Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response
A 2-0 win over Brentford final night time reestablished Arsenal’s 5 level lead on the prime of the Premier League. Mikel Arteta made some modifications to the facet, handing begins to Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke as Jurrien Timber, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka dropped to the bench. Not precisely wholesale rotation, however some contemporary legs in there, and it was the correct hand facet which regarded most threatening.
White regarded like a person with a degree to show. He hasn’t been enjoying because of a mix of damage and the constant excellence of Timber, however he was out to point out he’s to not be forgotten. There was one good interchange with Madueke which got here to nothing ultimately, however a few minutes later they did it once more, White overlapped and put in a cross which, because of his sensible motion within the field, Mikel Merino headed dwelling to make it 1-0 within the eleventh minute.
The Spanish worldwide should still be seen by some as a makeshift choice at centre-forward, however he’s somebody who has discovered a brand new position in a very spectacular method. That’s 2 targets and three assists in his final 4 Premier League video games, that are the numbers of a person in kind. In 2025, it’s 21 targets (and 9 assists) for Arsenal and Spain, which is sort of exceptional for somebody who had by no means scored at something near that frequency in his profession beforehand. That type of kind and output should give the supervisor one thing to consider as he considers his group choice, even with Viktor Gyokeres accessible once more and Gabriel Jesus seeking to play once more too.
Madueke confirmed fast ft to power Caoimhin Kelleher right into a save, nevertheless it was the opposite goalkeeper who made the save of the night time a couple of minutes later. From a Brentford nook, Kevin Schade rose highest to plant a header on the right track, however David Raya’s response time was unbelievable, pushing the ball onto the bar and away to security. You would possibly see extra spectacular trying saves this season, however I’m unsure you’ll see a lot better given how shut vary this was. Possibly it’s value mentioning that in addition to Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie have achieved, you hardly ever see us concede these sorts of possibilities with Gabriel and William Saliba within the group.
There have been a few practically moments once more for Madueke because the half progressed, however simply earlier than the break there was an damage to Mosquera which compelled him off. It’s continuous in the meanwhile, and I perceive the necessity for folks to ask questions on our record of absentees, however I don’t know the way any membership or any medical group can legislate for a participant touchdown barely awkwardly and hurting themselves within the course of. Typically shit occurs. I’ve no info on this incident in any respect, however a sense of actual disquiet primarily based on how he jarred his knee, so let’s hold all the pieces crossed it’s not too critical. Timber, who performs centre-half frequently for the Netherlands, got here on to interchange him.
The second half was a little bit of a battle, it’s honest to say. It may need been right down to us, with some drained legs, however I additionally suppose Brentford performed properly. They upped the depth of their press, which meant we couldn’t discover any fluency on the ball, and the possession stats have been much more even after the break than within the first half. The scoreline made it really feel one thing like a recreation on a knife-edge, however there wasn’t lots of menace from the guests. It was a type of the place a single second, a mistake, a set-piece, might price you factors, however when it comes proper right down to it, they didn’t muster a shot on the right track within the second 45.
Bringing on Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze helped give us a bit extra management within the recreation, and there have been moments after we might have scored once more. A Declan Rice shot was saved and Merino couldn’t make the observe up depend, there was one other one when he tried to purchase a penalty slightly than hold the ball alive, and proper on the finish Riccardo Calafiori’s shot was there for Saka to tuck it away on the again put up, however he didn’t make good contact and Kelleher smothered the ball.
He made up for it shortly afterwards, choosing up a Merino by ball, and though the shot was saved, it looped up and over the goalkeeper, and dropped beneath the bar and over the road regardless of one of the best efforts of Kelleher to claw the ball away. The ref’s watch buzzed, the purpose stood, and that was 2-0. By that point Gyokeres had come on to interchange Rice who went off feeling his calf, in order that’s one other fear, however an important half was getting again to successful methods after the draw towards Chelsea.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta had phrases of reward for Merino:
It’s his will to study and his will to assist the group. He knew that we had a serious drawback from the start of the season. We misplaced Viktor, Kai was out and Gabriel Jesus was out. So we would have liked an answer. He did it final 12 months actually, very well. I believe this season he’s most likely taking it to a different step as a result of he’s capable of do much more issues. So I believe the group is de facto grateful and he’s having fun with it.
And Ben White:
Personally, I’m very, very comfortable for him as a human being. I believe the remainder of the group is identical as a result of he’s a participant who has all the time performed for us, and sadly, due to the correct causes, he wasn’t enjoying that a lot. However his angle has been so constructive, so good. Then if you end up prepared and also you’re given the chance, you are taking it like he did at present. So I’m very comfortable that we’ve him again in one of the best model of himself as properly, and we’re going to want him as a result of he’s an amazing participant.
Soccer is a humorous enterprise. White was a lock-in for thus lengthy, a primary identify on the teamsheet type of participant, then issues go a unique route for varied causes. However did anybody have any doubt that if we would have liked him he’d step up? Not me. He’s demonstrated so usually prior to now what a fighter he’s, and the fact is now we would want him to play extra usually relying on the defensive damage state of affairs. I believe the plan was to offer him an hour or so final night time, however he did 90+.
Then it’s a query of ready to see if William Saliba can return on the weekend, how dangerous the Mosquera state of affairs is, and we all know Gabriel goes to be one other few weeks. Add the Rice difficulty on prime of that, and the supervisor goes to must proceed to elicit outcomes with out massive gamers at his disposal. It’s a theme of this season, not unremarked upon by Arsenal followers as a result of we’re dwelling each ache and pressure, and really feel these damage issues acutely, however within the wider dialogue to be the place we’re with the absences we’ve had isn’t getting fairly the popularity it deserves.
The schedule stays relentless, and Arteta had some pointed feedback in his press convention, saying:
Now we play Wednesday night time and we’ve to play Saturday morning as properly. We will play minutes but when they will please give us just a bit bit extra time to get better and to make the well-being of those gamers a little bit bit simpler, that may be nice.
Sadly, and never only for Arsenal, there is no such thing as a consideration in any respect for the welfare of the gamers. It’s only a query of Arteta, and all the opposite managers, having to get their groups by this run of fixtures. We’ll await additional information on Rice and Mosquera, and hope that there’s nothing too critical for both of them, and maybe we’ll get some type of replace tomorrow morning when the supervisor holds his pre-Villa press convention.
For now although, it’s one other win, three factors, a primary clear sheet because the begin of November, and the Arsenal machine retains transferring ahead. For extra on this recreation, and the remainder of the week’s Premier League motion, we’ll have an Arsecast for you a bit in a while so please be a part of us for that.
Till then.
