win all of them 1-0 or 2-0. At least in the league
Morning Devil. Thanks.
I’m a bit like you re Sterling. He frustrates the heck out of me but when he’s playing, I just wish him well for the good of the club.
Good post Rico and yeah it wouldn’t surprise me if Sterling started again vs West Ham, maybe Arteta is trying to ease Merino into the role or protect him even? Then again coming on after 70 minutes meant that Merino was fresh and that the Leicester defence wasn’t, so just how much this contributed to the space he found we’ll never know?
Jorginho and Califiori’s impact cannot be ignored either, Partey was well off of the pace and Uncle Jorge immediately gained us a level of control.
Yep, Arteta will need to carefully utilise his resources until Martinelli and Tomiyasu returns.
Re:Saka I’ve seen on an injury website the date for his return fall from 1st April to the 15th March (I don’t know how they gather their data) so if true then that’s a real positive.
As Mikel often opines ‘let’s go from game to game’
Great post Rico thank you.
Excellent win for Arsenal Women 5 – 0 against Spur.
Saka and his partner were in the crowd with their dog. Normally only guide dogs are allowed in, for the benefit of referees. 😉
Thanks Kev, Cicero.
I think it worked well yesterday and park it there. It’s easy to think about Merino starting the next game as striker but if it doesn’t work, imagine the online trolls having a field day.
Excellent performance by the women, always good to beat the neighbours.
Liverpool beat Wolves but I think the nerves are jangling….
😂Cicero. 🦯
Liverpool lucky with ref’s decisions and hanging on at the end,very unconvincing so no change there.
A full week for us before West ham,I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sterling start again. At this point though he is a shadow of the player who won Premier leagues and multiple other trophies,don’t wish to be cruel but he looks like someone impersonating a professional footballer.
Will the real Raheem Sterling please stand up ? I hope so.
Another nasty little right back called Neville, got subbed shortly after being nutmeged. I think she was getting frustrated and close to a booking.
That’s an eight nil aggregate over two W S L games this season. In the old days the Arsenal faithful would have been signing “can we play you every week?” 😉
Limey, and on Wednesday, Liverpool go to Villa..
She’s a horrid player Cicero, I looked her up a couple of seasons ago as I was sure she had to be related to the other Neville’s we love to hate.
Come on the Villa.
Also on yesterday’s game,it was really noticeable how much more effective Trossard was on left,I don’t know if he was trying too hard.
I was surprised Ben White wasn’t given even a few minutes. We will surely need him soon.
It’s strange watching this Spurs- Man United game,I can’t stand either of them.
I couldn’t stomach watching those two…
I see Liverpool won by the odd goal with their obligatory penalty . At this rate Salah will get the Harry Kane award if not the golden boot.
Nobody else gets a penalty quite like Liverpool, the ‘Liverpool penalty’ really is a thing…
In all competitions this season transfer market says Livarpool 11 penalties as opposed to Arsenal 2.
Konate Should have been sent off too.
Was Jota booked for diving to try and win a penalty, I didn’t see it.
Favouritism…
Good morning everyone
I highly doubted that any referee would have given a red (unless so obviously blatant) to a liverpool player after what happened at Everton. and it was evident that they would be awarded a penalty any time during the game. I was talking to a liverpool fan here at work today and he commented that the refs and FA are all against them. I asked him how did he manage to say that with a straight face.
Nope, he wasn’t.
Was Jota booked for diving to try and win a penalty,
Just as well he didn’t kick the ball away.
So the fine for the reaction to Oliver’s sending off of Lewis Skelly is £ 65,000 . You always knew that there would be repercussions , I wonder what Liverpool and Everton will get.
On the subject of MLS looks like Tuchel is eyeing him up .
Too soon .
Agreed, too soon for Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri too.
Morning…
New post up..
good morning everyone
I am undecisive with regards MLS on the international stage. Only 17 years old he is already at the level where he is being eyed for the national team. That says a lot about his progress (I think that even Nwaneri will get called up soon as well).
I think I feel apprehensive about this yet at the same time feel that its wonderful for him. As Rico pointed out its too soon for him to be called up. It may work against him…..remember Walcott and being called up too soon. Some nationals may look down upon him considering him to be inferior. It will put pressure on his shoulders and his form may plummet. Add to this the fact that amount of games will increase for him and he is still developing physically and mentally.
However it may be beneficial as well. He has taken to the first team games like a duck to water and never seemed fazed about it. It will be beneficial to him because he can learn from seasoned pros about tactics and game awareness. Hopefully he will not be plunged into action, however, if he is good and continues to improve then why not?
My top question is this though…….what if he gets picked up to be LB for the national team but eventually Arteta transforms him into a DM?? We all know that his natural position is DM and since there is a chance that Partey and Jorginho go elsewhere he may be a natural replacement together with the incominng Zubimendi(?).
So I hope that Tuchel does not rush with MLS even though LB for England is a problem position.