I believe Arsenal have played more Premier League away fixtures than anyone else so far this season and we all know just how exhausting and disruptive travelling can be so it’s to be expected that a certain degree of physical and mental fatigue will eventually begin to kick in. Last night’s game seemed to be the classic example of exactly that.
Arteta freshened things up with some sensible rotation for this Champions League tie in Praha. In came two World Cup winners to join Rice, Gyokeres started up front, Eze recovered from his injury issues from last weekend and William Saliba made the bench.
Everything in the garden was rosey especially after 9 minutes when a long ball was knocked up to Viktor, he showed encouraging strength and control to hold off his marker as he brought the ball down on his chest, he then showed admirable vision to hook the ball over his shoulder to Madueke who had just run past him into space. The Slavia defence hadn’t pushed up so Viktor’s hooked pass fell beautifully into the path of Noni who drove for the penalty area and just as he was being closed down he shot powerfully between the legs of the opposition keeper to give the Gunners an early lead that stunned the stadium in it’s suddenness and simplicity.
This football can be an easy game when you cut out all the unnecessary frills and just focus on doing the right things properly.
From then on Arsenal totally dominated the game but rather forgot to do the right things properly, Eze, Gyokeres and Madueke were running riot, Rice was everywhere, where does he get his energy – more on that later! The defence and midfield was rock solid but some amazing approach play was wasted and this is the issue, we see it all the time, superb passing moves, exquisite build up play then a stumble or the ball bobbles or a defender gets a toe on the ball and you just wish that our guys would take a shot. Take it early, don’t slow down and beat an opponent again, it’s not a kick about with your mates, just take the bloody shot, keep it simple and keep it efficient.
On 21 minutes a Rice free-kick was driven into the box which looked dangerous but it was cleared and Slavia broke away. Their move looked threatening but Madueke got back to do some exceptional defensive work and the danger was gone. Noni was having a great game, a mazy dribble saw him lift a nice cross into the box where Gyokeres headed it back into the danger area but Merino could only head it over the bar, it was a decent chance but nothing to lose your mind over when MM missed it. Then Noni and Ben White combined to set up Merino who this time got his shot powerfully on target but the keeper pulled off a good save. Should he have scored? Yeah I think he should have.
On 29 good work by Eze and Gyokeres who combined well during this period set Rice free and he put over an inviting low cross à la Anfield but it went begging, wastefully begging. We should have been leading 0-3 by then but it remained 0-1.
On 36 a long pass from Slavia was flicked just wide, a bit of a warning perhaps. Then on 38 Viktor scored with a succinct curving finish after Merino put him in, his control and shot into the far corner of the net showed his quality, a quality that was a big part of ending our 22 year drought last season.
On 42 minutes another mesmerising dribble and cross by Noni Madueke set up Big Gabby whose point blank header was blocked on the line. We were missing a lot of chances and should have been leading 0-4 at halftime…. H/T 0-2
Slavia made some tactical changes at half time switching to three at the back and wingbacks they also sent on some bigger more physical specimens who gave our defence an interesting examination.
As early as 46 minutes Slavia created a dangerous situation but Raya showed confidence and intelligence to not go full tilt but to comfortably push his save out to Hincapie who retained possession. On 51 another effort, a long shot was fired in by Slavia which Raya saved as the home team upped the intensity. Arsenal suddenly looked one-paced and were losing their dominance, you can’t just switch it off and on again.
Konsa picked up a yellow card as some of our players began to looked tired. Rice was running on empty and our midfield was not in total control anymore. It was annoying because Eze had been kicked a few times by the Slavia right-back who escaped censure. As the game became more ragged Slavia grew in confidence, it suited them and Arsenal’s attempts at game management were becoming unmanageable. On 59 minutes a Slavia corner caused some consternation but it was thankfully cleared, we needed maybe some fresh legs and minds.
Apparently Konsa felt some issues with his knee (typical) and on 62 was replaced by Mosquera, Tzolis replaced Eze at the same time which I wasn’t sure about as Ebbs was having a good game. Still I’ll leave those decisions to the boss. By 73 minutes the Gunners were combining well again but sloppy play saw promising situations go astray then on 75 Slavia almost scored. A corner was fired into our box and although Raya did well to get his hand to the ball it seemed to be looping up and into our goal but fortunately Big Gabby was on hand to head clear, but that was close. Then on 78 minutes Arteta made some tactical changes which I don’t think really helped.
On came Timber for Ben White and Odegaard for Gyokeres. Of course the pundits opined that Merino would move up front but that didn’t really happen. Arsenal dropped deeper and with no centre forward to watch the big Slavia defenders pushed up and added to the aerial threat. On 82 a long ball out of our defence found Timber running into the centre forwards position but his connection on the ball was poor and another great chance went missing. A minute later a long ball into the Arsenal box was headed home well by Kubiak and it was game on, but no, somehow Raya got down, knocked it onto the post and stopped it going over the line.
On 86 minutes the Gunners finally seemed to have seen out the storm and were knocking it about before another stupid pass saw Slavia back on the attack. Eventually on 90 minutes they scored after another bout of incessant pressure and nobody could deny they deserved it.
The extra time was equally as hairy as the previous 45 minutes but we held on, Dowman replaced Madueke on 93. We looked like we’d been put through the wringer and no doubt Hull City will be pleased about that. We might just need the home fans big style to help the players get over the line on Saturday.
Zubimendi had a difficult 95 minutes but had good moments and he needed those minutes in his legs as did Merino. Rice look knackered but then he always looks knackered. Declan was everywhere in the first half but seemed gassed in the second. Positive performances by Ebbs, Viktor and Noni, they just need to sharpen up on their efficiency in front of goal as does Merino.
We March On.
By Kev
Maybe Max came on to give the defence something to think about Cicero, to try and stop the defence pushing up so far. A little late in the game though..
Morning Kev, all.
Good post by the way and definitely a game of two very different halves.
I reckon we have a few players who cannot get through 90 minutes either because of returning from injury or simply haven’t got enough minutes under their belts yet. There’s a vast difference between being fully fit and fully match fit and perhaps that’s why Eze, Madueke etc drop off.
Good morning Kev, a nice summing up, thanks.
In the middle of a phase of play, that brought to mind the battle of Rorkes Drift, Arteta chose to bring on Max Dowman with about three minutes of normal time left. Surely in the circumstances Bruno would have been the more logical option to shore up the walls in face of the Zulu, sorry Slavia hordes.
Perhaps it was Arteta’s way of showing his confidence in the young maestro, but to my mind it was the wrong move at the wrong time.
I’m becoming more convinced the both Eze and Madueke are first half players. Last evening both dropped off significantly after the break. Perhaps they were “found out” by the defenders, perhaps they lose concentration, perhaps perhaps perhaps.
At the very least we got the vital three points.