Back to back wins against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Antonio Conte’s Spurs prove that Arsenal have turned a corner, answering their critics from the top of the league.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been on a positive trajectory for the past twelve to fifteen months, and during this period there have been certain checkpoints the team has reached, and had to overcome. The last couple of weeks have seen a big inspection of Arsenal’s character, but the Gunners have passed these tests with flying colours, helping to show progression from the inconsistency that saw Arsenal miss out on Champions League last season.
Both Sunday’s victory against Liverpool and last Saturday’s victory against Spurs were hard fought, and certainly not handed to the Gunners on a plate, yet Arsenal are getting over the line in the face of adversity more than they have at any point over the past eight years or so, and this is certainly the biggest improvement we have seen in this aspect under the stewardship of Arteta.
The key to this? Character.
Character is the determining factor in the recent resilience the Gunners have shown. The Emirates has long been the home of many a wizard of creativity, technical genius, or a mercurial marksman, yet, whilst fans were left entertained with easy-on-the-eye football, the final hurdle was often far too high.
Some of the finest players the Emirates has been home too since opening in Mesut Özil, Santi Cazorla, and Alexis Sanchez, were never able to consistently fight for the Premier League. Photo: Getty Images / Stuart MacFarlane.
This is where Arteta deserves credit, serving as the link between the history, style, and excellence of Arsenal, whilst sprinkling the grit, work, and determination that the top teams cannot go without. Arteta has built a side filled with gifted talents, footballers who are mesmeric in the way they play the game, in honour of the likes of Santi Cazorla, Mesut Özil, Aaron Ramsey, and countless other beautiful footballers of yesteryear, in the form of Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Fábio Vieira.
The difference now? Not only do the three modern equivalents work tirelessly without the ball, pressing constantly, they are willing to do anything to help the team. Saka’s first goal from Sunday provides a great example of this, as he ran the length of the pitch following a Liverpool corner, to slide in at the back-post whilst Arsenal countered, all in the depths of first half stoppage time.
It is not just Arsenal’s maestros who are working harder though, take Gabriel Jesus as another example. Wow. The Brazilian has come to Arsenal for a big fee, from a big club, competing in the Champions League (and favourites to win it each year!) much like Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona in 2014, or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Dortmund in 2018. Sanchez and Aubameyang will forever be written into Arsenal history, for their goalscoring exploits which helped to deliver trophies to the club – almost single handedly at times. Jesus in my opinion, will be remembered in the same manner, with the difference being the full package he offers, on top of his spellbinding footballing ability.
Jesus is the complete player, and one of the most impressive I have seen at Arsenal since Özil or Sanchez embraced themselves with the Emirates crowd. The 5’9″ Brazilian holds the ball up in such a way that Alan Shearer would tip his hat, and is stronger than almost all defenders he faces due to the exceptionally intelligent way he uses his body. His Brazilian flair to pluck the ball from the sky, combined with his vision and game intelligence to pick the right pass and set an attack flying is Roberto Firmino esque, whilst his skills to beat a man and light up a ground, as well as his predatory goalscoring instincts and finishing ability are a nod to that of the aforementioned Sanchez and Aubameyang, respectively.
In a way, Jesus sums Arsenal in Arteta’s vision up. A perfect mix of skill, will, and effectiveness, oh and how could I forget? The key to it all, amazing character.
Gabriel Jesus leads his teammates into battle against Spurs, his experience is invaluable for this squad, as well as his ability! Photo: @Arsenal via Twitter
This is all before we speak about a defence that is arguably better on the ball than the average Premier League midfield five years ago. Take the four that started against Liverpool, Ben White (RB), William Saliba (RCB), Gabriel Magalhães (LCB), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (LB). Three out of these four players possess not only excellent ability on the ball, with their selection, weight of pass, control and more importantly composure at an elite level, but two of the three are actually playing out of position. The ambipedal Tomiyasu is a RB by trade, but fits seamlessly in at LB, in a masterstroke by Arteta to ensure that Arsenal’s build up remained bulletproof, and could not be hurried by the onrushing, pressing four starting attackers of Liverpool. On the opposite side is CB by trade White, who has played zero minutes in his regular position so far this season, but has hugely impressed at RB, if anything receiving more plaudits than he did at CB! He is the perfect modern defender, highly capable in aerial and ground duels, positionally excellent with a superb reading of the game, whilst maintaining the elegance of a midfielder on the ball. It is a joy to watch.
When it comes to actually defending, the purists need not worry, as this group does not shy away from its main purpose. Gabriel and Saliba have formed a strong partnership, and as individuals they both display physical attributes which are vital to keep up with the pace of the modern game, whilst maintaining a gritty approach to duels with opposition attackers. Both are intelligent too, intercepting high to sustain pressure and squeeze teams, leading the rest of the back four, who have all played a vital role in the way Arsenal control games and attack this season, as highlighted in the graphic below, which shows that Arsenal have the highest combined defensive line and press intensity in the Premier League this season, which sets the tone in our games, and provides the blueprint for the way we build up, and spring consistent waves of attack.
Arsenal may not have the highest line or press the most, but they combine these two aspects the best in the Premier League, and this is evident when watching. The Gunners have an outstanding work rate out of possession which supplies chances with the ball, wearing the opposition down. Graphic: @markrstats on Twitter – Give him a follow!
However though, this high octane and high energy approach can sometimes work to the detriment of Arsenal. This team cares a lot, and that is to its credit of course, but at times I notice that we can become over-emotional, and there are certain players who may rush actions, be too aggressive, and ultimately not manage the game properly. This was certainly more of an issue last year, and led to games such as Southampton (A), Spurs (A), and Manchester City (H), where the team let themselves down after performances that had begun with promise.
The single player who typifies this change more than any, is Granit Xhaka, often criticised for his ‘heart on sleeve’ approach before, where he would occasionally boil over – even if this came from the right place. This year though, Xhaka has improved once again, and despite the fact that I have been fighting his corner for years at Arsenal, he has even impressed me with the way in which he has galvanised his teammates, certainly with the help of the professional winners recruited in Jesus and Zinchenko.
Granit Xhaka with his Man Of The Match award for his performance against Spurs, where he was brilliant again, and did not let the emotion of the day get on top of him, even after a mistake – he and his teammates are growing wiser. Photo: @Arsenal via Twitter
Talking with some fans at a game this season, I discussed how we need to adopt the Manchester City approach to games, where their players are almost robotic in their mentality – completely unshakeable. The Liverpool game was an interesting experiment of this to me, Arsenal suffered in the game at times but played their game regardless and were never hurried. This was in part due to the technical security within the XI, but the mentality certainly cannot be understated either, and for the first time ever during Arteta’s reign, I feel that we may be able to bounce back swiftly after defeats, and that we have the character to clear our heads and not spiral into a ‘losing ‘run’, where our confidence is dented – which always felt possible before now.
This was first proved to me after the disappointment of the Manchester United loss at Old Trafford, and subsequent long wait to put said disappointment right in a tricky away trip to Brentford, after being further reenforced with the resilience shown in game situations on Saturday against Liverpool, where Arsenal were pegged back twice but still came through victorious.
These points are further evidenced when looking back to last weeks North London Derby triumph, where Arsenal blew Spurs away.
Arsenal showed a combination of all of the aspects that have provided such a huge upturn in results and performances so far this season, facing a dogged defensive unit in Conte’s Spurs, who deployed what was almost a seven-at-the-back at times, yet the Gunners held their nerve and kept their patience to break through. Arsenal are so calculated in the way they approach their attacks now, the urgency to score is rarely channelled in a desperate way, helping to suffocate the opponent, as Arsenal apply the squeeze on them, starting from the high line. This also means that once teams gain possession of the ball, they are more prone to panicking and rushing, or both, which limits the attacking threat they possess, and causes mistakes. Arsenal managed to frustrate Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Richarlison in Spurs’ front three, and despite them being one of the most dangerous counter-attacking sides in the world, they were unable to provide a big impact over a consistent period.
Although I hate comparisons, especially to the likes of teams as notoriously and ruthlessly brilliant as Manchester City, you can see that unless a team takes the game to Arsenal, they really struggle to play any football at all. Similarly to City as well, and a large improvement on the previous couple of years under Arteta, is the notable improvement in the way Arsenal react to set backs. A lot of times last season Arsenal would be pegged back or go behind, and at least from my perspective, there was a real worry at how the outcome would of the match would be shaped by this. After Harry Kane’s penalty though, a small period of Spurs confidence was quickly quelled again. This new positivity we are seeing from Arsenal is being massively aided by the fans too, who have grown much more forgiving and supportive.
The Spurs and Liverpool victories have also shown the vast array of weapons Arsenal now possess to hurt teams, with Xhaka and Thomas Partey striking against Spurs as the two typically deeper midfielders, before both goals came from the flanks a week later against Liverpool, there is no longer an over-reliance on one brilliant player, as we saw recently with Aubameyang for a few years.
Arsenal have scored 23 goals this season, via 9 different players – everybody is contributing. Photo: @Arsenal via Twitter
Despite the argument that Spurs and Liverpool have not been playing great football all year so far, I believe these wins really do solidify Arsenal as a serious prospect to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future in the Premier League. Both wins were rooted in spirit from fans, players and manager alike, as well as containing many nuances to deal with certain strengths that each opponent possesses. Some questionable refereeing decisions in favour of all three teams at times across the two fixtures, should still leave fans in no doubt on whether these were just positive results, and not positive performances as well. For me, from what I see, all of the signs are positive that Arsenal are a great team, only getting better via the lessons they are learning and experiences they are having together – long may it continue!
After a turbulent month which was initially crammed with fixtures, giving Premier League clubs competing in Europe their first taste of the fixture pile up which will be commonplace this season, Arsenal are back. The month was later severely interrupted due to the period of mourning observed by the Premier League after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, and closely followed by a further two week hiatus due to the international break, but the Gunners are ready to undertake October, which will see Mikel Arteta’s side play twice a week, every week.
The Arsenal and Zurich players show their respects to Queen Elizabeth II following her passing, which was announced during the game… Photo: AP via Marca
The Gunners remain top of the table going into Saturday’s North London Derby at the Emirates, with a strong record of six wins and one loss from the opening seven Premier League games, as well as a victory away to Zurich on match day one of the Europa League. With plenty of football having been played since my last post, previewing the Bournemouth game, I thought I’d share some thoughts on Arsenal since then – on and off the pitch.
Following Arsenal’s dominant display on the South Coast at Bournemouth, which, despite the goals, most notably for me saw the inception of the Saliba / Tequila chant, Arsenal faced two varied challenges at the Emirates in late August.
William Saliba celebrates his beauty of a goal in the South Coast sunshine. Photo: Getty Images
These came in the form of a Premier League surprise package so far, in Andre Silva’s Fulham, and a struggling Aston Villa side already desperate for points, with manager Steven Gerrard under major pressure.
Prior to Fulham, Arsenal had to bear the news that midfielder Thomas Partey was not fit and unable to partake in the fixture, giving Mohamed Elneny his first start of the season, and changing the lineup which had picked up nine points from nine, for the first time. At this point I felt the game could prove a challenge, due to Fulham’s strong belief and resolve, highlighted in their clashes against Liverpool and Brentford, as well as the strong form of Serbian CF Aleksandar Mitrović.
Adding to this was of course the fact that changes were needed to the first XI, which started to build pressure pre match to act in the transfer window, which was coming to a rapid close, on a defensive midfielder or winger.
Arsenal went 1-0 down in the game due to a mistake from Gabriel Magalhães, with the in-form Mitrović pouncing to punish.
However, this is where I was incredibly impressed with not just the players on the pitch, but the Emirates faithful. For the first time in over a decade of going to the Emirates regularly, I saw a reaction of support and encouragement from the whole ground, towards Gabriel – and the rest of the team. This was similar to the support shown to William Saliba after his unfortunate own goal against Leicester, but for me it felt more special. Arsenal were losing now, and there was only 30 minutes left on the clock. But the reaction and belief from everyone inside the ground of the red persuasion was so overwhelmingly positive that not one part of me felt as though we would go on to lose the game.
My feeling was right, as Arsenal continued to build pressure, picking up where they left off before the mistake, to punish Fulham with two late goals, the winner being scored by Gabriel himself, meaning his redemption arc was complete, providing a really special feeling within this team for me, one I haven’t had for at least half a decade. This team is not weak. This team does not give in.
As with many of Arsenal’s goals this season, it is almost impossible to tell who scored them, the team celebrate after Gabriel’s late winner against Fulham in late August. Photo: @Arsenal via Twitter
My feelings were further validated just four days later, with Arsenal piling on the pressure and assaulting Emi Martinez’s goal for 45 minutes straight, yet with only one goal to show for it, before conceding directly from a corner at the hands of Douglas Luiz to level the game, providing the heart wrenching, sink in your seat feeling you get when watching your team completely dominate a game, believing it was all for nothing.
But not this team.
Because, just three minutes after the equaliser, with the away fans still picking themselves back up from the floor, the imperious Gabriel Martinelli demonstrated how far his game has come in the past year, taking the initiative to aggressively attack the Villa backline, crossing the ball to the back post, before seeing it returned to him to stab home viciously beyond a helpless Martinez.
Images like this are becoming common, as Arsenal’s brilliance on the pitch is matched by some of the best home support in the league. The Emirates has been electric this season. Photo: @Arsenal via Twitter
The transfer window… an opportunity missed?
The morning after the night before from the ecstasy of the Emirates following the Villa triumph, with five wins from five at the start of the Premier League season, was swiftly followed by some strong anxiety… in other words, the hangover was kicking in. Reality was returning to the club, and that reality was that Arsenal had under 24 hours to make any final additions to the squad, before the transfer window slammed shut.
Arsenal had a good summer by all accounts, identifying the profiles and players they wanted early, and acting on this. The issue came in two areas for me, firstly that Arsenal did not sign any players for ‘depth’ or to bolster the squad, and whilst William Saliba’s return from loan acted in this way, as well as Eddie Nketiah’s contract extension and the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko, we never really added experienced backup in midfield – in a season with an unprecedented fixture list awaiting us.
Zinchenko and Arteta embrace one another, not many would have imagined when the Ukrainian signed that he would be Arsenal’s last piece of business of the summer! Photo: Getty Images
Secondly, Arsenal ‘missed out’ on a main transfer target in Raphinha, and in the style we have seen from this current regime of Edu Gaspar, Mikel Arteta, Tim Lewis, and Richard Garlick, the club did not panic or rush into signing someone, and instead held firm. However, whilst there are certainly plenty of positives in the way Arsenal now handle transfers, the inaction after the aforementioned main winger target Raphinha snubbed The Gunners and fellow London side Chelsea for a move to Barcelona, meant that going into the final day of the window, fans were still slightly worried about the depth of the team, with a gruelling Thursday – Sunday schedule beckoning.
Wolves’ Pedro Neto was a name that was linked heavily with a move to North London, with reports suggesting that the deal was actually quite advanced, believable and in line with the way Arsenal have been operating in the past year. Adding to that the involvement of notorious Portugese agent Jorge Mendes, and fans were confident up until deadline that a move was possible, but this optimism was snuffled out after many reliable outlets revealed the £50M price tag was just not as high as Arsenal were willing to go to secure the Portugese.
The two that got away? Both Raphinha (left) and Pedro Neto (right) were heavily chased by Arsenal, yet neither will play their football under Mikel Arteta this season. Photo: Getty Images
Even more anxiety-inducing for the Arsenal faithful was the fact that in Partey’s absence via injury (something we have come to expect), Elneny, who had been covering was also now injured, prompting the lesser experienced Albert Sambi Lokonga to be thrown in to the Villa clash, and eventually firing Arteta’s side to make an out of character late dash in the market, for Aston Villa and Brazil’s Douglas Luiz, who had briefly sunk Arsenal hearts not even twelve hours earlier! However, this proved to be too big of a deal to complete so late on, and with Leicester’s Youri Tielemans also a target throughout the summer, it would not be unreasonable to speculate that Arsenal missed out on one or possibly two more positions worth of new players during the summer.
Douglas Luiz doesn’t have to move to be embraced by his teammates, after scoring from the corner flag to level the score against Arsenal… Photo: Getty Images
Even as I write this article, Arsenal are continually linked to the two midfielders currently plying their trade at the Midlands outfits, and a move for one of the pair in January seems highly likely. However, this obviously does not help to cope with the strain that will be faced by the Arsenal squad until the World Cup in November, and as the window closed with no fresh faces since the completion of Zinchenko’s move from Manchester City on the 23rd July, fans were growing concerned.
Old Trafford Blues
The following weekend saw these feelings arguably validated by Arsenal, as a polarising game with plenty of positives ultimately handed bitter rivals Manchester United all three points in Manchester.
The Gunners arrived with the same lineup that started against Villa, with the only difference coming at LB, as Zinchenko returned to keep Kieran Tierney sidelined. Arsenal began the game fairly slowly, and United were able to use the crowd to control the attacking side of the game, despite this Arsenal never looked flustered, with the key being the composure and technical prowess of the new look back four. The turning point for the whole game soon arrived, giving an early lead to the Gunners, as captain Martin Ødegaard dispossessed Christian Eriksen in the middle of the park, freeing Saka to play a gorgeous defence splitting pass to Martinelli, who finished with aplomb. Unfortunately though, this eventually handed United a bigger boost, as after a long VAR review, the goal was disallowed, with Ødegaard deemed to have fouled Eriksen in the build up.
Despite some further domination, United took the lead via new £86M recruit Antony, with Arsenal providing him the perfect way to start his Manchester United career – a specialism of this club over the years. Despite this blow Arsenal heads did not drop, possibly due to the culmination of superb support they have received when faced with challenges so far this season. Arsenal sustained pressure well, with adaptations in their attacking play to hurt United. These included long balls to Jesus, who was wonderful on the day with his hold up play, acting as an archetypal #9 to pluck balls from the sky effortlessly before building an attacking move. Ødegaard and Saka combined intricately, giving opposing fullback Tyrell Malacia a hard time, whilst Martinelli ensured Diogo Dalot was unable to effect the game in an attacking sense, consistently running beyond his man.
Antony slots past Aaron Ramsdale as he starts his Manchester United career perfectly. Photo: Dave Thompson / AP
The varied attacking bombardment eventually paid off for Arteta’s side, who notably started the second half magnificently, with Saka slotting into an open net after Jesus poked the ball to him following a brilliant pass from Ødegaard.
However, after this goal Arsenal seemed to ease off slightly, for want of a better term. The intense approach which had suffocated United until now was suddenly abandoned, and in came a slightly more passive passage of play, which gave initiative back to United. It is hard to say exactly why this happened, it did not appear to be a tactical instruction, to me it seemed as though the inexperience of Lokonga holding the base of the midfield down, partnered with the intelligence of Eriksen exposed the core of the Arsenal team.
Mikel Arteta speaks to Gabriel Martinelli on the touchline at Old Trafford. Arteta was criticised for his approach to the game, the openness of the team, and his substitutions. Photo: @Arsenal via Twitter
Arsenal’s midfield has seen Granit Xhaka attacking far more, ditching some of the defensive reliability of a double pivot for added attacking thrust, and combined with an Ødegaard performance reminiscent of some of those we saw towards the back end of last season away from home when out of possession, the inexperienced Lokonga, and inevitably Arsenal, suffered.
Bruno’s ball for the second goal was far too easy to play to Marcus Rashford, making his run to stretch the incredibly high line of Arsenal, with a vacant midfield in front of them, providing so much time on the ball to United’s creators. The goal was a shocker simply put, and had thrown away such a large period of domination via pure naïvety.
Worse still, is that the United third which buried the game was almost identical, and I would argue even more shocking than the second, the Arsenal defensive line and structure looking like it had been formed in a school playground. A strange feeling, after the defensive unit had looked stronger than ever, yet capitulated entirely, surrendering three points. Gary Neville was admittedly impressed by Arsenal on the day, yet pointed to Arteta’s gung-ho triple substitution, arguing the game would be entirely unbalanced in one teams favour after the changes – and in this case United prospered.
Yet, I am not too sure I blame the substitutions, possibly the third goal was scored when the players were still organising their shape, and giving Fábio Vieira his first Premier League minutes here could have been something of a baptism of fire, but principally Arteta did not simply abandon his structure, or panic as some would suggest. On the flip side of that though, it has been almost a month since the game, and I am still a little confused at what went on – but I do feel the confidence of the high line partnered with the absent midfield made it easy for United, a lesson that if you do not always squeeze the opposition in the Premier League, they will hurt you.
Arsenal’s following game was the group opener of the Europa League, away at Zurich, where a 2-1 win was collected, kicking the group off nicely. Eddie Nketiah and Marquinhos were the scorers and providers for each other’s goals, which were well crafted – yet the evening was marked by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which was announced by Buckingham Palace during the game.
An important response on the horizon?
Arsenal had bounced back from the United defeat via the Europa League, but the real test was to see if the Premier League momentum had been halted, yet on the following day it was announced Arteta’s side would have to wait a while to see if they could get back on track – with the weekends Premier League fixtures being postponed as a mark of respect.
Extra time on the training ground maybe, but if the best way to rectify a bad result is by playing again, an unwelcome gap that was now forming between fixtures, with added uncertainty for games in Europe and the Premier League in the week after due to concerns around public safety and policing numbers. This all seemed to come at the worst possible time for Arsenal, their first blip in momentum would now be followed up by a two-week gap in Premier League football – with the next fixture a trip to the GTech Community Stadium to face Brentford, a ground and team I likened to former Premier League nuisances (I mean that with full respect and praise) Stoke City.
Nobody needs reminding of the beating Arsenal took in West London to start the 2021/22 season, last August. This helped put Brentford on the map and made them feel part of Premier League furniture instantly. Photo: @BrentfordFC via Twitter
Brentford (much like Stoke), play a game you do not want to play, particularly as a possession based side. The football is physical, a back three of physically imposing, intelligent defenders is employed, the signing of former Burnley captain Ben Mee this summer proving my point. This is combined with quality on the ball, particularly from goalkeeper David Raya, who has been an Arsenal target at many points over the last few years. A relentless midfield and tireless wingbacks with quality in their deliveries to forward duo Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo (who work their socks off all game) combine to make a stubborn opponent. All of this is dictated by manager Thomas Frank, who will act as anything from cheerleader to the crowd, or tactician in the dressing room to ensure a result.
Arsenal of all teams know this better than anyone, due to the season opening disappointment of last season, where Brentford really announced their style and intentions in the league in the way they defeated Arteta’s team – which was decimated by COVID in fairness (a detail often left out, despite this games continual reference).
Knowing this, Arsenal really did need to bounce back from not just the United result, but the performance, defensive frailties just would not do. However, in yet another demonstration of character Arsenal did this perfectly. I feel this was our best overall performance of the whole season, a masterclass in how to dominate a team which are seldom on the receiving end of such a one sided game.
From the first minute where the outstanding ever-present of Xhaka worked with Martinelli to create a strong opening, Arsenal won every duel, showing the sturdy nature of this side, before opening the scoring, when Saliba rose the highest to head a corner home magnificently, beating Brentford at their own game, physically dominating on a set piece – a moment which really summed up the transformation of just over a year at Arsenal.
After the lead was established, it was not threatened at all, thanks to the quality of the performance and the control demonstrated. Xhaka’s inch perfect chipped ball which was headed home by the lively Jesus was a combination of Arsenal’s technical and physical prowess, and superiority on the day. The result was finalised with Vieira’s real introduction to the Premier League, as he beautifully curled an effort from outside of the box, bending the ball beyond Raya on his near side, off the post and in.
Some of the best performers on the day embrace Fábio Vieira after his stunning goal to kill the game against Brentford. Photo: @Arsenal via Twitter.
A big response was required, and this was the perfect response.
Rhythm would be a fine thing…
Once again, Arsenal were met with a momentum killer, this time in the form of the international break, providing yet another anxious wait to fans, as well as killing the good feeling after such a strong result.
With the North London Derby edging ever closer, it may feel strange jumping straight back into that game. An early Saturday kick-off slot does not help this situation, with these games notoriously a lot slower and less intense, from a playing and fan perspective. However, if there is one game that can throw this trend out of the window, it is the North London Derby.
Arsenal may have actually benefitted from the break, as Tottenham stars Hugo Lloris and Dejan Kulusevski are set to miss the game via injury, Kulusevski’s injury being sustained with his native Sweden. Arsenal have not suffered the same fate, and are not currently nursing any new injury situations as a result of the international break, although it was confirmed yesterday that Emile Smith Rowe will miss multiple months of football following surgery to help a recurring groin problem, which is a huge upset for the youngster who has had to play a bit part role for various reasons over the past year.
As for the North London Derby, this particular fixture coming off the back of a two week hiatus to club football, and a month of disruption almost requires no words. The players, the managers, the pundits, and of course the fans all know what this means, and the game should provide the perfect reintroduction to the Premier League, as one thing these two North London foes will agree on, is that this derby is fuelled with pure hatred and passion, and this never fails to reveal itself on the pitch.
I expect a strong performance from Arsenal, anything else and I would be lacking faith, as this squad have really shown us they are serious, that they care, and that most importantly, they are an exceptional football team. The main aspects that must be avoided are indulging in any over-emotional moments of the game, as Antonio Conte and therefore his players will be looking to antagonise what is admittedly a squad that wear their hearts on their sleeve, possibly sometimes to their detriment.
Antonio Conte seemed to exude confidence in the way he spoke before and after the last meeting, as well as in the way his team performed on the day the last time the two teams met. I have a feeling this time could prove different though. Photo: Getty Images
As well as this, the midfield battle will be key, although it is a worry that due to Kulusevski’s absence and Conte’s want for a result at a ground where Spurs only ever seem to suffer, it has been rumoured by reputable and reliable Spurs outlets that he could pack his midfield into a congested three, and a five man line with the wing-backs included. This allows Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son to cause problems solely focussing on stretching the defence, as well as a possible muting of our bright midfield. This battle will be crucial and will certainly decide the game in my eyes, barring Arsenal showing any sorts of naïvety as previously discussed.
My last irrational fear is one where Arsenal are able to dominate the game, but will come away bruised and frustrated, reminiscent of the top four deciding game back in May… I am not one to say we dominated proceedings on that night, but it felt very “this is a results business” V “the better football should win” in the philosophies adopted by the managers, and that typically only ends in one way in my experience. In other words if Spurs have two shots on target, two goals and I leave the ground ranting angrily, I may not be that surprised or even angry at the performance, simply the result.
We need Spurs to hire a poet type manager sooner or later, this Jose Mourinho, Conte, Kane and Son era has given me far too much overthinking to do regarding possible xG cheating.
Roll on Saturday!
A final picture to highlight the feeling at Arsenal from manager, to players, to staff, to stewards, and vitally to fans! This type of support will go a long way in ensuring a positive result for Arsenal on Saturday, and I am sure the Emirates will not disappoint. Photo: @Arsenal via Twitter.
Two Premier League games in to the 2022/23 season have seen Arsenal collect six points, score six goals, and concede two. The Gunners are flying and have maintained their stunning pre-season form early into the new campaign, with the football on show matching the results. In years gone by, it may have been easy to simply praise the fixture list for giving Mikel Arteta’s side an ‘easy’ start, but with the performances as comprehensive and dominant as we have seen thus far, I feel that does Arsenal a disservice.
Let’s take a look back at how we won our first two games, the standout performers, some key moments within them, the way Arteta has deployed his team, and where we can continue to improve, before previewing Saturday evenings visit to The Vitality Stadium, where we will take on Scott Parker’s Bournemouth.
The team:
A factor in our strong start has been the consistency in team selection by Arteta, with the lineup remaining unchanged since Oleksandr Zinchenko signed for the club. The current first XI boasts a strong record of four wins, and a 16-2 aggregate score in the four games it has played (including pre-season).
The side is playing with full confidence, and you can see the on-pitch connection and relationships improving with every kick of a ball amongst the group. The idea in this 4-3-3 system is to play a fluid 3-2-5 / 2-3-5 with the ball, that is if you want to try and give it some sort of structure.
Arsenal:
The current Arsenal XI, which has delivered a positive upturn in results. Made by chosen11.com
This can change depending on the fullback pairing, but in the Zinchenko / Ben White dynamic I’d be confident in my description. The nature of the RB profiles at Arsenal means that whilst first choice Takehiro Tomiyasu and deputising CB White can both provide an overlap and attacking support to an adequate standard, neither are final third threats or presences in the mould of Reece James or Trent Alexander-Arnold. This means the Gunners have a three back hybrid available, suiting the strong defensive capabilities of the pair to stifle opposition attacks.
Our LB profiles are the antithesis of this, with Kieran Tierney and Zinchenko boasting a strong presence going forward. Whilst both are able defenders, Tierney is a powerful runner who overlaps and delivers well from wide areas, whilst Zinchenko is a technically brilliant footballer, who can overlap as well as find himself in the pockets of space left by our LCM, the Ukrainian is known to play in midfield, and this versatility is highlighted and celebrated in Arsenal’s current system.
The single pivot player in the side is Thomas Partey, who is tasked with cutting out the ball, winning duels and distributing to those ahead of him, assisted by his defence who are adept at reading the game to squeeze the oppositions forward line and intercept high. Granit Xhaka has been reinvented as a box-to-box player within this side, with the Swiss finding himself popping up in all sorts of positions across the left hand side, as well as arriving late in attacking areas as an extra body. Pushed slightly higher is club captain Martin Ødegaard, who is a link between the less creative players in deeper roles and the attacking trio, tasked with making things happen on the ball, and supporting Bukayo Saka from his role on the touchline, making underlapping runs to drag defenders away from the winger. The pair also have a really strong combination pattern made possible by their understanding of each others games, and ability in tight spaces.
Granit Xhaka celebrates his goal against Leicester, in his re-defined role in the side. Photo / @Arsenal via Twitter
Then come the two biggest goal threats of the system via the in-form Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli. Both have scored two goals so far this season, and provide an electricity to the game when they have the ball. The LW in this system has plenty of space to operate in and is often more isolated with just one opposing defender, such is the support provided by those closest to him. For Martinelli, this means he has time to make runs into space off the ball, in dangerous zones between opposing RB and RCB for example, or he can use his strong dribbling and 1V1 ability to take his man on. The combinations on the left hand side are plentiful, and Gabriel Jesus has found himself operating in this space at times during the opening two fixtures, providing lots of options for his teammates and confusion for defenders, who find it hard to pick him up.
Jesus in the CF role has taken the team to a different level thus far, and represents the biggest difference between the team from last season and this term. Jesus highlights what Arsenal had been missing for so long, with the ball he links up perfectly with his supporting cast, dribbles and carries the ball exceptionally at a frightening pace, crafting goalscoring opportunities frequently, and creating space effortlessly. Without the ball the Brazilian is a bundle of energy, an irrepressible threat to his opposing CB partnership, battling with them all game. He demonstrates strength to hold his man off, ridiculous pressing capabilities, and the physical presence in the air or with opponents who are in possession, pestering and fighting until the opportunity is gone. He cannot be praised enough for his start in my eyes, he makes something happen out of everything in a match, big or small, pretty or not, and it is elevating us hugely.
The Brazilian duo of Gabriel’s (Jesus and Martinelli) in attack are on fire so far this season… Photo / @Arsenal via Twitter
In typical Mikel Arteta fashion the team without the ball can drop into a compact 4-4-2, with Ødegaard acting as the second man alongside CF Jesus in the central zones, defending from the front and pressing tirelessly. However, in the opening two games of the season we have seen this far less from the Gunners, possibly due to the opposition we have faced, or simply because we have evolved past the need to have to soak up pressure as much as we used to under Arteta. Palace had us pinned for part of our Premier League opener at Selhurst Park, however the team still attempted more of a high press in the game, not just purposefully sitting back and letting wave after wave of pressure arrive unchallenged. Against Leicester, the Foxes took a more reserved approach to the game, leading to no long spells out of possession, meaning the high press was mainly deployed to win possession back, and with the ball Arsenal displayed far more control.
The positives from our first two tests…
Starting with the positives, and I feel context is a largely important factor in my appraisal and disapproval of certain aspects of the performances against Crystal Palace and Leicester. Arsenal did not play their best game ever against Patrick Vieira’s side, however the opening 30 minutes was certainly one to behold, as Arsenal showed superiority in every aspect of the pitch, from winning duels and second balls, to playing with freedom and a creative flair which silenced the home crowd and laid the foundation for victory.
A set-piece routine provided the opening goal, scored by Martinelli to show the continuation of a theme from last season of Nicolas Jover’s genius. Out of position White marshalled Wilfried Zaha expertly from RB, giving the tricky winger a night to forget, and William Saliba greeted the Premier League with a dominant display, not putting a foot wrong all evening, breeding confidence. Outside of this I feel the well praised Xhaka and Jesus deserve their flowers once again, for playing with such a high intensity and desire to win. Eddie Nketiah also had a great cameo when welcomed onto the pitch from the bench, providing the thrust for the second goal, which killed the game.
Gabriel Martinelli celebrates the opening goal of Arsenal’s 2022/23 campaign at Selhurst Park. Photo / @iF2is via Twitter
As for Leicester, the Emirates was rocking for this thrilling Arsenal team, and they were not left disappointed. Arteta’s side had some brilliant individual performances once again, in the form of the aforementioned Jesus and Xhaka, who repeated a display of individual drive and skill, this time along with Martinelli, who’s second half goal was sublime, after he had caused havoc to Wesley Fofana and Timothy Castagne on the Leicester right hand side, almost getting the former sent off.
However, it was the team performance that had improved massively from the season opener, with a much improved display of calmness on the ball and control to dictate the game at our desired pace, admittedly aided by Leicester’s pathetic attempts to press or win the ball, with Brendan Rodgers’ side opting to sit off and wait for counter-attacking opportunities instead. The performance was far more convincing despite the winning margin remaining the same, and as a unit the team nullified Leicester’s biggest individual threats for the most part in Jamie Vardy, James Maddison, and Youri Tielemans, remaining patient when building up, not biting at the repeated cynical fouls committed by Leicester, and keeping our heads when the deficit was halved twice in the game – overall the performance was commendably mature and displayed the qualities required to reach the top 4.
The weak points…
Onto the criticism for the performances, starting with Palace, and I would almost describe the teams performance from a structural point of view as the exact opposite to what I just described as the positives from Leicester. The team as a whole showed a considerable lack of composure, particularly in midfield, where it felt as though all three midfielders were often too nervous to carry the ball forwards, with Ødegaard the biggest perpetrator of this fault, showing no improvement on his performance in the corresponding fixture from last season. Our passing was erratic and rushed, which allowed for a Palace onslaught from around the half an hour mark all the way through to the 70th minute.
Palace were unlucky on the night, with some big saves from Aaron Ramsdale to maintain the clean sheet, however Ramsdale’s debut in the #1 shirt also featured some nervous moments, adding to a pattern of sloppy distribution stretching back to last season, with a long punt hitting Palace forward, Odsonne Édouard and looping dangerously close to the Arsenal goal. Debutant Zinchenko and Gabriel Magalhães on the left hand side of the defence all too often provided encouragement for Palace from a defensive standpoint, and Zinchenko struggled aerially in a mis-match against opposing winger Jordan Ayew – although the former Manchester City man added quality and calmness to the build-up. Overall, the Eagles created a few too many easy chances off the back of a sloppy structure, lack of focus, and individual errors that must be eradicated for us to succeed this season.
Ramsdale denies Eberechi Eze brilliantly, however he needs to cut the lapses in concentration out. Photo / @iF2is via Twitter
Onto the negatives against Leicester and whilst massively reduced, these once again focus on the defensive side of the team. There were certainly improvements to the teams structure and solidity post Palace, although as I mentioned the weak performance of Leicester combined with the setting for the game at home means I am intrigued to see how we control our next away test.
Another strong start was rewarded with a 2-0 lead going into the 40th minute of the game, with a marauding run from Fofana weaving his way through to goal before being denied by Ramsdale the only real Leicester chance, that was until Leicester were awarded a penalty by referee Darren England for Ramsdale’s alleged ‘collision’ with Vardy, latching onto a loose ball over the top. This decision was overruled when Mike Dean intervened via VAR, and this may seem harsh as it certainly was not a penalty, but I feel as though Ramsdale contested for the ball, rushing off his line when Vardy would have reached it nearer the corner flag than the goal, at an awkward angle, and with Gabriel and Saliba well placed to deal with the threat. In these situations I would much rather avoid giving the referee a decision to make, especially with how inconsistent VAR can be when intervening. These sorts of events can change games in an instant, along with the atmosphere inside of a stadium, and even if they are overruled, it can provide a way back for a team that was dead and buried by that stage, sending nervous energy around the ground.
A further defensive mixup between Ramsdale and Saliba led to the latter putting the ball into his own net early in the second half, in what can be put down to another lack of communication – which can be expected with the new players bedding in, but certainly not a moment that either player will remember fondly. Both players reacted incredibly positively though, assisted by the fans who got right behind them, as well as the quick response from Xhaka, which killed some freshly returned Leicester belief. Lastly, Maddison’s goal which restored some Leicester faith of a comeback for a short while was avoidable, players were slow to track Maddison’s overlapping run and the angle which he slots the ball through Ramsdale’s legs from is the sort of goal I can only imagine a goalkeeper would be furious with themselves for letting in. On that train of thought I do not want to heap more criticism onto Ramsdale, but merely hope that he can re-find his true level, as he has shown a slight decline in overall performance since around April.
Mikel Arteta will certainly be looking to eradicate the sloppy aspects of each performance. Photo / @Arsenal via Twitter
These observations may seem harsh, and I felt that way when writing, however I am harsh on this team because my expectations are high, and I believe in them and the manager to achieve greatness. It is important that incidents within games do not become patterns, eventually manifesting themselves as long term soft characteristics about the team – and a defensive frailty is the worst of the lot.
How will Bournemouth look to hurt Arsenal’s confident start to the season?
Scott Parker is certainly underrated in my eyes as a coach, for me he demonstrates a far more promising present and future in management than his other English counterparts such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Parker has a strong and rigid style which matches his tough persona as a player, often deploying a back three or five, utilising both systems so far in the two opening games of the season. His teams have strong principals, and with the quality of the squads at his disposal (including here at Bournemouth), a lot of the big results he collects are a result of resolute defending, bravery from attacking players, and tactical nuances. Parker’s last meeting with Arteta saw the Englishman come away with a more positive result, back in 2021 when his Fulham side fought for a 1-1 draw at the Emirates, where Arsenal scored a 97th minute equaliser. Here is how he may lineup on Saturday evening…
Bournemouth:
My predicted Bournemouth lineup for Arsenal’s visit on Saturday evening. Made by chosen11.com
Injuries: Jordan Zemura (COVID), Dominic Solanke (Ankle), Ryan Fredericks (Calf), Joseph Rothwell (Thigh), David Brooks (Medical Recovery).
Suspensions: N/A
Bournemouth opted for a 3-4-2-1 in their recent visit to The Etihad, although after a 4-0 demolition by the champions, Parker himself admitted that Pep Guardiola’s side were “just too good” for the Cherries to handle. However, in Parker’s opening day 2-0 success against Aston Villa, the team played a 5-3-2, with the notable difference being the inclusion of left back Jordan Zemura, who is a doubt ahead of Saturday evening after struggling with COVID recently. Also in that line-up was Dominic Solanke, who had a great Championship season last term, although will miss Arsenal’s visit due to an ankle injury.
Kieffer Moore celebrates his goal which made sure of the three points against Villa on the opening day – although Parker may need a new solution at CF. Photo / @iF2is via Twitter
Through a mixture of injuries and an attempt to get the best, most experienced members of the squad playing, Bournemouth have yet to show a settled XI or structure so far this season, hence the inclusion of new recruit Marcos Senesi, as well as Jamal Lowe, Phillip Billing, and Junior Stanislas as possible starters in my predicted XI. With Solanke out, it does feel that Welshman Kieffer Moore will struggle as the lone CF, opening up an opportunity for a change. Parker may also look to get Jefferson Lerma back into midfield from CB by including Senesi, especially against this well oiled, attacking Arsenal machine. A physical battle will certainly have to be relished by Arteta’s side if they wish to keep a clean sheet, and implement sustained pressure.
Some final thoughts on Arsenal…
Regardless of the enigma that is this Bournemouth side so far, I feel confident knowing that no matter how strong our opposition, at this stage in Arteta’s tenure I rarely find myself worried about how we will prevent the other team, focussing more on how Arsenal will win the game with their strengths. I think this system is good enough to dismantle any style of team when the players show the right intensity and act as a unit without the ball especially. Arsenal have a mix of measured buildup and individual brilliance, which can find its way around any defensive puzzle within a 90 minute spell.
Arsenal:
The Arsenal XI I expect to see for Saturday nights trip to Bournemouth, along with the substitutes / rotation we could see. Made by chosen11.com
Injuries: Fábio Vieira (Ankle), Reiss Nelson (Muscular).
Suspensions: N/A
As for Arsenal’s lineup, I believe it will remain unchanged once again, with only Tierney and Tomiyasu’s return to fitness threatening any re-shuffle by Arteta, however with the form of the side, it is hard to see any re-integration of injured players being rushed. This squad is blessed with the depth to allow for players to take their time when returning to the fold, with the same luxury being afforded to Emile Smith Rowe and Fábio Vieira – who both partook in the Arsenal U-21 sides triumph over Swansea’s U-21 on Wednesday evening, to rebuild fitness and match sharpness.
Vieira showcased his ability on Wednesday night at the Arsenal U-21 fixture – slowly building his match sharpness back up from injury. Photo / @davidhickman14 via Twitter
It feels as though Vieira is still a way from playing, although interestingly the highly adaptable Portuguese may well be used as an interior in midfield, replacing Xhaka in our best XI, as the attacking positions that Xhaka find himself in would suit Vieira’s game far better, adding another creative tool to pick the locks of opposition defences. This is a particularly exciting prospect in games against weaker opposition, especially when you factor in Zinchenko’s ability to invert and cover the central zones left vacant by the LCM.
Smith Rowe on the other hand, is much further along the injury timeline, and a cameo is more than likely from the bench on Saturday to get him back up to speed. On that same note, Nketiah has so far been a victim of the productivity and sensational form of Jesus and particularly Martinelli early in the season, preventing him from starting. This is a shame because as I’ve reiterated many times, Eddie has a big season ahead of him where he will certainly pleasantly surprise many, although his mentality leads me to believe he will stay patient and hungry whilst he works his way into the XI.
I am hopeful that Saka will regain some confidence on Saturday too, as the one negative to the system currently is his isolation on the touchline of the RW, as a result of the lack of attacking combinations from his fullback and from Ødegaard’s lacklustre supporting movement in the opening two games. Saka has looked quiet by his sky-high standards but I am not worried about him, he has created chances and certainly impacted our wins positively, even without goals and assists – which is arguably the biggest sign of a top player.
Gabriel Jesus embraces the fans in my favourite photo of the week, which encapsulates the mood around the club right now. Photo / @iF2is via Twitter
Overall, Saturday cannot come soon enough for me, Arsenal look brilliant and each game is a pleasure to watch at this moment in time. The connection between the fans and club is at an all time high in Arteta’s reign, and the positivity surrounding the performances will serve to maintain the high standards.
Friday, August 5th, 2022 Selhurst Park Kick-Off (UK): 8PM – Live on Sky Sports Match Officials: Referee: Anthony Taylor. VAR: Darren England.
Arsenal once again have the duty of raising the curtain on the latest Premier League campaign, with a visit to Selhurst Park kicking off the 2022/23 season on Friday night. Hosts Crystal Palace will be entering their tenth consecutive season in the top flight, and as Premier League regulars, they will know exactly how to deal with the occasion. The Gunners will be looking for an opening day victory in the Premier League, after this alluded Mikel Arteta’s side last year at the hands of Thomas Frank’s Brentford. This is the fifth time that Arsenal will be involved in the first game of a new Premier League season, with a strong record of three wins and one loss in this scenario.
Christian Nørgaard wheels away in celebration on the opening day of last season, as Arsenal surrendered to the atmosphere and occasion at Brentford. Photo / @BrentfordFC via Twitter
The prospect of a London derby to begin the season is exciting for the neutral, however Arteta’s side will certainly have to be cautious, as Selhurst Park in particular has proved to be a tricky ground to visit in recent memory for Arsenal, winning just two of their last six visits to South East London, with the latest loss being a heavy 3-0 defeat back in April, which inflicted major damage on Arsenal’s hopes of finishing in a top four spot last season. Combining this with the brilliant form of Patrick Vieira’s Palace last season, that saw the Eagles visit Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final, and finish in style with a run of six consecutive home games unbeaten, in which they kept five clean sheets, and Arsenal will have to be careful not to fall at the first hurdle on Friday.
How Arsenal can avoid opening day upset…
With Arteta yet to defeat Vieira in his two managerial meetings with the Arsenal invincible, a new plan will be needed to overcome the failures of old. The main issue with our performances against Palace last season came from a lack of maturity and intensity at times in both games, and despite a great show of resilience to claw a point back at the Emirates in the 95th minute back in October, leaving it late will be the last thing on any Arsenal fans mind for the first game of the season.
In the aforementioned home fixture, Arsenal did not struggle to control the game per se, dominating the attacking statistics, but showed a real naïvety when the ball was lost, particularly in the final third. Whilst it is true that these were the early days of a move away from a 4-2-3-1 shape for the Gunners, meaning certain dynamics such as Emile Smith Rowe as a #8 and the lack of proper spacing between players were teething problems that had not yet been resolved, the performance allowed an easy counter-attack which Vieira’s team, spearheaded by Jordan Ayew, Christian Benteke, Odsonne Édouard and later Michael Olise, took full advantage of.
Edouard celebrates what looked like a Palace winner at the Emirates, after a ruthless counter-attack. Photo / @CPFC via Twitter
Once the sides met again in April, Arteta’s switch to a fluid 4-3-3 was no longer in its infancy, and the confidence amongst the fanbase and team reflected this, with the system bearing fruit for Arteta’s men. Simultaneously though, Palace had improved themselves, with Wilfried Zaha returning to be a key player, as well as Jean-Philippe Mateta and Olise announcing themselves as mercurial talents, and key bows to the Crystal Palace arrow. On this night, Arsenal’s downfall was no longer about a misunderstanding of tactical instruction, but more a capitulation under the lights on a Monday night, where Palace outfought, and out-thought us. The intensity on the pitch was low from kick-off, and the game had an end of Arséne Wenger era feel to it, with players struggling to win first or second balls, getting passed around and dribbled past with ease, and showing a lack of an organised press – which contributed to CB Joachim Andersen’s second assist of the game, so it was no surprise that within 30 minutes we were 2-0 down. A second half penalty sealed our fate, and the difference from October was the dominance in the Palace performance, rather than the weakness in ours. Another toothless performance come Friday and we may as well forget about a positive result, as Palace will have their fans right behind them, and early in the season one off ‘surprise’ results are far from infrequent.
Fast forward to August from the dismal night in April and Arsenal’s system has kept refining itself since, and with our new players, new combinations, and ever-improving confidence, the game has a fresh dynamic. Since we have had the full compliment of players that we will take into the game on Friday, in Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and returning loanee William Saliba, Arsenal have scored ten goals and conceded none in two games to first Chelsea, and then Sevilla, and whilst this may be pre-season, which I do not bother drawing too many conclusions from, the team has played with a noticeably better freedom and fluidity. Players are interchanging all over the pitch, everybody has a brilliant understanding, and the rotations and patterns of play are gorgeous, as well as proving to be very difficult to stop.
I have talked in more depth in my season preview about our new signings and players that I believe will particularly impress this season, but in a few words, Jesus has opened endless possibilities in comparison to last season, as his link up, dribbling, pace, finishing and shot creation is worlds above that of Alexandre Lacazette. Saliba’s return and new recruit Zinchenko both bring a lot of the same improvements to the team, with both hugely lifting the composure and technical security of our defence whilst being astute defenders. Saliba allows for cover across the backline in the form of Ben White shifting to RB, whilst we wait for the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu to make his return – however this is far less urgent now. Zinchenko also provides cover for the injured Kieran Tierney, with the Ukrainian providing calmness in possession, and the ability to both overlap and invert effectively – making him much harder to pick up.
These improvements in defence and attack alone make it less likely that the same mistakes from our last visit will reoccur, as we notably failed to have any high quality attempts on goal, with Palace defenders Andersen and Marc Guéhi marshalling Lacazette expertly, with his lack of physical qualities making it an easy day at the office for the pair. As well as this, Cedric and Nuno Tavares serving as the two fullbacks on the night were incredibly erratic on the ball, often hoofing it long which only served to rebuild pressure from Palace and their fans. Both also struggled to deal with their respective wingers, and with the quality of Vieira’s wide-men, this caused dangerous situations frequently. In midfield, unfortunately new recruit Fábio Vieira will miss out as he has a slight injury, however Arsenal still boast an incredibly strong trio of midfielders for the trip, who have only grown in their understanding of the roles they are tasked with.
The write off at Selhurst Park last season left me shocked in the stands, but our squad has improved since. Photo / All rights belong to me
With that, as long as Arsenal play their game, and avoid the mistake of letting Palace set the tone with the crowd behind them, I believe from a footballing point of view we have got what it takes to be dangerous enough going forward, whilst frustrating the Palace attack enough to prevent a similar scoreline as last season. Arsenal will have to be cautious on set pieces, as Palace are a real threat in these situations, having the players to win plenty of fouls, and despite our strong record on corners in particular last season, giving any team dead ball situations can help to build confidence, at the very least. This game will be the biggest test for Arteta’s side until the trip to Old Trafford in early September in my view, meaning a positive result here would be massive for the confidence of this ever developing side. A negative result would not be followed up by tough consecutive games as it was last season, but ultimately if Arsenal want to achieve their goals, a win is all that will do.
How Vieira can get Palace purring against his former side again…
Discussing how Arsenal have improved and will provide a new set of challenges for the Eagles on Friday in isolation can skew reality, and it must not be lost that Palace have had a positive few months since the sides last met too. Palace certainly make use of the feeling they get from a game when playing against Arsenal, and this stretches back to the 3-0 embarrassment of 2017, where Sam Allardyce’s team rampantly bullied Wenger’s collapsing Arsenal, as if the crowd were telling the players what to do telepathically. The energy generated by the faithful “ultras” of the ground will be no different on Friday, and the electric atmosphere the fans help to build will be a major factor in not just this game, but all games at Selhurst Park this season. The side boast the strong home record mentioned prior for a reason, and if Arsenal are not at their very best, I am certain that Vieira will utilise this and incorporate it into the way his team approaches the night.
Palace under Vieira have deployed a fairly traditional 4-3-3, however there are plenty of tactical nuances to this system, and each player has a well defined role, particularly from an attacking sense. Going from front to back, the South London outfit have not been scared to utilise three traditional CF’s across the frontline, with Ayew the clubs official #9 often finding himself on the touchline of the right flank, Benteke still rotating as a useful starting CF, and Edouard playing from the left. This is because when Palace attack, the LW often tucks in, almost forming a two man strike partnership of yesteryear with the defined CF. Ayew can hold his width and is often supported by what was the busy RCM of the midfield three last season in Conor Gallagher – who has since returned to Chelsea after his loan spell – which may cause some tactical tweaks to the system. Where the LW in this system often tucks in, young English LB Tyrick Mitchell is tasked with stretching the pitch, staying as high and wide as possible. The fullback got his first senior England call up last season, and has a notably strong ability to keep possession and deliver the ball from wide, whilst acting as a ‘stopper’ style traditional fullback.
Palace pair Mitchell and Guéhi impressed last season, which earned the both of them senior England call-ups. Photo /via football365.com
Anchoring the midfield has been a mixture of Cheikhou Kouyaté – who has now left the club, Will Hughes, and Luka Milivojević, with these players ordered in how many Premier League minutes they played last season. To the left of this deeper midfielder is often a ‘busier’ box to box style player, as despite Gallagher’s tenacity, his focus was more offensive. This player comes in the form of Palace veteran James McArthur, as well as Jeffrey Schlupp, who are both willing runners, providing the squeeze on opponents, harassing them into making quick, rushed passes. The side then form something of a back three to accommodate captain Joel Ward’s strengths, with the excellent Guéhi and Andersen partnership joining him.
Another note to make about that pair is the brilliance of their passing – particularly over long distances. This combined with a physically capable set of tall attackers in a front three is perfect for getting from back to front quickly, as not many defences can deal with this bombardment. Palace do not boast an amazing pass accuracy percentage, neither do they play what would be traditionally ‘beautiful’ football, however the pace at which they act with the ball is frightening, whether it be a long ball to a forward, quick give and goes through midfield, or the sight of Zaha and Olise dribbling in full flow, they have plenty of ways to flex their attacking might. The combination of pace in attacking movement, as well as the high press and squeeze which can shrink the old school pitch of Selhurst Park will be a danger for Arteta to consider, and whilst Arsenal will certainly not want to surrender possession via long balls, they will need to be accurate, composed, and communicate well when building up to avoid any mishaps.
Vieira’s Palace tactics are hardly reinventing the wheel, however they have strong principals, rooted in the era where Vieira graced the Premier League as a player, with a modern twist. As well as these principals on the pitch, Vieira has created something far deeper and long term at the club. Palace had been stagnant ever since the 2018/19 season, with star players often departing, leaving an ageing squad in their place. Despite the ownership at the club taking an active interest and chairman Steve Parish being a boyhood fan it was simply too risky to get rid of Roy Hodgson and these players, as whilst stagnant the formula was ensuring Palace’s Premier League survival season after season. Following Hodgson’s retirement from management though, Palace were forced to switch their system around, and following nine senior players leaving the club in the summer of 2021, Vieira took charge, and has become a part of the family, with the Frenchman taking an interest from top to bottom, even watching academy games regularly. Vieira is becoming a figurehead at the club, and with such a strong crop of talented players, both past and present, beginning their careers at The Academy – which received a £20M rebuild in 2021, there are exciting times ahead.
However, there may be a slightly bitter taste in the mouths of Palace fans following Gallagher’s move back to Chelsea at the end of his loan spell. The 22 year old had an outstanding campaign for Palace last season, with the all action midfielder epitomising the style that Vieira wishes to imprint upon his side. The Palace faithful fell in love with the young English midfielder, and will be nervously awaiting to see if any of the solutions to his vacancy can replace his impact.
Of these solutions are two more under-25 midfield talents, in the form of Ebere Eze (24), who spent the entirety of last season out with a bad injury, yet has seen plenty of action under Vieira in pre-season so far, and new signing Cheick Doucouré (22), who arrived from Lens in Ligue 1 for £22M in July. Whilst the profiles of both of these players does not replicate Gallagher’s directly, we could see a shift to a double-pivot from Vieira’s side, with Eze lacking the defensive work rate to be a box to box in the Gallagher mould. The upside though, is that Eze is as silky on the ball as they come, and I believe he will help Palace retain the ball better, pass with a vastly improved accuracy and create more chances from open play. Doucouré would also suit my proposed formation change, as he is suited to a deeper position, however the sky is the limit under Vieira, who told him “I’m going to make you better. I know your game, I’ve known it for a while, so I know what you need”.
New boy Doucouré comes to SE25 full of promise, after starring in two impressive seasons for Lens in Ligue 1. Photo / @CPFC via Twitter
Another area of concern for the Palace faithful, will be the messy pre-season the club undertook this summer, with the squad essentially being split in two, with just eight senior outfield players having travelled to Singapore and Australia for a tour that was due to commence ahead of the 2020/21 season, but was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst the foreign tour has been revealed as a big money maker, and positive for brand exposure too, it is far from ideal for squad cohesion of new signings, amongst other purely footballing queries. Zaha, Eze, Guéhi, and Olise all remained on English soil and whilst the 26 man squad was filled with young, hungry players for Vieira to keep his eye on ahead of the new term, as well as the pre-season both on UK soil and abroad yielding positive results, you would think the idea may have just added unneeded confusion and stress to preparation for Vieira.
Predicted Lineups:
Arsenal:
Predicted Arsenal lineup for Friday night. Made by chosen11.com
As previously discussed, Arsenal will retain their 4-3-3 on Friday. The team practically picks itself, through a combination of reliable quality, and some positions that are injury hit. After Bernd Leno’s departure to Fulham on Tuesday, there is no doubt that Aaron Ramsdale will start – that is if there was any doubt cast in your mind anyway. The back four sees new boy Zinchenko in, as Nuno Tavares left the club for a year long loan move to Marseille on the weekend, and Tierney is still nursing an injury which kept him out at the back end of last season. Ben White starts at RB, following his spell here in pre-season, where he played with excellent authority over the position. Tomiyasu has a chance of playing, as he looks likely to return soon, but I don’t see it myself on Friday. It would be throwing him in at the deep end facing up to Zaha when he would just about pass as available for the game.
Thomas Partey starts at the base of the midfield three, despite the Ghanaian being in the midst of a legal battle which turned incredibly public via Twitter last week. The club seem to have a clear stance which will not be unchanged, which is to support Partey, meaning unless in the eyes of the law his situation changes, he will continue to be picked, however that is received by fans. Xhaka has featured heavily in pre-season, and his typical reliability will be useful in this game. As for Ødegaard, the new official club captain is a guaranteed starter without question, and it will be interesting to see if the Norwegian can forget his woes from this fixture last season. The front three has two of our finest players in Jesus and Saka undoubtedly starting, supported by new #11 Martinelli, who due to Smith Rowe’s injury, has an opportunity to make that LW spot his own.
Crystal Palace:
Predicted Crystal Palace lineup for Friday night. Made with chosen11.com
Injuries: Sam Johnstone (Quadricep), Jack Butland (Hand), James McArthur (Hip), Michael Olise (Ankle).
Suspensions: N/A
As for Crystal Palace, I have opted for a 4-3-3, as this was Vieira’s preferred lineup last season, however with the new midfield profiles I would not be shocked by a 4-2-3-1 shape, which could see a re-shuffle in midfield, with Schlupp coming out of the side for Hughes to partner Doucouré. Regardless though, Eze will certainly be gifted with a free role, with his main challenge to create chances and keep Palace ticking over against an Arsenal side who love to have the ball. The back four and goalkeeper are easy choices for me, with Guaita actually being the only senior keeper available, as both other keepers including new recruit Johnstone, finding themselves on the injury list.
From the midfield to the attack I will reiterate that there are numerous choices and combinations available to Vieira. The missing McArthur will prove to be a big blow for Palace, after Kouyate’s experience has been lost this window. This leaves the Eagles thin in central midfield, and possibly needing another midfielder before the transfer window closes, especially if the club wish to improve their control on games this term. As for the front three, Zaha and Ayew seem certain to start, with both players being trusted on big occasions. The CF option at Palace is never one I am confident of predicting, with Vieira happy to roll the dice and rotate between his three options, although on this occasion I believe Mateta will play, especially after his excellent performance against the Gunners back in April. One last plausible suggestion is that new and promising youngster, Malcolm Ebiowei could feature on the wing from the start, although I believe on Friday he may only see minutes from the bench – the young Englishman will certainly make the first XI very soon, though.
Final thoughts…
I believe Friday will be a high quality, captivating contest to kick the newest instalment of the Premier League off, with two teams of contrasting styles trading blows – the question is which system will falter first? The key battles will come from midfield, and Arteta must ensure that Arsenal survive the fast paced football Palace will serve his team. There will be top individuals in both attacks, and if either of Jesus or Zaha decide to switch the fireworks on, not many defenders will have a say in what follows. If Palace bombard Arsenal aerially they may get some joy, but in the same tone Arsenal will be too strong if they are able to keep hold of possession and bring wave after wave of attack, which will suffocate the space Palace want to spring a counter.
Jesus has the X factor to make something happen out of nothing, and has been in red hot form since joining Arsenal… Photo / @Arsenal via Twitter
But of course, that is just the football, and once the ground is full, the fans are up for it, and all eyes are on the London based outfits, you never really know what may happen. Expect the unexpected, the Premier League is back!
The fresh feeling of a new season is here, the air is filled with optimism, the latest kits have been released, the predicted lineups are doing the rounds, and you are currently really puzzled as to where your team is actually going to drop a single point this season – the team is practically perfect in every conceivable way!
Arsenal are launching their 2022/23 season with a trip to Selhurst Park, a ground which has not been kind to the Gunners in recent history, and with banana skin potential Arsenal will have to be careful. Though it is not all doom and gloom, because despite my warning that playing a competitive game will bring us all back down to earth, especially against Crystal Palace (I have personally prepared myself for a Jordan Ayew masterclass), I have a strong feeling that Arsenal can build on the already positive foundations that were laid last season. I will preface before expanding that at the point of writing Arsenal’s last first team signing was Oleksandr Zinchenko and we have so far avoided any doomsday scenarios that mirror the opening day of last season against Brentford, where our squad was obliterated with COVID-19 cases, long before postponements were made the norm for this issue.
The optimism pre-match before the collapse at Selhurst Park last season, where Crystal Palace came out 3-0 victors in a dominant performance, denting Arsenal’s top four challenge. (Photo: Rights belong to me)
Alas, I won’t discuss the seasons opener in much more detail, I just make the point because I believe that how you start is key, and whilst Mikel Arteta is a man of strong character who can (and has) demonstrated his ability to rescue more precarious positions, Arsenal have a “nice” early fixture list in modern Premier League terms, so a strong start in those five would boost confidence immeasurably amongst the group. With that being said, lets take a look at the bigger picture of the season, before a ball has been kicked…
What should we be aiming to achieve this season?
I will start with what I believe is a far better way of assessing the confidence of fans in their team than predicting a league position, predicting a points tally. I am forecasting everything in this article on the grounds that we avoid an injury catastrophe which sees multiple key players out for extended periods and have to mention that Arsenal are yet to address two last key gaps within the squad, those being an established winger signing (à la Raphinha) and an extra midfielder, someone in the Youri Tielemans bracket, not strictly his profile, although an extra midfielder is urgently required as we will explore.
Tielemans has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, although Arsenal are yet to have put a bid in for the Belgian maestro.(Photo: @iF2is on Twitter)
I believe a realistic, positive target for this side would be 75 points, which would confirm a place in the top four in the last five seasons, leading to a finish as high as second in the 2020/21 season. The last time Arsenal achieved 75 points in the league was back in 2016/17, ironically the last time 75 points was not enough for a top four finish, testament to the competitiveness of the league on that occasion. The magic 75 points I believe we could achieve would give us a huge chance of securing Champions League football, and would require just two more wins from the previous campaign. In practice, I believe this team is well equipped to reach this goal, however I have not set the bar at over 75 points to account for the reintroduction of European football into our calendar, which will certainly provide a challenge in comparison to last year, for the players and manager alike. As well as this, the lacklustre attempts at silverware in the domestic cups last season did wonders for our recovery periods between games, and with a never seen before mid season World Cup, there are bound to be new challenges along the way.
But, with new challenges come new beginnings, and there are four key new additions to the squad who are ready to play a vital role in the upcoming season. Arsenal have strengthened in the form of Gabriel Jesus (£45M), Fabio Vieira (£34M), Oleksandr Zinchenko (£32M) and William Saliba (recalled from loan). With these four players comes a blend of young talent, hunger, leadership, experience, technical brilliance, versatility, and an additional sense of competition amongst the squad. In regards to the 75 points I implore Arsenal to achieve this is incredibly important, as I actually feel as though much like the 2016/17 season, the 2022/23 season is going to be incredibly gruelling, competitive and difficult to navigate. The Premier League schedule looks hectic as it is, without factoring the scheduling of two domestic cups, all UEFA competition’s and the small matter of a World Cup in-between.
Regardless, I believe a 75 point Premier League campaign, at least one final in a domestic cup or the Europa League and a respectable run in the remaining two competitions should be required by this stage in Mikel Arteta’s tenure. I am not one for setting strict goals in football as a fan, as there are so many variables that can dictate and transform your season in an instant, but having rough goals ahead of a campaign is good for assessing progress, and Arsenal are good enough for these targets from a pure footballing point of view. In addition, much like last season where the Arsenal fanbase had a massive, positive change in expectation due to how we performed, it is important to reassess as the games come and the weeks go by, this helps to keep the pressure up to perform.
Mikel Arteta has demonstrated a steady progress as Arsenal manager, but entering his third full season as Arsenal manager, the Gunners must now make that leap into the top four. (Photo: @Arsenal on Twitter)
Arsenal, Arteta, and the Champions League…
Discussion about Arsenal’s requirement for Champions League football belongs in the “this is Manchester United we are talking about here” hall of overused punditry lines with no real substance or thought these days. Regardless of the truth behind the statement from an expectational viewpoint by fans, a way to attract the very best players to the club, or from a financial standpoint due to the significance the top four spots in the Premier League hold on the clubs which finish there, we have heard it far too often.
The issue is that Arsenal had begun to fall behind as early as 2016, and whilst participating in Europe’s elite competition has always been desirable, the astonishing value that TV contracts and performance related bonuses hold combined with the financial suffering of the last few years throughout European football largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic (speaking of topics everyone has discussed far too much), a growing disparity has formed between clubs that are consistently qualifying for the Champions League and those who are not. This means that whilst Arsenal have certainly taken large strides in the correct direction, demonstrating a positive trajectory, the club will always slightly suffer until it sees the back of its Thursday night European adventures.
The Champions League has not only a brilliant footballing incentive, but an enormous financial one too. (Photo: BT Sport)
Mikel Arteta has done a great job as Arsenal manager when you also consider this is his first job in the role, but football is a results business and whilst he has dealt with some unprecedented challenges, Arsenal cannot drift as we have done for nearly half a decade for much longer. A balance needs to be struck. Yes, Arteta has failed to achieve the top four so far in his job here, however these failings have been the matter of just eight combined points in his two full seasons, and when you consider the rest of the work that has been done at the club in building a strong connection back to the fanbase, using the transfer window positively to sign players who are improving the squad each time, culturally resetting the club back to where it should be, helping to regain an identity, or simply starting to clear that rot dating back to 2016, I feel there should still be a positive outlook when wondering what the future will hold.
Arsenal got worse before they got better under Arteta, and the cynic in me may even question whether it is possible that my expectations grew lower, meaning I appreciate what I used to have far more, but amongst those thoughts it’s hard to ignore the tangible difference in mood around the fans, players and club. Maybe it is time to abandon the terminology that was largely adopted by Arsenal fans late into Arséne Wenger’s reign, of always being either a managers biggest fan, or their number one enemy, with both of these extremes often lacking the correct nuances to correctly judge a managers tenure.
This season I hope that Arsenal’s emphasis as a club, whether from fans or players is not about getting top four specifically, but about achieving their absolute best level of performance. Whilst this may seem dismissive of the goal of top four that we have not yet achieved, I feel that from a footballing perspective Arsenal are more than good enough for the Champions League, however the energy, hope, and expectation of top four at the end of last season ended in capitulation. There appears to be a mental block that gives some fans and players alike cold feet at the prospect of getting the job done, which is why I am so pleased at the calibre of player that we have signed thus far, as all four new faces achieved Champions League qualification with their sides last season.
Lastly, the new rules by UEFA that will come into effect from the 2023-24 season that drastically change the Champions League and the way teams earn their spot mean that this is the last season where the traditional top four battle will truly exist, and it would be a good statement to send if we could achieve qualification via the old format one last time. The new system has four new spots for clubs that would be left out in the current circumstances, with two of these spots allocated to clubs with the highest coefficients who were due to partake in the other UEFA competitions, slots which firmly suit Arsenal’s recent criteria as a club, as the Gunners are currently ranked 17th in the UEFA coefficient, thanks to almost three decades of European football without interruption, and some deep runs in tournaments since we began regularly appearing in the Europa League. Of the sixteen teams above us, only one team would really strike me as a non-guarantee for automatic Champions League qualification each year.
The squad…
It remains to be seen whether Arteta will continue with his 4-3-3 system, it looks likely to me in which case an uninjured side is vital, as this requires our specific role players to be available. Fabio Vieira’s signing strikes me as a real statement that we will continue in this way, he also suggests a stylistic preference from Arteta that may have come from his tuition by Pep Guardiola and Arséne Wenger, to pack plenty of technically strong, capable players onto the pitch at any given time, whilst in typical Arteta fashion not risking too much and becoming defensively vulnerable. Vieira is a wildcard, I had heard of him and seen him play briefly but with his transfer appearing from thin air, I have not really even processed it yet, he is certainly a player I am intrigued by, to unlock defences, strike the ball well from range, dribble effortlessly and evade opponents, he looks to be a real steal with sky high potential, adding another tool to pick the lock of the opposing defence.
New recruit Fabio Vieira is shown around London Colney by Edu on his first day at the club. (Photo: @Arsenal on Twitter)
By far my favourite signing is that of Gabriel Jesus, the player I have been trying to figure out ever since he stepped foot on English soil back in January 2017. At first he looked a poacher with great footwork, but after more time spent watching him I saw a character, who works tirelessly without the ball and always has the cogs in his brain turning when he possesses it. Jesus started to strike me as a player who needed more, he was hungry but he always had to share his food with Sergio Aguero, and later to Guardiola’s systems which had little to no room for him. In the 2019/20 season is where I began to see a player who was capable of far much more than I ever thought. A forward trusted and capable of playing in any game, as well as being able to contribute in any position in a front three.
Jesus dropped some special performances during this time, against Real Madrid in both legs of a Champions League tie for example. Once again a couple of years later, Pep rolled the dice and made Jesus his main man, where he was stunning whenever he was given the chance, scoring what felt like a goal per game with confidence flowing. Jesus’s ability to rise for the big occasion and be integral in big games, paired with his pre-season so far has shown me that I think he simply needed more responsibility, a responsibility he will be awarded with at Arsenal. Be excited, Jesus is going to raise the level of our football in every conceivable way, and without disrespecting Alexandre Lacazette, the fact that we have moved on from him naturally was bound to improve us, his immobile, physically weak, non shot creating style robbed us of many moments where we could have scored last season – I don’t see these same opportunities being squandered now!
Gabriel Jesus towers above Sergio Ramos at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2020, a game in which he was magnificent. (Photo: @iF2is on Twitter)
Zinchenko’s addition to the squad and the profile it brings has been long overdue. Arsenal’s fullback pairing of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are top quality players who’s dynamics combine to form a great partnership, the issue has been the pairs infrequent availability due to injuries. Zinchenko provides a world class option at LB, as well as in many roles through midfield. The Ukrainian is another player to increase the technical level of the squad, and his intelligence, experience and leadership at just 25 is almost unheard of. Zinchenko offers an overlapping option if needs be (to compliment Tomiyasu) or the ability to tuck in to midfield or even CB in a build up, allowing a RB in the profile of Cedric the license to get forward.
Arsenal’s fullback situation impacts the back four massively and the way that the team build up. However, with the returning William Saliba to the fold and ready to be a key player in Arteta’s set up, the defence should be far less stretched than last season. Saliba is in my eyes, the perfect modern CB. He has worked incredibly hard since his arrival at Arsenal, with two loans to separate French clubs, where he has proved his abilities time and time again. The Frenchman boasts a 6’3″ frame, a brilliant ability to tackle cleanly in any situation, a strong reading of the game, as well as an excellent prowess when in possession. He is commanding, and his arrival compliments both Gabriel and Ben White, who will be competing with him for the two CB spots, which will push all three players to be at their best. Linking this to the fullbacks, in pre-season so far Ben White has played RB on a few occasions, with a Gabriel – Saliba CB partnership forming, this has been effective and is certainly an option to explore in the event of injury. With that being said though I personally do not see value in extracting too much from pre-season games, where players are travel tired, not at 100% fitness, in an uncompetitive atmosphere and managers are trying new things without fear of being berated heavily.
One last player I’d like to put the spotlight on is Eddie Nketiah, who has become the latest Arsenal player to don the #14 shirt following his contract renewal. I could not be happier for Eddie, he is a player I have seen vastly develop since Arteta’s appointment, and has been on a positive trajectory ever since. Nketiah returned from an efficient yet ultimately useless loan spell at Leeds in the January of 2020, where he played minutes off the bench much as he did at Arsenal prior. At this point Nketiah was a poacher who displayed good movement, a ‘knack’ for scoring goals at all levels and an average level physically, meaning when faced against the right CB he could hold the ball up well and score headers too. Since then, due to his hard work and the work of the club, we have a faster, stronger, much more technically accomplished, better dribbler of the ball who can play as a forward across the front three, interchanging based on the situation in the game. Nketiah is brilliant in tight spaces and his dribbling is some of the best you will see from a young English CF these days. Pairing this with the raw abilities as a CF he possessed in the first place and the fact that the type of goals he scores has increased, and we have a real player on our hands, someone I have been playing close attention too and who I feel will have a bigger impact on this team than most people have realised yet.
The new look Arsenal, with Gabriel Jesus, William Saliba, and Bukayo Saka, three of our brightest players, celebrating a goal on tour in America. (Photo: @Arsenal on Twitter)
All of the players I have mentioned along with the already confirmed brilliance of the likes of Bukayo Saka lead me to believe we will be far stronger from a structural standpoint, which is key in a 4-3-3 when in defensive transition, a far stronger pressing team due to the replacement of Lacazette with the dynamism and work-rate of Jesus, Nketiah, Martinelli, Saka and Ødegaard combining and better defensively due to the bolstering of the squad in this area, along with the return of William Saliba.
The (winter) World Cup and the importance of squad depth…
Addressing a World Cup which will begin in late November and come to a close a week before Christmas is a feeling that is alien to me, so let’s explore it together. The tournament has already had an impact on the 2022/23 season, with the campaign starting earlier than it would in normal circumstances, as well as the fact that more matches will be played over a shorter period of time, with two games a week the norm at times for sides who are not even in Europe. The Europa League group stages will be played with infrequent breaks between match-weeks, and these will conclude almost a month earlier than normal, on the 3rd November. The last Premier League matchweek will commence on the 12th November, and players attending the World Cup will join up with their national teams shortly after.
The issue I see with this structure is that football has been catching up with itself since the COVID-19 pandemic, as since then, we have seen no substantial breaks for top players who have competed in all competitions as well as playing in the Euros, AFCON or Copa America tournaments that have followed. Simple science will tell us that with less recovery comes an increased chance of injury, so Arsenal will have to manage their players to a microscopic degree and not take any risks. As for the World Cup itself, we will then be separating players who are competing and those who are not, which leads to many interesting scenarios.
The worlds top players have not had a ‘normal’ season since before the pandemic, as the football calendar has been unforgivingly relentless since. (Photo: @iF2is on Twitter)
Let’s use Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka as examples here. The pair are key first team players for Arsenal who will always play when fit for both club and country, both attackers, and both under 24 years old. Ødegaard’s Norway did not qualify for the tournament meanwhile Saka will be travelling to Qatar with England. Despite their similar circumstances, the player going to the World Cup in any case is going to travel far more, as well as training and playing at a far higher intensity whilst the tournament takes place. Bringing form into the argument, if both are in great form, one will have their form massively interrupted by the month in which they will not be playing, whilst the other may translate their good form to their national team, but face burning out upon their return, as typically there would be a bigger gap before and after the tournament. Regardless of the reason, this break will damage their form and therefore be a negative for the club. On the flip side of that, a break or potential change of scenery could help bring some players alive, so we just need to hope for some balance – however this and so many other factors which we may not have even begun to think about will massively determine how each club performs, and with so many variables out of the clubs hands, it is going to be difficult.
International managers will have plenty of clubs on their cases during the World Cup, as club bosses will be watching World Cup games with their hearts racing… (Photo: @iF2is on Twitter)
The work Arsenal have done to make this squad more rounded with quality and adaptability has gone some way to easing the pressure of the unknown consequences of the World Cup though, with squad unity at a high and players not only able, but willing to play multiple positions, Arsenal are in a fairly strong position. I believe squad depth and availability really could trump outright ability this year within the Premier League. The post World Cup run in to the end of the season with multiple games per week in different competitions is going to require a strong core, which I believe Arsenal now possess. The fact that Arsenal are not overly reliant on one player is also a benefit, I would never hope for an injury to any player, but a spell on the sidelines to the likes of Harry Kane at Spurs or Kevin De Bruyne at City could completely derail a season in an instant.
One thing I can be sure of in this World Cup: there will be plenty of unhappy club managers making phone calls to national team staff, asking for an extra massage for their player!
Our competition…
Now that we have looked internally and projected the clubs fortunes from the inside, how do our main competitors shape up ahead of next season? I believe Manchester City and Liverpool have both become slightly weaker due to the players they have allowed to leave, however Klopp and Guardiola’s teams have left an almost 20 point gap between themselves and the rest of the league on numerous occasions in the last few seasons, and I cannot see anybody making up that gap just yet, despite the fact it may be a closer fought affair.
Klopp and Pep will still be number one and two as far as I am concerned this season, even if the gap between them and the rest is not as substantial as before. (Photo: Getty Images)
Chelsea and Tottenham made up the final two spots in last season’s top four, and have both since had busy transfer windows. Despite the clubs finishing in third and fourth respectively, I believe it is Spurs who are a much larger threat to Arsenal and the rest of the league than Chelsea, who look stagnant at the minute. Spurs pipped Arsenal to fourth within the last week of the season, mainly due to an Arsenal capitulation, however I believe that had Antonio Conte been in charge for the entirety of last season, the tight race would have commenced between Arsenal and Chelsea instead. Conte is nothing short of a world class coach, and whilst his approach may be critiqued as more of a short term plan, it is undeniably effective. Spurs looked sensational at times, with Heung-Min Son and Kane being joined in attack by young Swede Dejan Kulusevski from January, forming a frightening attacking trio. Adding to this the ability for Conte’s system to cover up for poorer players weaknesses (Ben Davies), and massively improve underperforming players (Emerson) and Spurs have all of the ingredients of a team who can put a strong league campaign together. The additions of Ivan Perišić and Yves Bissouma stand out to me in particular, adding proven quality in positions that are vital in the system. The signing of young Djed Spence, one of the finest wing-backs in England last season, is also an exciting proposition.
Chelsea on the other hand, had quite the opposite season to Spurs. After a strong start where the Blues were touted as title contenders they slowly began to fall away, with their marquee summer signing Romelu Lukaku not hiding his frustration at his role in the team, eventually making his intention clear to leave the club. Chelsea had a disappointing 2022, with average Premier League form that saw them trudge to an uneventful third place finish, as well as two domestic finals that were both lost on penalty shootouts to Liverpool. Off the pitch the club found themselves in a huge area of discomfort, with former Russian owner Roman Abramovich having his assets frozen in the midst of a political battle between the UK government and major Russian money, as a result of the Russian – Ukrainian war. The club were threatened with the prospect of sanctions, but have since had a takeover, with American businessman Todd Boehly taking the reins as owner. Since then the club have seen a campaign of new spending, with Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly being amongst the big names brought to the club.
Raheem Sterling will certainly strengthen what has been a lacklustre attack at Chelsea, the question is do they still need more attacking reinforcements? (Photo: @ChelseaFC on Twitter)
Despite this, the issues continue for the West London outfit, as two of their first choice targets in Jules Kounde and Raphinha opted for a move to Barcelona, despite Chelsea offering substantial transfer fees and contracts. It goes without saying that this may happen at times in the transfer market, however Chelsea have never had to face this sort of rejection before, especially when participating in the Champions League. Chelsea lack a real edge in attack, Lukaku has returned to Inter Milan and the £100M that was spent on him just a year ago has proved to be a waste. The club are without strong depth at wing-back, and despite a promotion of youth in Conor Gallagher following his positive loan spell at Crystal Palace under Patrick Vieira’s tuition last season, the midfield is lacking in comparison to other top clubs. Adding to this a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in America during their pre-season tour, and I do feel confident that Chelsea are the side to pick off from the top four next season.
As for Manchester United, I already see an improvement in the fundamentals at the club under new manager Erik ten Hag, however his project much like Arteta’s will take time to bear fruit at Old Trafford. Fans and pundits alike will have to drop the “this is Manchester United” trope and come to terms that the club has been rotten, and spending your problems away has not, and will not work for them. United are competing in the Europa League and with this have two routes back to Champions League football, however I feel it may be a stretch for them this season. I expect a major improvement over last years embarrassment, but I cannot see them finishing in the top four just yet. The club also have the matter of Cristiano Ronaldo to deal with, as he is seemingly reluctant to drop down to the Europa League (ironic, I know) with the club and is looking for a route out, disturbing what has otherwise been a peaceful and positive start for ten Hag’s team.
Erik ten Hag has begun his era at Manchester United, and there may be a greater realisation of the major issues at the club now… (Photo: @ManUtd on Twitter)
As for any other major threats to our season, I would say that the West Ham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Brighton bracket of teams, whilst strong, will not have the firepower to trouble the traditional top six this season. The Europa League may surprise some Arsenal fans in its quality after a season out, as it still has a reputation of being “easy” despite some top teams playing from the knockout rounds each season. There is an added importance on topping our Europa League group this season too, as this team automatically qualifies for the round of 16, skipping the round of 32 in the new format.
Final thoughts…
I believe that Arsenal fans should be excited for the season ahead, after a positive season last year, where our style of football was beginning to come to the fore, the fans, players and manager built a special connection with a tangible energy back in the ground, and a top transfer window this summer. Arsenal have once again identified what they need and got it, rather than just signing players who look good in isolation. The vast improvements in some areas, such as the introduction of Jesus over Lacazette, will raise the ceiling of this team immeasurably, and the unity in the squad is an ever-growing plus.
Champions League nights at the Emirates are sorely missed, but the strides this team are taking could bring these kind of images back in the near future… (Photo: Arsenal Website)
I don’t believe in a black or white target in football, nor for a manager, but it is evident that Arsenal at this stage are good enough for the Champions League, and with that they must be participating by the 2023/24 season. I believe anything else would be a failure, simply because I believe in how good this manager and his team are. Arsenal need to make this season about being the best they possibly can be, and if they fulfil that goal, there is no doubt in my mind that we will impress ourselves and others once again, and return to the Champions League, where we can continue to build and progress. Our trajectory has been positive for a while now, and with the rational decisions being made by the club, there is no reason for this to be interrupted. I am very excited for this season, and I think you should be too!
Friday 13th August, 2021 Brentford Community Stadium Kick Off: UK – 8PM – Live on Sky Sports Referee: Michael Oliver
The 2021/22 Premier League season is kicking off this Friday with Arsenal set to face Brentford at the recently built Brentford Community Stadium. Newly promoted hosts Brentford will play their first game in the top flight since 1947, becoming the 50th different team to play in the Premier League era. Visitors Arsenal, on the other hand, will be looking for an opening day victory, which they have achieved for the past two seasons. This is the fourth time that Arsenal will be involved in the curtain raiser for a Premier League campaign, and they have kicked off the season with a win on all three previous occasions.
London derbies are always fiercely contested affairs, and this is the first league fixture between these two clubs since May 1947, so a Friday night game under the lights is bound to see sparks flying from the off. The two sides have the highest win percentage in top flight London derbies, with Arsenal winning 47% and Brentford 43%, although the West London side have only played in 28!
A big season ahead for Arteta’s Arsenal…
For another year running, the pressure is well and truly on for Arsenal. Two back to back 8th placed finishes simply aren’t good enough for the club whilst its rivals continue to improve. Arsenal’s real issue has been consistency, they are simply too unpredictable. The Gunners have played some fabulous football and defended expertly at times in the past year, only to let themselves down in fixtures just a few days apart with simple errors against poor sides. Arteta’s side has tended to actually perform better in bigger games with many examples of this in the past season, beating Chelsea home and away, Spurs at home, Leicester away and securing a victory at Old Trafford for the first time in 14 years. However, a defeat at home to Burnley as well as defeats home and away to Aston Villa, Everton and Wolves helps explain the doubts many fans have. As well as consistency issues, another concern of mine is the sheer lack of firepower this team possessed last season. Arsenal’s attack lacked a great goalscorer as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang faced his toughest season in English football yet and the quartet of attacking players seemed to be rotated non stop throughout the season, as if Arteta couldn’t seem to find any standout performers who executed his vision outside of Bukayo Saka and later Emile Smith Rowe. This is an ongoing issue at the club as the new season approaches, with Arsenal yet to sign an attacking player whilst on loan Martin Ødegaard has returned to Real Madrid. Arsenal need to find a real attacking potency this season to ensure that they win games against sides like Brentford, mounting a climb up the table into a top 6 position at the very least.
However, there are some positive signs to show both of these issues are disappearing, the first of which being Arsenal’s end of season form from 20/21. The Gunners cruised to five wins on the bounce at the end of the last campaign, scoring eleven goals and conceding just two. These games took place once Arsenal were eliminated from the Europa league by eventual winners Villarreal, meaning the players were fully rested in between games giving a glimpse into how Arteta’s team may perform with one game a week, after no European football was secured for the upcoming season. Another positive sign ahead of Friday’s derby are the performances of club record signing Nicolas Pepe as the curtain closed last year, the Ivorian winger scored five goals in the final five games and Arteta spoke fondly of him, confirming his importance in the future. Pepe has continued this good form into pre-season, making a positive impact in games and getting a lot of minutes from the manager, providing a vote of confidence to a player who reacts well to that sort of treatment. At times Pepe’s game has seemed to be lacking in so many areas but his electric feet and precise finishing combined with an improved strength on the ball and plenty of preparation makes for an exciting prospect, his game is coming together. A final positive for Arsenal’s trip to West London on Friday night is the availability of new CB Ben White, who was acquired from Brighton for £50M. White is the perfect defender for a high line which Mikel Arteta has utilised in pre season, with his excellent reading of the game and recovery pace. White has great defensive instincts and has improved in every season he has played so far. The 23 year old is well known for his excellent long and short distribution of the ball which will hopefully assist Arsenal in replacing the asset of former CB David Luiz’s passing. White’s game contains one main deficiency, that being his aerial ability, in the 2020/21 season White’s success rate in aerial duels was just 49.5%. However, this will certainly improve when White moves to a back four and he will also improve with time in this regard.
Ben White’s excellent distribution will be key for Arsenal for many years. Credit: @iF2is on Twitter.
Are Brentford capable of upsetting the Gunners?
Thomas Frank’s Brentford are a resilient bunch, the club has seen disappointment and heartache in their quest for a place in the Premier League for several years now but that has proved no deterrent, as the club finally saw themselves back into the big time in May, in the Championship Play Off Final at Wembley. The club has been run in an incredibly sustainable way ever since Matthew Benham took ownership in 2012. Benham, a lifelong fan of The Bees, has spent over £90 Million on the clubs infrastructure, financing the club with an initial payment to save them from extinction altogether. The club has made a number of tough decisions throughout his tenure as owner, the most controversial of which being the scrapping of the academy in 2016 to move to a system of relying on ‘rejects’ from other academies once they reach the age of 16. In short Brentford buy players based on data, give them a chance, win more games than they lose and sell the players on for a profit. A few examples of players that have been sold for big money in this model include Neal Maupay, Saïd Benrahma, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa, who are all now top Premier League players. Brentford also keep faith in managers based on data, as opposed to simply hiring and firing based on what happens on the pitch. This was best proved when Brentford lost in the Championship Play Off Final to Fulham last year, in extremely unfortunate circumstances after a great season where the club finished third in the Championship. The Bees maintained the faith in their system and Thomas Frank once again delivered an excellent season which this time resulted in promotion.
Former Brentford players Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins are key players in a great Aston Villa side now, the perfect example of the Brentford model working. Credit: @iF2is on Twitter.
As for Brentford’s debut Premier League season, I feel as though the Bees have a cause to be optimistic. The step up from Championship football to Premier League football is never easy but Brentford are better prepared than most who make that jump. In fact I would place them in the Wolves and Leeds category of sides who will become part of the furniture of the Premier League for years to come. The Championship is an incredibly difficult league to get promoted from, it is tactically demanding due to the numerous different styles and above all physically draining, often with two games a week at a minimum. Despite this, Brentford have proved that they can still play quality football and win plenty of matches along the way. The translation to the Premier League will be similar to that of Leeds United, albeit on a smaller scale. This is mainly due to the strong core of players who can easily make the step up to the Premier League, as they are highly rated and have proved they can play on big stages. In fact, five Brentford first team players even made it to Euro 2020 in the summer. As well as this the English contingent of players like Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva and Championship record breaking centre forward Ivan Toney have all played vital roles in Brentford’s rise, attracting Premier League interest along the way. Brentford have only strengthened thus far in the transfer window too, signing a CB, CM and winger all under the age of 24 in typical Brentford fashion. The West London side will be looking to start in an aggressive fashion on Friday, getting the crowd onside and setting the tone with their pressing style. This could work in their favour however a gap in quality could show, leaving Frank’s side exposed, as Arteta’s team thrive in games where space is left in behind. With the players at Brentford’s disposal as well as the cagey nature of a first ever Premier League game, this contest could become quite even and could be won and lost in the details. As discussed earlier, Arsenal’s new CB Ben White could be a target for goal machine Ivan Toney due to his aerial weakness. Toney will be looking to pick up where he left off last season, as the longer the wait for a goal gets in the Premier League, the more pressure players find themselves under. Whatever happens on Friday though, I am sure that in typical calculated Brentford style a celebration will be subdued to focus on the games ahead, and a defeat will lead to harder work, after all last season Brentford only managed four points out of a possible twelve in their first four games.
Predicted Lineups:
Arsenal:
Predicted Arsenal lineup for Friday night. Made by chosen11.com
Injuries: Thomas Partey (Ankle), Eddie Nketiah (Ankle)
Suspensions: N/A
Arsenal should lineup in a 4-2-3-1 shape, a base structure that is preferred by Mikel Arteta. Although there is only one injury in the form of Thomas Partey, there will be plenty of players who may be out of contention for this game (at least in a starting role) due to the many international tournaments that have taken place over the summer. The main players that will miss the chance to start as they are not 100% sharp are Gabriel (CB), Gabriel Martinelli (LW / CF) and Bukayo Saka (LW / AM / RW), although Saka is the most likely to feature out of all three. As for the team, Bernd Leno starts in goal as the only real experienced keeper at the club, with Arsenal in the market for a backup or even a new #1 goalkeeper who better suits playing with the ball at his feet. Leno was called up to the Germany squad for Euro 2020 and kept 11 clean sheets last year in 35 appearances. At RB I was unsure who to pick, with three equally average choices at Mikel Arteta’s dispense. In the end I believe Hector Bellerin will start, as he is the best of a bad bunch. Bellerin was linked with a move to Inter however this has not materialised and since building his fitness backup over pre season he has seen plenty of game time culminating in him being first choice for Arsenal’s pre season trip to Tottenham on Sunday. At RCB, Ben White starts for me in one of the simpler choices, there won’t be much of an adaptation period besides getting to know his new teammates and therefore I believe Arteta will select him. At LCB, Gabriel’s absence means Pablo Mari will start which does worry me a bit. The spaniard is amazing with the ball but his agility and defending in a high line is very unconvincing, he struggles against pace. LB is a simple choice with Kieran Tierney, who picks himself as one of the most consistent performers at the club. He will be vital in overwhelming Brentford’s defence when he makes marauding runs forward. In midfield, a double pivot of Granit Xhaka and new arrival Albert Sambi Lokonga will be used. Partey’s absence means that Lokonga will be at the heart of midfield immediately, although I am quite excited for this. Lokonga is a progressive passer and has all types of passes in his locker, he is a strong mind and isn’t risk averse as he likes to carry the ball. Ahead of them Emile Smith Rowe will start off the back of a strong pre season where he picked up where he left off. The new #10 renewed his contract this summer, removing any doubts about where he will spend the next few years. At LW the captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should start, although the front three is hard to predict. Aubameyang has scored in Arsenal’s first game of the season for the past two campaigns, and will be hungry to get back to his old scoring habits after a poor season by his standards last year. At CF I believe Alex Lacazette will play to provide the link between the midfield and attack and help the two wingers attack space left by Brentford. At RW Nicolas Pepe will play and as discussed before, he will be hoping for a continuation to his end of season form.
Aubameyang celebrating an opening day goal in 2019. Credit: @iF2is on Twitter.
With this lineup Arsenal will look to hurt Brentford when they are in defensive transition, as they often contest for the ball high up the pitch. Arteta will look to win the ball as high as possible and set Pepe and Aubameyang going into open space. Off the ball Arsenal will press incredibly high, as we saw in the game against Chelsea at The Emirates a couple of weeks ago. My concern is more what will happen when Arsenal have the ball. We should see Tierney pushed high and wide with Xhaka covering along with Smith Rowe linking play although this XI lacks a creative edge, with more outlets than players who want the ball to feet. This is why it is possible we could even see Aubameyang used as a CF, which is a rarity under Arteta, with Saka at LW tucking in to combine with Smith Rowe. The test for Arsenal defensively will be the organisation of the line, all players need to ensure they push up together and they cannot get drawn out too far leaving their teammates exposed. In my opinion the key battle from an Arsenal point of view will be Ivan Toney v Ben White. Toney is a powerful CF who can score all types of goals and link play but most importantly turn up in the right place at the right time. Arsenal must marshal him whilst also closing spaces to avoid penetrating runs from the Brentford wingers who will be tucked in.
Brentford:
Predicted Brentford lineup for the clubs first ever Premier League game. Made by chosen11.com
After an uninspiring pre-season by Arsenal, Brentford will be hoping to start their Premier League journey in a positive way. Brentford can lineup in three main systems, one a four at the back and the other two a three at the back. Thomas Frank is a hard man to predict, he has rotated all three systems in pre-season but my inclination currently is that he will use a 3-4-3 for Brentford’s Premier League debut. With the three at the back systems largely being responsible for Brentford’s promotion despite Frank initially switching to these systems because of injury woes, I believe he will stick with what earned Brentford their place in the top flight, especially since these systems are incredibly flexible. Brentford also have multiple players who can perform in an array of positions, Sergi Canos being a great example of this. A long term injury to Josh Dasilva and Mathias Jensen also being out of contention almost certainly disqualifies a 4-3-3 from consideration. As for the personnel, David Raya will start in goal, a man who kept 17 clean sheets in 45 Championship games last season. He has attracted interest from Arsenal before and despite being a talented keeper, is widely known for his costly error in the Championship Play Off Final in the 2019/20 season by neutrals. The back three will consist of two players who helped secure promotion in Ethan Pinnock and Pontus Jansson, who was signed from Leeds in July 2019. Along with those two will be Norwegian summer signing Kristoffer Ajer, who was brought in from Celtic for £14.1M. At LWB, Rico Henry will make his long awaited return from injury meaning Brentford will have a natural fullback to stretch the width of the pitch and on the opposite side at RWB, the first of a few arguable positions is introduced. The first more natural but probably less likely selection here would be 22 year old Mads Roerslev, who despite joining Brentford in 2019 has only played 28 games for the club. The second more attacking option who would really take the game to Arsenal would be Sergi Canos, the Spanish winger who has played wingback for a short while now as a result of the change of system. Canos as you may expect is not the best defensively but would possibly pin Tierney back, meaning that he cannot have the same offensive impact for the visitors. In midfield Frank could possibly include a third midfielder like new signing Frank Onyeka and play two attackers although I feel this may be the plan to possibly see out the game if Brentford are leading. A midfield two of Christian Nørgaard and Vitaly Janelt are the obvious options in Jensen’s absence. Finally, as for the attack I will confirm that one man will certainly be playing as the CF, and that man is Ivan Toney. With a record breaking 31 goals and 10 assists to his name last year in 45 Championship matches, the £10M fee that Brentford paid looks a bargain with his value sky rocketing ever since he joined the West London side. Flanking Toney on the right, is the easier choice of the many wingers that are competing for spots in this side. I believe Bryan Mbeumo will start as he was vital for promotion in the previous year. On the left, I have gone for Tariqe Fosu as he is a more experienced and settled member of the squad compared to others in his position. Turkish international Halil Dervişoğlu and summer signing Yoane Wissa from Lorient narrowly miss out largely due to inexperience in a game of such importance.
Listening now? Toney celebrates his goal in the Championship Play Off Final to cap off an outstanding season. Credit: @iF2is on Twitter.
Brentford’s main goal will be suffocating Arsenal when they have the ball, which is where Ben White and Pablo Mari may be of great use to the Gunners as they are not pressing triggers. Brentford will assert themselves and the full capacity crowd will be vital, as we saw in the Play Offs last year Thomas Frank likes to orchestrate his supporters! Brentford will want to try to prevent Arsenal’s fullbacks (particularly Tierney) from getting up the pitch to support the wide forwards in Aubameyang and Pepe. By isolating these two, Arsenal’s goal threat is significantly reduced, although to do so Ajer and Pinnock will have to position themselves expertly as there is a huge pace mismatch. Arsenal will be looking to take any fun away from Toney’s night as mentioned previously but if Brentford decide on a more attacking lineup with the likes of Canos involved, the Bees will have multiple options to sting Arsenal. if Brentford are chasing the game at any point I am sure more space will open up for Arsenal but alternatively if the home side find themselves ahead with 20 or 30 minutes to go, Frank may switch to a 3-5-2 with an extra midfielder to ensure they stay compact but remain a threat on the counter. In my opinion the key battle for Brentford on the night will be ensuring a balance is found between pressing players like Xhaka who have lethal long range passing and not getting too tight to the likes of Aubameyang and Pepe who will certainly find it easier to play against wide CB’s in a three at the back system than your average fullback that they typically face. For both sides, ensuring their defensive structure is perfect will be vital and I expect an entertaining start to the new Premier League season.
The Arsenal captaincy has come as something of a curse to those who it has been dispensed to over the past decade. Gone are the days of Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira, the archetypal heart on your sleeve, vocal leaders barking orders to their teammates to see them through the game, in fact, since Cesc Fabregas it is hard to say an Arsenal captain has even held onto the role long enough whilst playing regularly to ‘lead by example’.
Tony Adams reigned supreme as Arsenal’s captain for 14 years, the sort of commitment the role has lacked ever since… Image: (Ben Radford /Allsport/ Getty Images)
It is hard to forget the unsavoury endings that our best and most recent captains have had with the club: whether it be the aforementioned Fabregas moving to Barcelona in a display of petulance with his World Cup winning Spanish teammates, or, more recently, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Barcelona after being frozen out by Mikel Arteta, or worst of all Robin van Persie’s sweet talking on the phone with Sir Alex Ferguson landing him a move to Manchester United, winning the club their most recent Premier League title back in 2013 and performing emphatically, punishing Arsenal in the process.
Robin van Persie shattered Arsenal hearts with his move to Manchester United, disrespecting the captaincy in the process. Image: 2012 Manchester United FC
Even without transfer drama or disrespect to the club, Arsenal have had an array of captains quite literally unfit for purpose. From 2012 to 2018, club captains Thomas Vermaelen, Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker played a total of 4,032 Premier League minutes, for comparison Chelsea captain John Terry played 9,913 Premier League minutes in the same period! In fact, despite often deputising as captain and having a great reputation amongst Arsenal fans, in his only full season as official Arsenal skipper, Laurent Koscielny racked up just 1,330 Premier League minutes, however the Frenchman’s name won’t just be mentioned for a lack of game time…
As well as fitness issues and transfer heartbreaks, who can forget the other endings to the Arsenal captaincy in the Emirates era? We’ll start with William Gallas shall we: the man signed from Chelsea and sold to Tottenham, what could go wrong there? Gallas was captain for the entirety of the 2007/08 season, however tensions started to bubble beneath the surface after a collapse at Birmingham City, where he stropped, sulked and eventually sat on the pitch long after the final whistle whilst the rest of his teammates walked off. This event snowballed and after remaining club captain into next season, Gallas gave an interview which proved to be the final nail in the coffin, where he publicly questioned his teammates ability and mentality, giving Arsène Wenger no choice but to strip the Frenchman of the captaincy, leave him out of squad for the next game and fine him two weeks wages. Simple!
Another Frenchman who deserves a small mention here is none other than Laurent Koscielny, a man who played through physical pain plenty of times in the latter stages of his career for the club and received adoration for it. Koscielny swapped Arsenal for Bordeaux after almost a decade and over 250 appearances at the club, no animosity – oh wait he’s taken his Arsenal shirt off and thrown it on to the floor in his announcement on Bordeaux’s official Twitter account… moving on.
William Gallas experienced an eventful time as Arsenal captain, and his emotional nature often made the role seem unserious. Image: PA
Lastly comes Granit Xhaka’s time as Arsenal captain, which was a short and complicated one. I felt and still feel for Xhaka in many ways, but to put it simply, Xhaka was made the main captain in manager Unai Emery’s infamous ‘leadership group’, which was actually made up of five players, although it was always unclear what exactly was going on here. Regardless, Xhaka seemed and still does in many ways seem like a natural fit for a club captain – a strong speaker who is captain of his nation, rarely injured and never afraid to defend his teammates. However, after criticism from Arsenal fans throughout his whole stay at the club to this point, some which crossed the line to abuse, an uninspired Emirates began running out of patience, cheering as Xhaka was substituted against Crystal Palace whilst drawing the game, bringing the Swiss to boiling point, culminating in him gesturing at fans to boo louder and telling them to “F*ck off”. Under pressure boss Emery took an almost immediate decision to strip the captaincy from Xhaka and instead give it to Aubameyang, who only ever received the armband as he was far and away our best player despite never really being suited to the role.
Granit Xhaka reached a point of no return as Arsenal captain after the events which unfolded against Crystal Palace… Image: DAZN via Le Grove
Alas, here we are today, and since Aubameyang’s departure, Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka and former striker Alexandre Lacazette have all shared the armband but now it is time for something more permanent, a moment I have dreaded in recent history – often the beginning of the end for a player at Arsenal.
As we have come to expect during Arteta’s tenure as Arsenal manager, the process of who will be next captain will be decided diligently, and this culture of captains who aren’t fit for the role should be coming to an end soon, in line with the rest of the cultural reset Arteta wants to instil at London Colney.
Rather than pretend that there are no rumours or leaks on who may be awarded the captaincy next, in my opinion the candidates in the current squad are Tierney, Xhaka, Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Magalhães. Recent reports linking Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal raise my eyebrow, as he seems to be a leader in every sense of the word, although I’d be doubtful that a player would walk straight in and become captain – regardless, like all the other players listed above, armband or not they will provide leadership.
Kieran Tierney has long been a fan favourite to be next captain and is no stranger to wearing the armband, although his inconsistent fitness provides a stumbling block to making this a reality. Image: @iF2is on Twitter
Looking at those names, it is easy to make a case for all of them, but one name stands out to me completely. There are pros and cons for all, and there are certainly cons with this choice, but I believe the next Arsenal captain will be Martin Ødegaard – and I think this is the right choice.
The initial reaction I read amongst fans when Ødegaard was linked with the captaincy was one of disappointment, a belief that he is a little too much of a luxury player for the role and could struggle when the chips are down – a sentiment I share to a degree. I think what is important though is breaking down exactly what is required from a captain, and for me it would be these qualities:
Experience: Either as a captain or in football generally – no situation should fluster them.
Communication: This goes without saying – your teammates must understand your commands and be able to access you, so for me your goalkeeper should never be your captain.
Availability: As discussed earlier, availability is the best ability especially as a captain, as this creates a bond between you and your teammates, providing clarity and consistency in your leadership while avoiding confusion.
Footballing IQ: A captain should be able to lead a press, tell his teammates where to be late in a game, tell his defence to push up a yard – the small details make a big difference.
Squad role: A captain doesn’t have to be your best player by any means, but having an important role in the squad helps to ensure consistency – much like availability does.
Relishing the responsibility: Captains are required to do far more behind the scenes than fans ever appreciate, countless meetings, being a link between the players and manager or simply listening to your teammates’ issues.
Despite having rough parameters for what I’d like to see, there really is no right or wrong way to captain in the modern game, at least not just put into the cliched ‘vocal leader’ or the ‘leader by example’ boxes. So much more goes on behind the scenes as a captain, even down to the respect a player has in the dressing room. France’s World Cup winning team of 2018 is a great example of this: Hugo Lloris captained the side, yet the man with the powerful speeches gearing his squad up for battle was Paul Pogba, but this did not detract from what Lloris brought to the role. Players aren’t just looking up to one figure in their dressing room anymore – different characters bring different characteristics.
Ødegaard might not be the archetypal leader, but he is certainly the best fit in the squad. The Norwegian was named captain of his country at just 22 years old, and has captained the team in his 18 appearances since then – a squad composed of players of all ages and levels of experience. Norwegian boss Ståle Solbakken praised Ødegaard’s maturity when appointing him captain: “There was a feeling I had after conversations with players. We think Martin has lived a long life already in European football,” Solbakken said, with Ødegaard relishing the opportunity, who responded: “It comes with an extra responsibility both on and off the field. I’m ready to take that.”
With all of this praise from within the game, we must also note the feeling from the fans, and from the outside looking in, Martin Ødegaard appears to be a huge voice in the dressing room and a massive influence on the pitch – such is his role in the team. From my seat at the Emirates last season I watched Ødegaard orchestrate the game with the ball at his feet as much as I did when he was out of possession: constantly scanning, organising his teammates and leading the press. He is capable of changing a game on his own, providing a moment of magic to change a lacklustre performance into a strong one, and to inspire his teammates to improve their performances. This X factor that the Norwegian possesses is something that cannot be taught, and indicates Ødegaard having a strong mind on young shoulders. He pictures the game two steps ahead of the rest, anticipating well and reacting sharply, and above all he really does seem to care, a quality you would expect from any player, but as Arsenal fans will know, does not always transpire from everybody.
Martin Ødegaard has proved a reliable choice for captaincy and has earned the faith of Mikel Arteta, he continues to captain the side in pre-season. Image: Football London
I certainly have reservations about awarding the captaincy to Ødegaard, concerns that mainly regard mentality and consistency. As joyful a player as Ødegaard is, Arsenal’s #8 has the tendency to drift into a different world when the occasion or atmosphere gets too much. Much like his flair-laden Emirates forefather in Mesut Özil, he is unstoppable in the right flow, but if that flow is interrupted for whatever reason, the result can be catastrophic. Once the mental side of Ødegaard has begun to wobble, the technical side is quick to follow, eliminating his ability to change a game with the ball at his feet, or organise his teammates pressing. A few big examples of this came last season away at Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Newcastle, where the nine points dropped ultimately cost Arteta’s side Champions League football.
Ødegaard was outfought and outthought in Arsenal’s all or nothing game at St. James’ Park in May. Image: Modular Phone Forum
This leaves me wondering: is that the difference between a good captain and a great captain? Is that enough reason alone for Ødegaard not to receive the armband?
However, the more pertinent questions are: who would be a better fit? Does the armband even matter that much anyway? Could giving Ødegaard the extra responsibility and importance dissolve these concentration issues altogether?
Ultimately all other players mentioned prior to be put forward for the captaincy have glaring issues themselves, from Tierney’s unreliable fitness, to Xhaka’s reluctance to take the armband back full time after previous misdemeanours, or Gabriel’s lack of fluent communication with the team… Or indeed that after summer reinforcements are made, all three of these players may find themselves far more heavily rotated than before.
As for the captains importance in the modern game and more specifically at Arsenal, whilst I think it is important you have some kind of chain of command at a football club, and it clearly is a decision that needs to be carefully considered to provide the required stability, in this Arsenal side, I’m more confident than ever that the official captain will be entering the pitch with ten more around him. The lack of egos and the feeling of every single player and member of staff pulling in the same direction at the club has real significance, and the environment Mikel Arteta and his team have nurtured allows for fans to feel comfort over decisions like this and in moments of adversity. Arsenal last season found a rhythm, and developed into a team who are not only capable of producing great football (albeit still with a way to go), but will not be pushed over or bullied. This type of mentality from top to bottom at the club will prove far more important than the negligible differences between the candidates for captaincy.
Arteta’s team has a bond that has been lacking at Arsenal for many years, this puts far less pressure on the captain acting as a single ‘saviour’… Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
With that being said, one decision will have to be made, and you did not read this for me to sit on the fence. I must preface my closing choice with the wildcard that is Granit Xhaka, simply because I feel he should have never had his captaincy stripped in the first place. Whilst I understand Emery’s decision under pressure, as well as Xhaka’s disciplinary issues at times, he is accustomed to the role and acts as a model professional, although I accept avoiding an official return to captaincy for Xhaka is the smart decision. My choice, despite his major flaw, remains Martin Ødegaard, as one thing that is certain is that he ticks all the positive boxes, is vitally always in the starting XI, and therefore acts as an anchor for the rest of the players to work around. He is used to the responsibility of being a captain and is very clearly one of Mikel Arteta’s most trusted players. With an atmosphere and unity so strong at the club, the decision becomes more a case of who ‘makes the most sense’, and the answer is Martin Ødegaard, who I’m excited to see blossom into the role if he is trusted with the responsibility.
After Unai Emery’s dismissal on Friday morning Arsenal appointed his assistant and Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg. Freddie had a fairly successful spell as Arsenal U23 coach, a position he held for just under a year before he was made assistant to Emery, the decision made with the promotion of youth in mind. The news of Emery’s departure was wonderful news to the majority of Arsenal fans, however with an away trip to Norwich approaching the squad needed to prepare immediately under new coach Ljungberg. The departure of Emery could have been troubling news for Norwich boss Daniel Farke too, he would not have minded playing against Emery’s Arsenal team who were winless in 6 in all competitions going into the game. Farke’s team had given him a great perfrormance away to Everton on matchweek 13 winning 2-0 at Goodison Park, however for The Canaries consistency is key and if Farke wants his side to remain in the top flight next season they needed to get a run of wins going. Despite all of the uncertainties prior to the game it was certain that the match was finely poised, a win for Arsenal and they were 5 points behind Chelsea and would have finished the day in 5th, a win for Norwich and they had 2 in a row for the first time this season.
Team Selection
Ljungberg’s first lineup was set to cause discussion and at 1PM on Sunday Arsenal fans may have had these three thoughts. Firstly asking themselves “Why on earth is Mustafi there?” secondly “Where is Pepe?” and finally pondering on the fact they may have seen this set up before. To answer the first question, Mustafi has been bad at times in his Arsenal career, it is something nobody can deny, however you have to remember this is a new coach and everybody has a clean slate. It’s also worth noting that picking your central defenders for the day as an Arsenal coach is essentially choosing the way in which the oppositions goals are scored, the outcome will be the same regardless. The decision on Pepe is a little more baffling however my thinking is that Freddie wanted the front three of Ozil, Aubameyang and Lacazette to move centrally on the ball and remain wide and press when Norwich were in possession. The front three is fluid in this setup, which links me to my third and final point, where have we seen this before? This is actually a formation Emery utilised in our 3-1 away defeat to Liverpool, a formation Gary Neville explained on that day would get us results on the road this season. Xhaka, Guendouzi and Willock all started and were able to provide defensive stability until Arsenal were chasing a goal, this is when Norwich found space in the middle of the park. Chambers also started at right back, something which personally does not fill me with confidence. The Englishman is much better suited to the central defence and is much more composed than Sokratis / Mustafi, possibly an avenue to explore.
Freddie Ljungberg’s first Arsenal lineup Made with chosen11.com
As for Norwich they made one change from their trip to Goodison the week before, with Tettey dropping out of the squad for personal reasons, Ibrahim Amadou took his place. Norwich as we have seen are able to unlock teams through their excellent abilities to pass out from the back, most notably against Manchester City, where they were 3-2 winners at Carrow Road in September. The team had a strong Midfield which was flanked by Onel Hernandez and the exciting Todd Cantwell, who scored the second Norwich goal of the day. Teemu Pukki started as a lone striker and was able to rekindle his weak goalscoring form against an even weaker Arsenal defence.
How Norwich lined up on Sunday. Made with chosen11.com
First Half – Arsenal’s defence faulters again
The match started with a good pace and Arsenal dominating the ball, something which Arsenal fans will be happy to see again. Some good combination play featured with the midfield diamond passing and moving well. As well as this Freddie clearly employed a press from Willock and Guendouzi hoping to force errors from the Norwich backline. Despite some success in pressing this tactic possibly helped Norwich more as once they had possesion two holes either side of Xhaka appeared in which Hernandez and Cantwell operated. Lacazette had a big chance in the first five minutes however this was wasted by the Frenchman. A header cleared off the line by Norwich was Arsenal’s next big chance before Teemu Pukki put the home team ahead, embarrassing Arsenal in the process. Pukki was found in a worrying amount of space considering he was in a one versus three by the time the shot was taken, the lead remained intact for a couple of minutes for Norwich before a Christoph Zimmermann handball gave Arsenal a penalty and a chance to get straight back into the game. Veteran goalkeeper Tim Krul recieved a yellow card in the build up for the penalty which Aubameyang initially missed, however it was retaken when Max Aarons was seen to step into the box prematurely and subsequently cleared the ball. Aubameyang made no mistake from the spot at the second time of asking. The next big flashpoint in the game came on the stroke of halftime when Norwich broke via Onel Hernandez in the space which I discussed earlier, the German waited for the run of Todd Cantwell who fired Norwich in front with Arsenal displaying more calamitous defending.
Second Half – Resilience displayed by Arsenal
The second half provided fewer chances for the Gunners who had renewed spirits. However, Ljungberg’s pressing style meant Arsenal fatigued at around the 70 minute mark and due to the substitutions being made in the latter stages Norwich took a hold of the game. Arsenal’s number 1 Bernd Leno contributed massively throughout the second period making massive saves to deny shots which should have found the back of the net. I suppose the period of Norwich domination highlighted some qualities and deficiencies for Arsenal. It was unacceptable to be conceeding chances for such a long period of time, however it can be said that the fact we managed to prevent a third goal was a massive positive and something which may not have happened under Emery. It is also worth noting that if we had been more clinical in our dominant spells (of which there were plenty) the game could have easily been put to bed. Overall, Sunday was a promising day for Freddie and Arsenal despite not gaining the maximum points.
Arsenal player ratings
Leno – 8/10 MOTM: Won us the point in the end after some great saves, the man deserves a better defence ahead of him.
Chambers – 5/10: Average performance, good combination play along the right hand side at certain points however when he over committed Arsenal were punished due to his recovery speed. Should play CB.
Mustafi – 5/10: This rating may be slightly generous due to his good performances elsewhere this season however he was pretty awful espeacially when defending the first goal.
Luiz – 4-/10: Not much to say, quality on the ball however defensively too conservative and Mustafi had to overcompensate for him, not great when Mustafi can barely take care of himself.
Kolasinac – 6/10: Made some good tackles and was able to recover well when he had gone forward. Always solid when attacking on the left and neither of the two goals were his fault directly.
Xhaka – 7/10: Really good game given the circumstances, possibly could have done more on the second goal but I believe he was being instructed to press. Good passing as always and a fairly solid display.
Guendouzi – 7/10: Played well in the role he was given and he suprised me as he was able to contribute to the attack, sometimes he can struggle with that. Not much more to say however it is worth reminding ourselves that he is only 20.
Willock – 6/10: Pressed well and popped up in the box a few times but was largely ineffective, didn’t get on the ball enough and looked tired quite early. He is definitely promising though.
Ozil – 6/10: Good deliveries from dead balls and was moving the ball nicely. Playing him on the wing under Arsense did not work and I doubt it will work as he gets older. Not the man for a front three of players expected to press, should be behind them if these are the orders.
Lacazette – 5/10: Arsenal currently have an issue of having good players that are not cohesive together in a front three. I have been of the opinion for a while that Lacazette should make way for a world class left wing. Missed a few chances and was unable to impact the game.
Aubameyang – 8/10: What a striker, the best we have had since Van Persie and a true asset to the club, if he had better service and was not forced onto the wing to accomodate for Lacazette he would have an even better goalscoring record.
Subs: Torreira – 7/10: Came on, made a few blocks and shored things up in the midfield. Martinelli and Saka both did not have the time to make an impact, so I will not be rating them.
So there is my report on Freddie Ljungberg’s first game as Arsenal manager. Interesting time at Arsenal currently and one which excites me greatly, Sunday was the first day I was excited to see us play since the first game of the season. Hopefully the Arsenal board do not rush the permanent managerial appointment and give Freddie this season to make his impact – you never know, he might just be the permanent solution.
This sunday will mark the 55th premier league meeting between Arsenal and Tottenham, with both sides in need of three points after losing their respective games in matchweek 3 of the new season. As always with this intense derby goals can be expected, the last time this fixture was goaless was in February 2009.
Arsenal and Tottenham matches have never been simple, and before any time the two sides meet there always seems to be an emphasis on one side more than the other, more recently Arsenal who have finished below their North London neighbours for the past three premier league campaigns. However there was only a point between the two sides in favour of Spurs who saw off Arsenal into a Europa league place for the third consecutive year after the Gunners also lost to fellow Londoners Chelsea in the Europa league final.
With that being said Arsenal had a strong summer transfer window, possibly the best in the premier league after adding more attacking ammunition to the side in the form of Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe, whose impressive Ligue 1 campaign for Lille last year prompted the gunners to spend a club record £72 million. Arsenal also added veteran 32 year old defender David Luiz from Chelsea, with the money they received from the Koscielny deal and completed the loan signing of highly rated Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid, who had a stunning U21 Euros over the summer where he won the tournament with Spain. Scottish left back Keiran Tierney also joined the gunners but is yet to play through injury.
As for spurs (who before this summer had not purchased a player since they signed Lucas Moura in January 2018) they recruited sought after Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele for a club record fee of £55 Million. The Frenchman scored in his premier league debut against Aston Villa in early August. As well as this Spurs brought in Giovani Lo Celso from Real Betis on loan with an obligation to buy from the Spanish side. With these two signings Pochettino has added a vast quality and depth to his side. Ryan Sessegnon was also added to the squad, but similarly to Tierney for Arsenal he has not played via injury.
Arsenal currently sit in third place after winning their opening two premier league games for the first time since the 2009/10 season, collecting a win and clean sheet on the opening day against Newcastle at St James Park, and fighting hard to eventually beat Burnley at home 2-1. However despite an improvement on their trips to Anfield in the last two seasons where Klopp’s side has scored nine goals and conceded just one, Arsenal lost 3-1 to Liverpool on Saturday evening, with Nicolas Pepe making a full debut and looking very promising next to Aubameyang. The Ivorian happened to end Virgil Van Dijk’s rather infamous record of ‘not being dribbled past’ in 50 premier league matches for the european champions but nevertheless they were comfortably victorious after 90 minutes.
Despite conceding early to Aston Villa on the opening day, a comeback from Tottenham followed to ensure the North London side won 3-1, with a Harry Kane double getting him underway in August where history shows his goalscoring can slow down at times. A trip to the Etihad stadium saw spurs battered by City but they remained in the game until the final whistle, as Gabriel Jesus’ late winner was disallowed by VAR. Pochettino once again troubling the champions and getting a result agaisnt Manchester City. Similarly to Arsenal Tottenham dropped all three points on matchday three in a sluggish performance against Newcastle, which not many were expecting given the magpies issues with ownership and fans discontent with the departure of Rafa Benitez. To be fair the away side looked unbeatable in defence on the day and if the game had carried on all night Tottenham would not have breached an inpenitrable defence.
A chance to turn it around for Tottenham?
After the shock defeat at home to Newcastle on Sunday it emerged Pochettino’s side have only won five of their last fifteen premier league fixtures, so where has it gone wrong for Tottenham recently? As we all know Spurs have been one of the most exciting teams to watch in the past four seasons and have been consistent over that period too, finishing inside the top four more than any other team besides Manchester City over the period. This has all been whilst playing in a temporary home at Wembley stadium while the new White Hart Lane (or whatever it is known as now) was completed. So can this almost be expected ? It’s not the first time a club has had a few poorer results after moving ground, Arsenal used the excuse for a long time after the Emirates was built and have only made it a real fortress in the past few seasons, around a decade after it’s completion! If anything this trip to the Emirates is perfectly timed for getting discontented fans back onside for Spurs, afterall it will give them confidence amidst all the uncertainty currently felt.
As well as the stadium adjustion period, Christian Eriksen, an integeral attacking player and one of the best creators in the premier league, has a contract situation which is a cause for concern for Pochettino. With the Danish playmakers contract set to expire in the summer of 2020 and no agreement looking likely, Tottenham could have a creative void in the team come next season, or even before then with top european sides monitering the situation. Eriksen is yet to start a home game this season and there seems to be a conflict between him and Pochettino. Experienced defender Jan Vertonghen is also yet to start a game this season and it is unclear whether this is the result of an injury or something between player and manager. Furthermore gifted new recruit Ndombele failed to start against Newcastle with a minor injury and Spurs fans will be hoping for his appearance at the Emirates on Sunday. Lastly following Keiran Trippier’s departure in the summer Tottenham are relying on youngster Kyle Walker Peters who has looked a liability in his opening three games and certianly not ideal for Pochettino, in other words the squad is looking a bit bare…
Mauricio Pochettino also spoke after the Newcastle game and mentioned how his squad was “unsettled”. Overall a very odd time for Tottenham and unlike the spurs boss to not defend his players, it feels as if this could possibly be an attempt at making Arsenal over confident ahead of the derby. The majority of the meetings between Arsenal and Tottenham over the past few seasons have seen spurs be favourite, but Arsenal have only lost two games in the fixture since November 2015 despite never being tipped to trouble spurs. Whatever is really happening over at Tottenham can only be confirmed by the team sheet, at half past three on sunday.
A chance to prove a point for Arsenal?
After Unai Emery’s side capitulated at the end of last season, failing to get just one win from games at home to Brighton and Crystal Palace and away to Leicester, Everton and Wolves for Champions League qualification, fans and players alike looked dejected. Unai Emery worked so hard last year but it all fell apart at the final hurdle once again highlighting Arsenal’s consistency issues at key times. This has been happening for an inexcusably long time now, with Arsenal exiting title races early over the years and missing out on desirable league positions. Is this finally the year to change that?
This North London derby has happened much earlier than usual however could already be season defining for either side. Arguably this is the most important North London derby in a few years and it’s outcome could foreshadow either teams fortunes this season. If Arsenal can manage to take all three points it will show a change of early season form in comparison to other years, where the club has struggled and had to essentially play catch up. Arsenal have seen some real improvement in the structure of the club for the past year and need to finally prove to everybody, including there own fans they are going to be strong in the biggest matches and are on there way back to writing history for the club. Is it unfair to say all of this boils down to one match ? Possibly, yes. But as we all know derby matches are the most important to the people who matter most, the fans.
Predicted Lineups
Starting with the home team, which is difficult to predict due to Emerys tendencys to change personnel, I belive his preferred 4-2-3-1 will be used. This can often look more like a 4-3-3 in possesion and the defensive stability offered combined with the chance for a counter attack will be useful on Sunday. Arsenal cannot afford a lack of concentration on any part of the pitch as chances usually come along sparingly in these games. In the defence Bernd Leno and Ainsley Maitland Niles are in the squad with limited competiton in either position. I believe Emery will opt for experienced left back Nacho Monreal, that is if he remains at the club and is not sold to Real Sociedad as reports are suggesting. Personally I would like to see Calum Chambers start over David Luiz after his flawless performance against Newcastle however it looks unlikely. Xhaka and Torreira make a midfiled pivot, with the latter acting as destroyer and allowing Xhaka to sit deeper. With question marks remaining over Mesut Özil’s inclusion in the team Dani Ceballos looks likely to start in attacking midfield despite this not being his natural position. On the wings Nicolas Pepe should start after completing 90 minutes at Anfield. With Lacazette likely to be included after a good cameo off the bench on Saturday Aubameyang will not play his natural position at centre forward but instead will play on the left much like he did in the second half against Burnley.
Expected Arsenal lineup for the North London derby. Made with chosen11.com
Moving onto the team travelling down the Seven Sisters road on sunday, and as I’ve discussed it certainly will not be an easy team selection. If Ndombele is back we could see a three in midfield with Sissoko, Ndombele and Winks with the latter a bit deeper than the two frenchman. If Pochettino decides to start Eriksen despite all of the off the pitch issues Arsenal are looking at a very different threat. Hugo Lloris will retain his position in goal as well as the two full backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker Peters. Toby Alderweireld starts at centre back alongside Colombia international Davinson Sanchez despite some questionable performances recently. Due to Jan Vertonghen being left out all season so far I don’t belive he will be playing on Sunday in a game of this magnitude, regardless of his vast experience in the fixture. The reliable Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko start in a midfield three with Christian Eriksen in my prediction, as Tottenham will seek his creativity in this game. Heung Min Son should start after coming back from injury and getting game time against Newcastle. Upfront Harry Kane will look to trouble Arsenal as he always seems too, scoring in eight of his last nine games agaisnt the Gunners. Finally on the right Lucas Moura should play ahead of Lamela although Pochettino does seem to have a soft spot for his fellow Argentine so he might just make the team.
Expected Tottenham lineup for the North London derby. Made with Chosen11.com
Joe Writes Football 