Before Southampton. Mature Arsenal teaches a lesson to French youngsters
The first clash with the top (or around top) Champions League side on Emirates has ended with a confident mature victory. While not possessing the ball too much, Arsenal showed pure class in the first half netting two impressive goals in the first half an
The first clash with the top (or around top) Champions League side on Emirates has ended with a confident mature victory. While not possessing the ball too much, Arsenal showed pure class in the first half netting two impressive goals in the first half and saw the game to go down with this result in the second half. It was a performance from a pure Champions League grand, who just calmed down the young nervous technically gifted opponents. These types of games were time and time seen with the post-2009 Wenger team, where Arsenal was appearing on the other side. Now we are the big boys in the room. Probably PSG is not a true top-tier side, like Bayern or Real, but, hey, step by step we will come for their heads as well!
This victory puts us with 4 points in the top half of the Champions League table. we've seen teems winning with the goal difference of 4, 5 and even 7. This is the consequence of the new CL format - it makes top teams to push until the end in every game and not just stop at 3-0. Unfortunately, Arsenal doesn't have many inexperienced Eastern European teams to build up the large goal difference. So we have to accept that we need to get into TOP-8 by sheer point number. At the same time we've seen already inside two match weeks big teams lose games away for home - Real, Barca, Bayern, so there won't be perfect records after eight games. I still think 17 points is going to be the bar, so we need to take 9 more home and 4 more away in the remaining six games.
Full back conundrum
The game against PSG showed against brilliant qualities of our full backs - Timber and Calafiori. Timber have proven to be a strongest defensive duel full back in the team, while Calafiori is the one who just storms through the pitch, giving passes, dribbling and even waiting for a ball on an edge of the box for a shot. I think his energy that everyone including Arteta is constantly talking about is going to be crucial in opening up the deep blocks in Premier League, including the one we could probably observe on Saturday.
It's going to be hard for White to get the starting spot back from these two. Ben's not as defensively good as Timber, and not as good in creativity as Calafiori. He's the balanced option somewhere in the middle. I can easily see us setting up with White and Timber against a strong attacking side, specifically when Liverpool comes to Emirates in a couple of weeks. But I can't help but think, that Timber's best performances were on the right side and we limit ourselves putting him on the left.
It's a great problem to have, but only if it's managed properly.
Creativity formula
Havertz and Trossard have delivered again. I have seen many fans surprised that Trossard have replicated some of that Odegaard's creativity qualities, I've been calling for it since the Martin's injury. Trossard can work with the ball in tight spaces, he can see the areas in front and deliver the ball there.
In general, there are three types of players (even four, but the fourth is quite rare) used to open up a packed defence:
Players that can go past their direct opponent, either through dribbling or running. Examples: Saka, Martinelli, Salah and many other wingers.
Players that can find a space either between the lines or in between defenders (if the defender was pulled out of position by other players) and receive the ball there. Examples: Havertz, Foden.
Players that can give the ball to the type 2 teammate (who found a space in the defence) with surgeon's level of precision. Examples: Odegaard, De Bruyne.
Players that use sheer physical force to push through defenders. Example: large Norwegian crybaby. This is proved to be not very efficient against strong defenders (ask Saliba).
Using this classification Havertz is a receiver while Trossard can be both a receiver and a giver to some extent. That's why Havertz never clicked as left 8. Given that the player is located much lower on the pitch, he should be equipped with giving abilities in quick transitions, as well as receiving in positional attack against a compact defence. Xhaka, who I didn't like for his defensive play, was a great passer and belonged to type 3 rather than anything else. Trossard also has these abilities and we have seen another confirmation on Tuesday, but he doesn't have the physicality Arteta wants.
In general Arteta's demands from the left 8 position are so broad that it's hard to find a fit: physicality, movement, ability to find spaces and distribute the ball. Smith-Rowe didn't click there, Havertz as well, Rice is also bleaker there than in #6 role, and I have very serious doubts about Merino clicking. According to all the statistics we know about him, he's the clear type 2. Can receive the ball in between the lines. Can use physicality to protect the ball for a fast teammate. Can do late runs in the box and win headers. But he's not distributing the ball efficiently. I think Merino can only click with a ball distributor sliding behind him in the attacking phase, so either Calafiori or Zinchenko inverting and taking over the passing responsibilities. But it will not work against a team with top-class wingers, where the left-back can just afford to wander around in the midfield.
Below is the comparison of Merino and Rice in previous season that shows that Mikel is basically a better defender:
Finally to the Saints game
I think this game is going to be easier than the Leicester one. It just can't statistically be two hard home games in a row against a team with a different level of quality.
What I think is crucially important is for Arteta to start rotating the squad. To introduce two new players in starting line-up. To not put a same squad game after game. This is something Guardiola has taken as a habit and it has many benefits:
More players are getting integrated into the team and build connections with the regular starters. This builds a protection for the case if one of the main players, like Odegaard, gets injured.
It enables competition between players, so that the regular starters know they should show their best levels to get into the team. And in general, competition always improves players, push them to the limit.
The main players are not getting overplayed, if they are benched from time to time, and the chance of injury is reduced.
It gives motivation to the players on the bench that they have a chance for more gaming time if they show their best on the pitch.
The only downside is that you don't play with your best eleven. But shouldn't Southampton at home be the game where you don't need your very best?
I would be very much interested to see Nwaneri from the first minute. In addition, to Ethan would be also good to see either Merino, Sterling or one of defenders - Tomi or Kiwior. Let's hope for an interesting game and even more interesting three points!