Morning. It’s Friday.
Prepare for data overload. That’s proper, the supervisor will meet the press right now forward of our sport towards Nottingham Forest tomorrow, and we’ll get some data. Which is able to nonetheless really feel like an overload as a result of we’ve had nothing for weeks now.
It appears like a very long time has handed since that Chelsea sport. Maybe that’s a very good factor. I’m no fan of the Interlull, however this one might need simply allowed us to attract a line beneath the primary a part of the season (solely 11 Premier League video games, 27 to go!), and get centered once more. What little margin for error there may be all through a season may properly have been used up in that opening interval, so it’s essential that the supervisor elicits outcomes and performances when issues kick off once more tomorrow.
One factor I’m hoping to see because the weeks go on as an Arsenal staff that feels extra balanced than the one we’ve seen up to now. I feel there are apparent causes as to why we’ve struggled. Towards Brighton we performed a lot of the second half with 10 males; towards Man Metropolis we performed your complete second half (and a shitload of damage time with 10 males); and towards Bournemouth it was over an hour with 10 males. We’ve had points with accidents too, which have impacted consistency of choice, and I don’t suppose it’s unreasonable to suppose there’s been a bodily impression from enjoying these video games a person gentle.
As Lewis identified this week, the return of Martin Odegaard is essential for our enchancment (and I feel between now and January, Arteta and those that are filling in for Edu proper now have to suppose very strongly about our lack of depth in his absence), however I’m curious to see if midfield may begin to form up in a different way going ahead. When it grew to become clear in the course of the summer time that Mikel Merino was a switch goal, I questioned if we’d see the ‘first selection’ trio turn out to be Declan Rice, Merino, and Odegaard.
Rice anchoring, Merino because the ‘left 8‘, and the captain doing the stuff we all know he can do, with the peace of mind of these two behind/alongside him. If that was the plan, it was derailed instantly as Merino picked up an damage shortly after arriving, and it’s apparent that has delayed his integration into the staff. He’s had a barely inconsistent begin to life at Arsenal, however has executed so in a staff which has collectively inconsistent too, so it’s to not pin all of it on him as a person. I don’t suppose it’s coincidence that his most eye-catching look got here when he performed with Odegaard exterior him within the closing a part of the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. That’s the midfield I’d prefer to see extra of within the coming weeks and months.
The opposite side of that’s that it permits us to play Kai Havertz because the 9, and I feel this staff operates extra effectively when he’s the focus. The ‘job share’ bit with Leandro Trossard final season labored okay, however the Belgian isn’t in good type proper now, so I’d prefer to Havertz performed primarily because the centre-forward, flanked by a completely match Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
These 6 weeks or so earlier than the brand new 12 months are additionally essential for each Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling. If Arteta has to consider how we now have an enormous reliance on Odegaard, he’s additionally obtained to consider the shortage of finish product from these two gamers. I don’t suppose it’s sustainable if we actually need to problem for trophies this season, so there’s some stress on these two, and possibly some ruthlessness required. Sure, their minutes have been scant to date, however they’re senior gamers with tons of expertise, they know the drill and what’s anticipated.
So, let’s hope we discover the steadiness, let’s hope those that have under-performed to now can discover some type, as a result of the underside line for me is that we’re able to quite a bit higher than we’ve seen thus far. Now’s the time to indicate it.
Lastly, congrats to Tim whose incredible work for Arseblog overlaying Arsenal Ladies earned a Silver within the Soccer Content material Awards final night time, and congrats to our mates at ArsenalVision and Poorly Drawn Arsenal who received golds of their classes!
Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. There’s a model new Arsecast under by which I chat to Miguel Delaney about his new guide ‘States of play: How sportswashing took over soccer’. There’s quite a bit to unpack from the guide itself, the best way soccer, cash and politics have turn out to be inextricably linked through the years is apparent, however what impression has it had on the sport, and what’s subsequent?
We focus on all that and plenty extra. And for lots extra Arsenal chat, be part of us over on Patreon later for our Nottingham Forest preview podcast.
