Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
10. 7. 3. Video games. Assists. Targets. 2024-25.
You most likely don’t want me to inform you who these numbers seek advice from, however simply in case, it’s Bukayo Saka this season. I need to begin with him in the present day as a result of I feel he deserves it. It’s not that I feel we take what he does without any consideration, however his excellence has turn into so commonplace there’s a hazard we don’t take the time to understand simply what an finish product machine he’s.
He’s averaging a aim contribution each sport up to now this season, and yesterday – regardless of the actual fact adjustments from the bench sparked Arsenal into a distinct gear towards Southampton – Saka was the fixed. 7 pictures, 7 key passes, 11 crosses. He was relentless towards a aspect that we wanted to interrupt down. At half-time I assumed this was the sport that we missed Martin Odegaard essentially the most since his harm, by full-time I wished Arsenal to fee Bob Statue to get Bukayo solid in bronze alongside the greats that already encompass the stadium.
I’ll come again to him, however let’s return to the primary half. Mikel Arteta determined to start out Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, leaving Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard on the bench. I understood this. It’s a house sport towards a struggling aspect, and what higher alternative to get some aggressive minutes into the legs of two gamers who want it. Individuals complain on a regular basis he doesn’t rotate sufficient, and when you could have gamers of that have and high quality to name on, I don’t actually see a problem.
Sadly, neither of them actually had the form of influence we’d have preferred. There have been moments, flashes of what they will do and – let’s be form – however for some improbable final ditch defending from Southampton they may have discovered the web. Arsenal dominated the primary half, however did so with out the leading edge we wanted to discover a manner by way of. It wasn’t simply right down to these two, the guests defended for his or her lives, however there was simply one thing lacking from our assault.
We noticed what it was within the second half when Martinelli and Trossard got here on. Being honest, game-state might need performed an element. Their recent legs towards some weary Southampton ones may have given them a bonus, however the distinction went past that. Martinelli specifically appeared to do issues with extra zip. His motion was faster, he was sharper on the ball, whereas Trossard simply acquired into extra harmful positions – and an understated facet of the adjustments is simply how naturally he and Kai Havertz appear to attach.
Southampton’s aim got here when Sterling was robbed in midfield, they acquired it ahead to Cameron Archer who stepped outdoors William Saliba a bit too simply to complete into the far nook. Very a lot towards the run of play, we’d had 15 pictures by that time, however as we noticed final weekend, you don’t need to do a lot flawed to concede on this league.
Fortunately the response was virtually fast. Saka was first to a heavy contact in midfield, enjoying it first time to Havertz who drove on and completed with the conviction of a person who has now scored in 7 consecutive dwelling video games. He was excellent once more yesterday, the aim his main contribution, however a second in harm time summed him up for me. He battled and scrapped for a ball halfway into the Southampton half, profitable possession. This was the 94th minute, the sport was gained, however his workrate was exemplary.
The adjustments I discussed got here simply after that aim, and with Mikel Merino on for Jorginho, the dynamic of our efficiency shifted too. It didn’t really feel like if we’d rating once more, however when. The second got here when Saka’s brilliantly flighted ball to the again submit was tucked away by Martinelli whose run was completely timed. The end from shut vary gave Aaron Ramsdale no likelihood, there was a prolonged VAR test for offside, however he was on, and we had been forward.
I noticed the Brazilian discuss afterwards about how that transfer was one thing they work on in coaching, and that mixture is one with a lot promise. After a tough interval in entrance of aim, it’s a few objectives and an help for Martinelli in our final two Premier League video games, so hopefully he’s assured and able to go once more after the Interlull.
There’s little doubt Saka deserved a aim himself, even when it was barely fortuitous. Havertz was concerned at first, protruding an extended leg whereas he was on the bottom to play it ahead to Trossard. With Martinelli outdoors him, you’d have anticipated the Belgian to simply play him in, however he appeared caught in two minds, and the ball acquired away from him. Sadly for Southampton the identical utilized to their defender who knocked the ball into the trail of Saka who completed first time together with his proper foot for his forty ninth Arsenal aim.
On a day when Arsenal wanted somebody to step up – and he wasn’t alone by any means – Saka stood out. I assumed Havertz was unbelievable once more, I’ve already talked about the influence of the subs, however Saka wore Southampton down together with his tireless excellence. Afterwards, Arteta mentioned of him:
He has the capability to alter video games, to determine video games. If you wish to be on the high, generally gamers need to create these moments and he’s definitely completed that in the present day.
And on the sport typically, he mentioned:
The group reacted extremely nicely with a whole lot of composure; massive perception, excellent readability in what we needed to do. The gang had been distinctive, the subs had been distinctive and we managed to win once more.
I think over the course of this Interlull, Arteta and his teaching employees will replicate on a few video games the place our dominance didn’t end in fairly sufficient finish product. Which appears a little bit of an odd factor to say after we’ve scored 7 objectives in our final two league fixtures, however I feel he’d desire issues to be a bit of extra comfy. As we’ve seen although, this aspect has a resilience and need to win that produces the reactions we’ve seen towards Leicester and Southampton, however maybe it shouldn’t should be examined each week!
It’s a small criticism although. We stay unbeaten, the league desk seems to be very wholesome, and even when now we have to play a sport with no pure proper again as a result of our two sensible ones are injured, we don’t really feel too impeded by these absences. The flexibility to reshape and cope with out key gamers is a really encouraging, and it augurs nicely as a result of it’s one thing each group has to take care of over the course of a season. We’ve had loads within the opening seven video games, hopefully it settles down a bit after we get going after the break.
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Pod needs to be out mid-morning. For now, have a great one.
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