Morning all.
Great teams win games when they’re not playing well. They have the ability to snatch a draw from a losing position late in a game, snatch a win when a draw looks more likely and pluck a victory out of fresh air.
Athletic started strong with Mikel Arteta’s team struggling to get into the game. The passing was a bit off and I thought we looked a little disjointed. Eze looked a lost soul out on the left and Madueke certainly wasn’t enjoying as much freedom as he had against Forest. At the back though, the players stayed strong to thwart any kind of danger which came their way.
As much as Athletic played well, it was Arsenal who created a few opportunities to open the scoring. Eze had the ball nicked away from him as he was about to shoot, excellent defending I thought and Gyokeres sent a shot at the Athletic keeper before heading a Timber cross just wide. From a free-kick, both Gabriel and Gyokeres went for the ball, clashing heads in the process. A bit of first aid applied and he was on his feet again. Athletic had a couple of chances as half-time approached but neither troubled Raya.
The second half was similar to the first in many ways with much of our play going down our right, Madueke causing Athletic problems but we couldn’t find a way past Simon. Merino headed a chance over the bar before Arteta made changes. Trossard was the first to come on from the bench in place of Gyokeres but it was the change Arteta made six minutes later which broke the hearts of the Athletic fans. Trossard received the ball in the middle of the pitch facing his own goal and with a player tight on him but instead of going for a safe ball, he just flicked the ball over himself and ahead of Martinelli on our left. The Brazilian was on it like a flash, raced towards goal and slipped the ball under Simon’s body. Brilliant and just what our winger needed. Minutes later it was roles reversed as Martinelli, from the left side, played the ball back to Trossard in the box and after a giving himself time, fired home to make it 2-0.
The last time I recall an Arsenal substitute making such an impact was when Reiss Nelson scored against Bournemouth but to make two changes, both scoring and assisting, well if it’s happened for Arsenal, I cannot remember it.
All in all, a great start to our Champions League campaign.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and compadres, that’s now 4 clean sheets out of 5 so take a bow the defenders.
With Man City and Newcastle coming up this month it makes me wonder if we have ever been given a more difficult start to a season, I can’t think of one?
I guess that Port Vale (a) will allow Arteta a chance to rest a few of his key players, give them some recovery time as the intensity of it all will soon start to have a wearing effect eventually.
Zubimendi must be wondering when he’ll get a game where he has a bit of time on the ball without being rushed at?
But what a team/squad we have?
If you can’t enjoy it then you’re a bit of an odd ball. Fortunately this medium is an oasis among all the crazy hype outside.
Morning Kev, I’m loving how our squad looks. In fact I’m not sure the club could have done much better in the summer, without blowing the budget on Isak. I love the player but one injury and it’s money down the drain.
Once we get players like Eze and Gyokeres into the game more, we’ll be even better.
What I enjoyed about last night is how we just absorbed the early pressure and fan excitement and slowly grew into the game. Clever imo.
Good morning alte kameraden
A good win yesterday and another clean sheet.
But I dont agree that we absorbed the early pressure Rico. I still hunger for the times when we used to put the game to bed within 20 minutes and then administer the game. Boom, Bang, Kerpow…..3-0 and then sit back.
tbh I was worried that after the first 25mins we didnt have a single shot. and only one shot on target in the first half. Yes it doesnt matter at what time we score however I do want the game done and dusted early.
Cant wait for Port Vale to see Mosquera and Hincapie play together with MLS. Do you think White will be available?? Norgaard will play for sure whileI guess one of Rice and or Merino will play as well.
Kepa will surely be in goal. If White isnt available I guess Gabriel will play as captain while Mosquera will go as RB
Morning house, rico. Good performance against a team that were really at as from the start. Still can’t get over the fact that we look to have 8 defenders of quality, can’t remember ever having such a squad. We are so used to dithering over a player here, a player there. So when up against it (and missing our highest valued defender) we can just soak it up, and push more later in the game. Great subs as said; that Trossard flick was such class. And thought Gyokeres had movement and power, just what we need upfront, plus great determination to carry on with what looked such a deep cut from that beast Gabriel. He does have form injuring our newcomers!
Not quite as bad as Tony Adams dropping, I can’t remember who, and breaking his elbow.
It won’t be long before Viktor G is fully up to speed and can play the full ninety. Then we will see his true worth.
Morrow?
Yeah Morrow Cicero, it was funny but then it wasnt. Was a bit clumsy our Adams, drove into someone’s garden at Rayleigh, a mile from where we live 🙂
A good win against a club from an area with with great tradition , The Spanish football club Atletic Bilbao has had an unwritten rule whereby the club will only sign players who were born in the Basque Country. Considering that we had two Basques on the pitch one on the bench and one as manager it casts a bright light on the area.
Their manager Valverde said that with our defence we would win La Liga for the next ten years and that was without Saliba.
It goes to show how dominant the Premier League is in money , but is it a coincidence that the Basque ideal of young English players is emerging at Arteta led Arsenal , their players have an affinity for their club and their area having spent a lot of time perhaps he feels that is the only way to break the Northern dominance.
I was pleased to see both Trossard and Martinelli come off the bench and influence things , both of them must have felt that they were being pushed to one side by the newcomers. However it did prove to me that to accommodate Eze we either have to change formation or if we want a wide player on the left the two that came together last night seem quite capable of doing the job .
Tuesday nights squad will be interesting but we need to make sure that we feature in the next round as this squad now requires games to keep them all happy .
Afternoon Rico and all.
Nice write up Rico, didn’t get to see the game but very happy with the results, the only disapointing thing was that I thought we would have rested Raya and try our new keeper out, but I guess Arteta really wanted to secure an early victory.
I thought we were smart Devil. A tricky away fixture in a noisy stadium full of excitement having returned to CL football.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE37wJgBCZ0&ab_channel=TNTSportsFootball
Well worth a look
Morning Andrew. I was surprised when both carried on as that was a nasty clash…
Steve Morrow Cicero..
Morning Geoff, I’d imagine Kepa will play in the domestic cups..
Yeah Geoff try and ensure you have enough CL points to finish top 8 then you can rest a few.
Kepa will play at Port Vale and I’m sure that he’ll get the FACup ties as well, gotta keep him happy as he’s too good to sit on the bench every single week and we don’t want to lose him next summer.
From what I have seen of Eze, both for Arsenal and England, he is not a winger but more of an old fashioned inside forward. I’d be much happier with Martinelli on the left wing and Eze elsewhere. Suggestions anyone?
I knew you’d agree with me Rico…
I started watching Juve vs Dortmund after our game finished but I got bored and channel hopped, ended up missing quite a game, Vlahovic scored a couple of good goals in a 4-4 draw. You could see what Arteta saw in him as a striker, shame that he and his advisors were such a holes.
Just watched that YouTube clip and I still smiled watching Zubimendi on their free kick.
Always Kev. lol
I like the fact that our signings are a mix of English and overseas. Think we have a good balance.
That’s true Rico, Arteta seems to really like to bring some players with PL experience.
According to French sources Arsenal have offered Saliba a new lucrative 5 year contract, so let’s see how committed he is?