Morning all.
A funny old game. Arsenal started with David Raya and Fabio Vieira in place of Aaron Ramsdale and Kai Havertz. I could understand Mikel Arteta leaving Havertz out of the starting eleven because whether one loves or loathes the German, his start at Arsenal hasn’t been the best. Starting with Raya though was a shock, at least it was to me. I don’t think Raya had a save to make but I think it’s fair to say, his distribution was good.
I thought Arsenal started brightly and when Gabriel Martinelli put the ball past Pickford in style, it was no more than we deserved. However, celebrations quickly turned to disappointment as not only was Eddie Nketiah adjudged to be offside in the buildup, our Brazilian went off injured. Leandro Trossard came on in his place and looked very rusty. The game continued in a similar fashion to the one earlier in the year with Arsenal controlling the game but with little end product. Actually, zero end product.
Half-time came and went, very few Arsenal chances came and went too. Then, with around twenty minutes left, Arsenal were awarded a corner which was taken short and played through Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and then Bukayo Saka before the latter played the ball back to Leandro Trossard. A fine strike from the Belgian off his left book sent the ball past Pickford, onto the inside of the far post and into the back of the net. Incredible skill to hit the ball so well the way he did.
1-0 was how the game ended and finally, after a few years of dismal results at Goodison Park, Arsenal came away with maximum points. Not the best of football matches I’ve ever watched, nor was it the best performance by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, but three points in the bag nevertheless. Sometimes, that’s all what matters.
Inevitably, right after the match, Mikel Arteta was asked why he opted to play David Raya instead of Aaron Ramsdale:
The same rationale that Fabio played here or that Eddie played ahead of Gabriel Jesus. I haven’t had a single question on why Gabriel hasn’t started – he has won more trophies including me in that dressing room but they don’t [ask why]. It is something that historically is done like this but I cannot have two players in this position and not play them. David has tremendous qualities like Aaron has and Karl has, but we have to use them and it is like this.
I am a really young manager, I have only had three and a half years in the job and I have few regrets. It was on two occasions, that after 60 minutes and at 85 minutes in two games in this period I could have changed the keeper in that moment, and I didn’t do it. I didn’t have the courage to do it, but I am able to take a winger or a striker and put a central defender at the back to make a back five and hold that result. We drew those games and I was so unhappy.
Someone is going to do it, and it’ll be strange and you’ll ask why, but tell me why not? If you have all the qualities in another goalkeeper to do something, or if something is happening and you want to change the momentum, then do it. It is a regret that I have and now my feeling is to get everybody engaged in the team that they have to play, regardless of the competition – this is my message.
What an honest response and I’d never thought of rotating goalkeepers in this way. We know Raya is a very good keeper, just as Ramsdale is so why not mix it up throughout a season because it’s the best way to keep a goalkeeper match fit and used to playing with every player rather than just a defensive group which might only play in one or two of the competitions we compete in. Why is it that a goalkeeper almost has to do something bad on a number of occasions before he’s taken out of the team when in reality, he too might just be in need of a break. Saying that, I’d love to know which two games Arteta is referring to when he wishes he’d changed the keeper during the game.
Honest as Arteta was, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have just the two regrets from his three and a half years in management…..
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico,
That was a strange VAR decision which the talking head numpties, Drury and Neville, failed to explain.
I’ve just read Keith Hackett’s explanation in The Telegraph, Headlined “Offside? Yes. Confusing? You bet”. Even after a second reading I still don’t know why to goal was ruled out. Truth to tell I’m not sure Hackett knows either. 😕
A scrappy game but a valuable three points.
Roll on Wednesday evening.
Patience rewarded. This game was a banana skin, which we avoided. A very professional performance, keeping Everton at arm’s length the whole game.
I noticed that Raya likes to catch the ball, which is not the norm for keepers at the moment.
Imagine having to watch that garbage from Everton week in / week out? Sean Dyche reverting to 1980’s tactics of the keeper whacking the ball as far as possible and hoping for a lucky bounce. Graham Taylor would be proud.
Some of Arteta’s conferences are getting as confusing as Cantona’s seagulls and trawlers diatribe.. It takes about three readings to try and work them out . Perhaps OI should read his quotes in El mundo I might stand more of a chance.as I am sure parts are lost not so much in translation as phraseology .
The Ramsdale / Raya situation depends on how he has explained it to them both . I have read varying theories about the reasons why but none of them really explain it . Either he wants to replace Ramsdale or he doesn’t and Ramsdale’s face in the benches yesterday suggests that he was not happy.
Maybe Raya had the benefit of having Gabriel and Saliba back together whereas Ramsdale had an unbalanced back line with a porous midfield in front of them with Partey playing out of position still it is what it is . He is the man that makes the decisions and has to live with the results and the eventual outcome.
It was noticeable that straight from the kick off Raya went for possession rather than the big hoof up to Saka perhaps that is the difference he is looking for.
Hi Cicero, all.
I understood the offside in fact as soon as the ball fell to Nketiah, I thought it was offside. Get me eh, I understand the rule..
Certainly a lot more than I understand most of what Mikel says. Lol
Pete, he catches with confidence too which is positive and what I do like is that he doesn’t dawdle on the ball. But, whether he proves to be a better keeper than Ramsdale all round is something only time will tell. Unlike Arteta though to switch his keepers, had he done it sooner, perhaps we’d still be talking about Emi Martin our goal..
‘Tis what it is now though…
Good point about the central pairing Potter. We certainly look more solid in defence with Gabriel back in there and White back at right back.
Afternoon Rico and all.
I like the idea of swapping the keepers and as some seem to play better against certain club than the other keeper.
Hi Geoff, I think because it’s unusual, it’s highlighted. I suppose we should be applauding the fact that we have two very good keepers.
It’s good that we have two equally competent and experienced ‘keepers but I’m doubtful about breaking up the defensive partnership represented by Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko, we saw what chaos occurred when Partey was added to the mix. That said, it can’t be a bad thing for Raya to get to know the playing style and attributes of the rest of the defence and he will only do that by playing alongside them.
Arteta needs to make clear that being benched or subbed does not necessarily mean they have been dropped due to poor performance.
Incidentally it was worrying that Zinchenko was subbed due, according to Arteta, to tiredness which raises the question about his level of fitness as well as his freedom from some unannounced injury.
I think Arteta has tried to do that in his post match interview and I’m sure he’s told the players that being rested isn’t being dropped. Things are so different now that every player is a good player rather than just a handful. The media are the ones trying to make something from nothing as always.
If Arteta is doing with ESR what he did with Martinelli a year ago, he’ll have the best chance of staying fit for a long time than ever before.
Rico, that’s why I glad when we brought in a keeper that can push Ramsdale and keep him on his toes
Trouble is Geoff, that seldom seems to work long term. Look at Leno and Martinez.
Agree Rico, but I think the difference is Raya come to us knowing he would be the number 2 keeper. He will have plenty of chances this season especially as Arteta said he nearly replaced Ramsdale at half time during a recent match and keeping a clean sheet hasn’t done him any harm.
I would be nice if we could get 2 different back lines 1 for Ramsdale and 1 for Raya.
Little point in that Geoff because injuries would interfere.
New post up.