Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
After Man Metropolis had comfortably received earlier within the day to leapfrog us within the desk, Arsenal went again on prime of the Premier League due to a 1-0 win over Everton final night time.
The group was as anticipated, Riccardo Calafiori returning at left again, and Leandro Trossard beginning once more on the left. The primary half was scrappy, with Everton most likely slightly extra harmful wanting within the opening quarter-hour with out ever actually threatening. We had a sight of purpose when Martin Zubimendi fired over together with his left foot, however till Jake O’Brien’s second of insanity, Jordan Pickford didn’t have a save to make.
Viktor Gyokeres needed a penalty for what he felt was a push from O’Brien as he went for a deflected Jurrien Timber cross, however I don’t assume it was. From the ensuing nook although, the Irishman inexplicably went full High Gun volleyball, with each arms above his head, and after a VAR test the penalty was awarded. The query was, who would take it? Saka is the common taker, Martin Odegaard usually steps up too, however in want of a confidence boosting purpose, the ball was handed to Gyokeres, and you’ll perceive why.
It was an enormous second for the Swedish worldwide, and he made completely no mistake, thumping the ball with actual energy into the again of the web. Pickford went the correct method however the peak and pace of the ball gave him no likelihood. 1-0 to Arsenal, and simply what the physician ordered from Gyokeres. He had one other sight of purpose after an excellent go from William Saliba however noticed his shot blocked, and late on there was a second when Odegaard’s go ought to have been extra exact, however I don’t assume the striker’s run was nice both.
However, 1-0 away from dwelling on the break isn’t a foul place to be. Not lengthy into the second interval there was a shout for an Everton penalty when Saliba kicked Thierno Barry after the Everton man had performed the ball. It’s a type of the place you may make an excellent argument as to why it shouldn’t be a spot kick, however you’ve seen them given loads of occasions, so I used to be fairly anxious. VAR checked and cleared, and I believe we acquired away with one a bit there. Perhaps the striker’s histrionics at what was a tame kick made it much less convincing to the video official.
There have been possibilities for Arsenal to attain the second. Saka’s first time shot together with his proper foot was blocked, and I believe he had time to take a contact within the field and discover the end, earlier than a beautiful transfer noticed Trossard’s shot come again off the submit. Shut, however a participant of his calibre has acquired to attain from there. Mikel Arteta made a change, placing on Gabriel Jesus for Gyokeres who struggled to become involved normally play. He accomplished simply 3 of his 5 tried passes, and whilst you don’t essentially want your centre-forward to be spraying it round like a playmaker, it does counsel to me that he’s struggling to mix with others and others with him. I additionally fear about his incapacity to win duels and 50-50s, a facet of his efficiency yesterday that did give me pause, as a result of these are moments when a low-touch ahead can actually impose himself on a recreation.
Zubimendi then hit the submit, earlier than the sport took on, what felt prefer to me not less than, an analogous sample to Wolves. We sat again, let Everton have the ball, and I didn’t look after it in any respect. Nonetheless, the place it differed was we rapidly swung the pendulum again our method, and whereas we didn’t actually make any large possibilities, we took the sting out of the sport fully by simply retaining ball with nearly 70% possession within the final quarter-hour or so, and plenty of that was of their half.
That was actually higher than final week, however we had been nonetheless on one thing of a knife-edge. I’ve seen it stated that Everton didn’t threaten, didn’t have a shot on track, and mustered simply 0.2xG, which is okay, however Wolves didn’t have a shot on track till they scored a 93rd minute equaliser. Typically it’s important to scrap out a win, however if you exist on the high-quality margins, and also you’ve seen your aspect concede late at Sunderland and Villa Park, and get away with conceding late simply seven days earlier than, I don’t assume it’s unreasonable as a fan to not really feel significantly snug.
Talking afterwards, Mikel Arteta referenced the have to be extra medical, saying:
We hit the submit twice. With gamers which are usually in these positions, they’re going to place the ball within the web. Within the second half, we had two or three large open possibilities which, if you wish to be extra relaxed on the finish, you must rating within the Premier League.
One for Leo, one for Zubimendi. Additionally Bukayo is completely free contained in the field, he’s acquired time and he decides to shoot and the ball will get cleared simply on the road. So, these moments, it’s important to be extra medical to have larger margins.
Nonetheless, after three away video games with out a win, an important factor was taking all of the factors again to North London, which is precisely what we did. I believe it’s honest to say it ought to have been extra convincing, however that’s a problem we’ll should type out with tough video games in opposition to Brighton and Villa to come back earlier than the tip of 2025. There would possibly even be some necessary gamers returning to offer the squad a lift for these video games, and within the meantime there’s an EFL Cup recreation in opposition to Crystal Palace the place I believe I must see the supervisor give taking part in time to among the lads who want it. And people gamers, as a result of we haven’t been totally convincing in assault, can maybe make an actual case for themselves for additional inclusion.
I believe we’ll have to be higher than yesterday to win our subsequent two Premier League video games, however within the chilly gentle of day, you may’t argue in opposition to a 1-0 away from dwelling to place you again on prime of the desk. That’s the absolute best place from which to work out the kinks, so to talk.
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. We’ll have an Arsecast Additional for you tomorrow as standard, and within the meantime, have an important Sunday people.
