Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
Soccer actually is a mad factor. At half-time yesterday, I used to be kinda hoping to get away with out taking an actual pasting at Anfield, and by the tip there was a pang of actual remorse that Martin Odegaard’s low shot hadn’t crept in to present the ten males of Arsenal (once more!), an unlikely win.
Seconds later, my abdomen flipped when Liverpool had the ball behind the web however Andy Robertson’s ‘winner’ was dominated out due to a foul on Myles Lewis-Skelly (and a possible offside). Maybe it wasn’t a match that demonstrates why all of us love soccer, nevertheless it was positively one which showcases its capability for drama.
Arsenal truly began fairly properly and may have scored. That sounds acquainted, particularly this week. A wise free kick routine introduced an opportunity that Bukayo Saka ought to put away, however to me he’s not even near 100% after his return from damage and couldn’t apply the end. David Raya made a save up the opposite finish, earlier than we spurned one other good alternative of their field. Thomas Partey gained the ball, then we appeared to face round and wait for somebody to take duty and by the point they did the possibility had gone begging.
Then Liverpool scored twice in fast succession and the arse fell out of our efficiency. The primary got here from a fast throw that we weren’t switched on for, Cody Gakpo’s good close to publish header making it 1-0; then we obtained undone by a ball behind the defence, William Saliba obtained caught on his heels and Luis Diaz completed from shut vary. Too simple. Actually horrible objectives to concede, not simply due to the scoreline, however as a result of they make you look crap and that’s not a pleasant approach to really feel.
After that, we have been second greatest in each side of what remained of the primary half. We have been poor on the ball, poor off the ball, and I’m shocked the scoreline wasn’t extra emphatic on the break. Raya made one superb save to tip a shot across the publish, however Arsenal have been punch-drunk till the half-time whistle. Therefore my concern that issues have been extra more likely to worsen than higher.
So, it was a pleasant shock that the other was true. We have been significantly better within the second half, and I’m certain a part of that was – for need of a greater time period – some vigorous encouragement from the supervisor on the break, however tactically there have been some adjustments too. On Sky they talked quite a bit about Leandro Trossard showing extra on the left, however all through the group I observed numerous participant rotation all through the opening phases of the second interval, and I feel it unsettled Liverpool a little bit bit. They anticipated us to be a technique, and didn’t fairly know tips on how to cope with it once we have been the opposite.
Trossard supplied the help for our first, a pleasant cross from the left, however Martinelli’s motion is admittedly good within the centre-forward place. He creeps away from Virgil van Dijk and the header was very properly taken to get us again in it. The second got here after Odegaard actually put his foot by means of a shot, he’s clearly had his nutritional vitamins this week as a result of that energy isn’t one thing we’ve seen typically sufficient from him. It was properly saved by Allison, however Mikel Merino was there to stoop low and head residence his ninth aim of the season.
The Spaniard had an eventful afternoon, and having been booked within the first half, was proven a second yellow within the 79th minute and I don’t assume he can have any complaints in regards to the referee’s resolution. What I’d say is that he appeared completely exhausted at that time, only a few minutes beforehand his legs simply gave out in possession and he fell over out on the wing. So, though choices on the bench have been restricted, I feel the supervisor ought to most likely have taken him off earlier than that second yellow, and I don’t assume Raya did him any favours with that move on the sting of the field that led to the miscontrol and the problem that noticed him booked a second time.
Nonetheless, taking part in with 10 males isn’t new to us. We sat in, Liverpool had a whole lot of the ball, and a few probabilities, however ultimately the sport may have gone both means as Odegaard’s late likelihood demonstrated. We most likely deserved a degree for the second half efficiency, and I feel it was an vital level for us too. Not simply to finish the duty of ending second this season, however psychologically it meant one thing to not be crushed by Liverpool this season. Even when they’re the champions, and deservedly so, it leaves some doubt of their minds about us, and that’s one thing we have to use subsequent season.
I’ll admit, after what has been a troublesome week, I used to be fairly happy with our response and the character we confirmed. I assumed the primary half was actually poor, little doubt about it, however we dug deep and obtained one thing. Nevertheless, I feel it’s truthful to say that Mikel Arteta was not fairly as forgiving as I used to be, and he pulled no punches in his evaluation of the efficiency, saying:
What we did within the first half is nowhere close to the extent, so to do it after is just too late. We reacted, nice, however the requirements in these 20 minutes have been unacceptable.
Very far off it, actually upset. We had a response; I hate response, I like motion.
Having watched his press convention, and his post-game interview on Sky, I feel it’s protected to say we noticed a really emotional Arteta yesterday. On Sky particularly he lacked his regular composure and coherence, and it was laborious to make full sense of what he was saying. The underside line was that he was completely livid with the primary half, and I suppose individuals’s opinions on his feedback will differ. Some would possibly assume that anger is healthier channeled privately, within the dressing room or on the coaching floor; some would possibly say doing it publicly sends a really robust message to his gamers.
No matter he stated at half-time – which I’m certain was properly knowledgeable by the anger he felt – it labored, so maybe it’s about being very blunt and open about what he expects by way of requirements. We all know his dedication to that, he felt it wasn’t ok so he has each proper to name it out. Personally, I’d be a contact extra inclined to present credit score for the second half within the context of the week we’ve simply had, however possibly that’s why I’m just a few bloke with a weblog and never a soccer supervisor.
What appears abundantly clear to me although is that Arteta, and the gamers, completely want this season to finish to allow them to take a break, wipe the slate clear, and are available again to go for it over again. I feel the stress ranges, each bodily and psychological, are clearly manifesting themselves in numerous methods, and I perceive that utterly. It has been robust going nearly from the primary recreation this season, and with simply two extra to play, we’ve obtained to grind by means of it. I think the gamers could have a few days off this week earlier than we begin to put together for Newcastle on Sunday, and hopefully they’ll be helpful forward of a recreation I badly, badly need us to win. It’s our final recreation at residence, in opposition to a group who’ve harm us this season, you need to exit on a optimistic be aware. I hope a little bit break day earlier than the laborious work of making ready for that that’s useful.
What else? Effectively, the reception obtained by Trent Alexander-Arnold was a giant speaking level. Not a lot about soccer shocks me nowadays, however the booing when he got here on actually did, and that was compounded by the continual booing each time he obtained the ball. The one time it stopped was when he had an opportunity to attain from a free kick, one thing he’s superb at, so it highlighted the elemental hypocrisy of all of it.
From my perspective, I can perceive followers feeling aggrieved {that a} favorite participant has chosen to depart the membership they assist. We’ve all been there, it’s not distinctive to Liverpool by any means, however this can be a man who has been there since he was a child, simply helped his group to win the title, including to the earlier one and Champions League trophies he’s been a part of, and he’s taking the chance to go and play for one of many greatest golf equipment on the planet. Truthful play. The outdated ‘He’s run his contract down’ argument doesn’t maintain water for me both. He revered his contract, and he seemingly doesn’t get the transfer to Madrid in the event that they should pay a price.
I additionally thought Arne Slot’s interview on Sky was poor. If I’m a participant I need my supervisor to again me 100%, not come out with some mealy-mouthed, please-all-sides nonsense. His inventory will most likely by no means be larger with their followers, so it felt meek and conciliatory, and I don’t assume any of it mirrored properly on Liverpool in any respect. Don’t even get me began on the bizarre banners that grown males paid precise cash to provide. On a day that ought to have been a celebration for this season’s worthy champions, they turned it into one thing fairly grotty. However there you go, maybe that’s fashionable soccer fandom in a nutshell.
Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. We’ll have an Arsecast Additional for you however a bit later than regular, we’re recording round lunchtime in the present day. We’ll put the decision for questions shortly on BlueSky @gunnerblog.bsky.social and @arseblog.com with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or in case you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, depart your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod needs to be out mid-afternoon. Till then, have a very good one.
