Morning guys.
Hasn’t the weather been awful for the last few days. Gale force winds, driving rain and a feeling of yuck! The beautiful blue skies and heat of the summer seems a long time ago now. With a bit of luck, the sunshine will soon return even if it brings much colder temperatures with it. I like proper winter days, without the snow though.
Anyway, it was quite a rosy weekend for The Arsenal. City lost, Chelsea lost and then yesterday afternoon, both Man Utd and Brighton lost. Shame about the latter as I’d hoped the Seagulls would leave Anfield with a point but I guess one can’t everything they wish for. Meanwhile, Arsenal put in a good performance against a well organised and strong looking Everton side.
We needed our defenders to score the goals but there’s a part of me which believes that our form in front of goal is going to change for the better. Our players aren’t hitting shots which end up looking like they would be better in a game a rugby, we’re talking centimetres, millimetres in some cases.
Talking about defenders though, I have to admit, when in became clear back in the summer that William Saliba was set to miss at least the first half of the season, I feared the worst for the team. How would Gabby cope without his trusted general alongside him. Then, when Arsenal were linked with Ezri Konsa, I wasn’t overly enthused by the news. But goodness me, how wrong I was about him because he’s slotted into the team as if he’s been at Arsenal for longer than he has. Of course I miss Saliba, what Arsenal fan wouldn’t but Konsa has taken to his role within the team like a duck to water. Arsenal received a lot of criticism over who they sign but credit where it’s due, this one has been fantastic. His goal against Everton on Saturday came during yet another fine performance from our Englishman.
In the worst weather conditions yet this season, the oft much maligned Ebe Eze and Noni Madueke stepped up their performances too. Both have been better of late but they have clearly upped their work rate. Mikel Arteta often says, players have to earn the right to play. Both are doing exactly that. I loved the energy of Viktor Gyokeres too. I could almost hear the groans when a pass was fired at him, hit him and the ball pinged back as far as it had come. I loved the lofted high pass to Eze which in the wind and the rain looked as it might be too difficult to control but no, our temporary left winger controlled it with perfection.
The Gyokeres critics will say that he’s in the team to score goals, I say, isn’t every player? After all, our attacking players are expected to defend aren’t they?
His work rate and movement is excellent in my opinion. He drags opponents away with him, freeing up space for others, almost in a way Alexander Lacazette did during his final season at Arsenal. He didn’t score many but boy did he graft for his teammates. I know he’s had off games but beating him with the same old “doesn’t score” stick seems trivial, especially when others around are struggling to bury goal scoring opportunities as well.
Kai Havertz, Mikel Arteta’s golden boy come striker, well, he’s hardly prolific in front of goal is he? He’s a bit of a softie too as he goes to ground a bit too easily for my liking but whenever he crosses the sideline onto the pitch, I’m desperate for him to do well even though I simply don’t see what others do in him. The same goes for Madueke too, another player who has struggled since moving from Chelsea but if he keeps playing like he’s been playing of late, then surely we’ll all be happy. Relieved too.
Another player worth a mention I think is Ben White. “Sell him” was the suggestion in the summer because he wouldn’t be the same after his spell out through injury. Well, so far he’s defied that idea because he’s been extremely good which considering Jurrien Timbers’ own injury struggles, has been an absolute blessing.
Lastly, Martin Zubimendi. The ever present midfielder during the first half of last season. By Christmas, it seemed he was jaded in a league which is not only more intense than Spain but doesn’t have a winter break. Arteta has used him sparingly so far but if he’s fit after taking a bash to his nose, I hope he starts against Fleetwood Town. Zubimendi hasn’t suddenly become a bad player and we’ll need his qualities over the months to come and especially in the second half of the season. His international teammate Mikel Merino too who started on Saturday. One minute we asking for Arteta to rotate but why is that when he does, fans can be tempted to suggest the players left out are no longer worth keeping. Every season is a marathon and all good marathon runners don’t start a race with a sprint. No, they finish it with one, if they are able of course.
We need every player in this Arsenal squad and probably an attacking player in January too but the winter transfer window isn’t the best time to sign new players unless money is no object. As suggested, perhaps the more sensible/logical option would be to bring Ethan Nwaneri back from his loan but even that might not be ideal.
Tomorrow The Arsenal are off to Highbury to face Fleetwood Town in the League Cup.
Catch up in the comments.
