Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response

Thanks David Raya. Not only for making an unbelievable double save from Atalanta’s second half penalty, however for saving us from a few day of navel-gazing and introspection forward of Sunday’s journey to Man Metropolis. There’s sufficient to contemplate already, doing it with the sting of defeat would have made it much more troublesome.

It’s very laborious to know what to say about final evening, as a result of so little truly occurred. Mikel Arteta introduced Declan Rice again into midfield on the expense of Jorginho, whereas Gabriel Jesus got here in for Leandro Trossard up entrance. Our greatest/solely probability of the primary half got here from a free kick simply outdoors the field. Bukayo Saka went low, the keeper made a superb save to cease the preliminary effort, then blocked Thomas Partey’s follow-up.

And … that was kinda it. The remainder of the half was primarily two groups cancelling one another out. No query Atalanta made it very troublesome for us, they’re a tricky crew to play in opposition to, however on the identical time we didn’t do sufficient to trigger them issues. Nor did they notably hassle us on the again. We couldn’t get the ball by the traces, the forwards had scant service in areas the place they could trigger the opposition issues, and on the uncommon event we had a sight of objective, we fluffed our traces.

Gabriel Martinelli shot over for us, Charles De Ketelaere shot over for them after a pleasant passage of play, however by half-time it was presumably the least fascinating sport of soccer Arsenal have been concerned in for a while. There have been shades of final season’s away sport in opposition to Porto, however the place they made it laborious for us by relentless short-man syndrome cynicism, Atalanta’s man to man system was the problem we confronted.

Early within the second half, the house aspect have been awarded a penalty when Ederson obtained past Partey too simply (this recurring theme continues to vex me), and the Arsenal midfielder clipped his heel as he went into the field. There was a prolonged VAR test, I assume to make sure the offence which began outdoors the world carried on into it, however I don’t suppose we are able to have any complaints in regards to the choice. If it occurred up the opposite finish, I’d 100% need that as a penalty for us.

Leaving apart the truth that no man with a haircut like Mateo Retegui’s must be permitted to attain in opposition to The Arsenal, it was an excellent alternative for Atalanta. Nevertheless, David Raya was the hero once more, diving to his proper cease the preliminary spot kick, earlier than scrambling again as much as paw away the headed rebound simply earlier than it crossed the road. Sure, I feel Retegui’s header might have been higher, however full props to the Arsenal keeper for producing yet one more distinctive second.

I do know we’re only some video games in, however if you happen to have been selecting a participant of the season thus far, he’d be proper on the high of my checklist. In nearly each one of many video games we’ve performed he’s been referred to as on to make an vital save and has finished so with aplomb. Additionally, the new-found skill to cease penalties may be very helpful. Earlier than he got here to the membership, throughout the Championship and Premier League, Raya had confronted 20 penalties and solely saved one. Thus far he has one within the league, now one within the Champions League, and a pair in final season’s shoot-out with Porto. It’s a pleasant string so as to add to his bow at a comparatively late stage in his profession.

Atalanta modified a few issues, Arteta threw on Jorginho and Trossard for the underwhelming duo of Partey and Jesus, and I suppose it was mildly fascinating that the Belgian operated as sort of deep-lying playmaker. It didn’t make a lot distinction although. Riccardo Calafiori got here on and regarded very snug, whereas Raheem Sterling created a superb probability for Martinelli however as has been the case too typically of late, his composure in entrance of objective was nowhere to be discovered and he blasted over. That felt just like the sort of probability that will 100% win the sport on an evening like that, and he so badly wants one to go in at this level.

So, it ended all sq.. Afterwards, Mikel Arteta stated:

I feel we began the sport very well within the first 20, 25 minutes. I feel we performed with the ball in the precise areas, with a number of intention and have been efficient, however with out creating too many clear-cut probabilities. After that, we misplaced management of the sport as a result of we have been very inconsistent with the ball, giving a number of easy balls away – and in opposition to a crew which can be man-to-man, it prices you moments to transition as a result of the second you lose your man, there’s a house and you’re in equal numbers within the backline or overloaded.

Did we miss Martin Odegaard? It’s laborious to flee that conclusion. In a good sport, the participant who may give you that second of creativity, of precision, that may be the distinction. However that is our lot proper now, and we’re going to need to cope with out him and discover methods to make probabilities with out him too.

As you’d anticipated, the supervisor was effusive about Raya, saying:

We gave a penalty away and I witnessed two of the most effective saves I’ve most likely ever seen in my profession to save lots of us from that second. This season he has began exceptionally – the save he made in opposition to Villa, right this moment he stored us within the sport. That’s the truth. You want that out of your keeper at this degree. I’m actually pleased he’s within the kind he’s in for the time being.

Let’s hope he continues in the identical vein, as a result of he might probably be quite a bit busier on Sunday. Total, a sport to overlook actually. A degree away from dwelling is rarely the tip of the world in Europe, however with this new format, who is aware of if that can get up by the point we get to the eighth sport. Anyway, we’ve got greater fish to fry this weekend, and an enormous problem in opposition to the Man Metropolis.

We’ll have a post-game Arsecast for you slightly later this morning too, so stand by for that.

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