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!
How the English national team have recaptured the hearts of a nation and why success is just around the corner…
As the dust settles on England’s crushing defeat to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final almost a month ago, evaluating the performance of Gareth Southgate’s men can prove to be a difficult task. Is it right to be full of praise for a team who have essentially fallen at the final hurdle, or is reaching the mens national teams first final in over 55 years a great achievement in itself? In previous years after countless tournament disappointments I have found myself questioning many England teams mentality, their desire to win and their reason for having so many excuses. Simply put, for me it has never been a question of quality for England, but a question of mentality. Those little streetwise things you do in tournaments to buy some time, that application that nations such as Italy or Germany never lack when it comes to representing their country and a cohesion to prove that nobody is larger than the team itself.
A great example of this difference in mentality is shown in the constant repetition of the idea that club rivalry was more important to England stars of previous generations than representing England. Whilst this may have some truth to it I believe it to be more of an excuse than a valid reason for previous failures. After all, Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique won the World Cup and Euros together forming part of an outstanding defence, all whilst being bitter rivals domestically for well over a decade. I am not denying the ability of exceptional players like Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard who have all given rivalry as a reason in their punditry days when asked about England’s failures, more acknowledging other factors, such as poor management, an inability for certain managers to communicate ideas, better or more balanced opponents and the biggest factor in my eyes, the British media’s coverage of the national team. Under Gareth Southgate’s stewardship though, these excuses exist no more and the beauty of this England side is its character.
This group of supremely talented youngsters and brilliantly consistent veterans is not just amazing because of the individual players, but rather than sum of the parts as one group. From a tactical point of view, the team is well balanced and England are no longer cramming all of their best players into one first XI as was the case years ago. Reputation is no longer a key factor in terms of team selection, a great example of this was Bukayo Saka’s minutes played, after many expected him to struggle to start a game. As well as this, team selections seem to be based on performance in training, form of the previous season and talk from the media no longer impact the England bosses decision. This was best proved with Raheem Sterling this summer, who after a poor season by his high standards repaid Gareth’s trust with world class performances throughout the Euros.
Another factor that separates this group from the squads that have come before it is the amazing work done off the pitch by lots of members of the team. Marcus Rashford has displayed great maturity and courage to take on the government despite being met with hostile responses from several MPs and further abuse online. Raheem Sterling has worked tirelessly for a number of years to try to change attitudes on race, as well as acting bravely to call the media out on their targeted harassment of him, hoping to be a trailblazer for future young England stars so that they don’t have to experience the same ordeals. Jordan Henderson has championed equality and hasn’t shirked away from using his powerful voice as Liverpool captain and a senior player in the England setup to condemn discrimination of all kinds. These are just a few examples of players leading a new era of footballers who can perform on the pitch but also transcend the 90 minutes to help make positive societal changes. With that has come a new wave of support from the English public and even those beyond, who are more in love with the English national team than ever. The support over this Euros for England was heartwarming after what has been a soul destroying 18 months, I’d go as far to say this is the best relationship I’ve seen between the England team and its fans in my life. Rightly so, the English public and I can be truly proud of this group for more reasons than one.
England’s new heroes chat before a game at Wembley. Credit: Mike Egerton / PA Images
Whilst the nation was heartbroken by the result on the 11th July at Wembley, I feel as though this isn’t the end of a journey that started at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but the start of something new. Regardless of whether Southgate stays on or not, this group of players are set to be together for another 2 tournaments at the very least, and I can confidently say that due to their level they will get to play the biggest international games again. These players deserve to be in Semi Finals and Finals and I believe they will find themselves there, due to the sheer talent running through the heart of English football, the strength in depth and the ever growing list of young players ready to fill the boots of this generation. These players will only learn from defeat and won’t be the sort to dwell. They have proven that they stand tall and unified in the face of adversity, and when one player is feeling the effects in a negative way, there will always be a quality replacement waiting to seize their opportunity. England should be looking forward to the future, the possibilities are endless.
However, in order to unlock the full potential of the English national team which by all means is winning tournaments, what needs to happen? That final step, what is it? As I mentioned earlier, the mentality of the players, coaches and manager alike needs to be spot on. No half hearted decisions, no pragmatism, more savvy instructions to see games out, a reinforcement that the results of the team are more important than any individual. As we saw in the post mortem of the Euros, Gareth Southgate was scrutinised for his treatment of Jack Grealish, particularly subbing him on and off again in the Semi Final against Denmark, and whilst Grealish is one of the best players in the country at the moment, it’s important to remember that the team always comes first, which unfortunately meant Grealish missed out a lot of the time. However, contrary to popular belief this wasn’t the result of some kind of personal vendetta between Southgate and Grealish, but more a way to balance the team. Whilst a front three of Grealish – Kane – Foden was excitingly anticipated by England fans, all three of these players want the ball played to their feet and often don’t run beyond the ball. Raheem Sterling for Jack Grealish and later Bukayo Saka for Phil Foden helped to find a perfect balance. Kane was able to pick the ball up in the deeper positions he has found himself occupy for Tottenham and feed the ball to the wide outlets. Another example of the team being placed ahead of individuals came in the form of Southgate’s 3-4-3, which was vital to England’s triumph over Germany in the Round of 16. Prior to the match though, many described the approach as cowardly and also wondered why with such great attacking assets, Southgate would play with one less attacker. However, systems win games as much as players do at times, and Germany’s wide overloads as seen in their demolition of Portugal in the group stage would have caused havoc against an English back four. With a three (five without the ball) England marshalled the German attackers expertly.
Gareth Southgate’s most unpopular decisions often proved to be his most effective at the Euros… Credit: AFP Photo
In fairness though, the right balance needs to be struck between matching systems of big teams that have a few major strengths, and simply giving the opponents an easy ride. Against Italy in the final, Southgate made the mistake of taking an early lead by demonstrating front foot, intricate and devastating attacking football but swiftly reverting to a more conservative approach which allowed the opposition to grow in confidence, in fact the Final was almost a repeat of the Semi Final against Croatia at the 2018 World Cup. This is the main tactical change that Southgate simply has to make, and luckily for him it is relatively simple, in fact to some nations it is just instinct. International football is played at a far lower tactical level than club football, I would argue that there were only two top managers at the Euros this summer, Spain’s Luis Enrique and Italy’s Roberto Mancini, for that reason the ability to let your players enjoy their football in a cohesive system often leads to great results. Southgate is very good at this, he has made the England camp a happy place where players want to be, promoted healthy competition and has more than a coherent system for the level required. Southgate just cannot repeating the same error under pressure, which is allowing his team to sit off the opponent, stop pressing and let the ball stay out of their possession for long periods. Top midfielders will and have taken advantage of this to England’s demise. Modric and Rakitic in 2018, Verratti and Jorginho in 2021, both duos had the same devastating impact. Allowing players of their quality on the international stage to dictate tempo is suicide and whilst I can see why Southgate tries to protect his leads in important games, this should only happen after around 70 minutes at the earliest, anytime before that and trouble will always find you.
Once Italian maestro Marco Verratti had more possession of the ball, the signs were ominous for England. Credit: @iF2is on Twitter
As well as discussing tactical tweaks that could help to ensure England’s success in the future, another major factor for England are the outstanding players who will help to make dreams turn to reality. The list of young English players ready to make their mark in an array of positions only continues to grow, but I’d like to focus on one in particular who embodies this special group. When discussing a modern teenage phenomenon in all aspects, I look no further than Jude Bellingham. Bellingham made his first senior appearance at just 16 years and 38 days old and became Birmingham City’s youngest ever player in doing so. However, he didn’t just perform as a fringe player, in fact he was an integral part of the Championship side during the 19/20 season, making a staggering 41 appearances. He totalled just under 3,000 minutes in all competitions for Birmingham City that year prompting interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Bellingham eventually moved to Borussia Dortmund for £22M, and continued to defy the odds. He lit up Champions League games against the likes of Manchester City and played nearly 3,000 minutes once again. To top it all off he was called up to Southgate’s England squad for the Euros, becoming the youngest ever player to feature at the Euros at just 17. But why does this all matter? It sounds great of course, but behind the records Bellingham is an example of a player England are producing more and more of, despite being an outstanding case. Putting it into perspective, when Bellingham is just 26 he will already have a decade of experience whilst he enters his peak. Already a quality dribbler and passer over all distances, Bellingham is imposing and able to bully players 10 years his senior. He is (without sounding too dramatic) the perfect footballer. Young, potential to be complete, ready to learn, gaining experience with some of the best footballers on the planet and going through his journey with amazing coaches and guidance. Bellingham is a beaming light that illuminates just how good a position English football is in. Players like Bellingham will only ever make a managers job easier, and if the anything to win mentality is there for tournament football, the dressing room is harmonious, the players are elite and the tactics are imposing on matches with little consideration for the opposition then England are 99% ready to win big.
The final piece of the English jigsaw, the one that nobody on the footballing side can control, is the media. Whilst improvements are being made, they are happening too slowly as even at Euro 2020 some disgraceful stories were run on England’s stars such as Bukayo Saka and Kalvin Phillips. These stories were both non football related and contained completely irrelevant personal details on both players, particularly sensitive ones in Phillips case. As well as this for years it has felt as though the English national team and English press were always at war with each other, leading to players hiding things and not expressing themselves. Past players have spoke about a fear that certain stories would be published no matter their relevance or validity. In 2021 there are some signs that sections of the media are building bridges with the players, and at this summer’s Euros journalists and players competed at darts frequently at England’s training camp.
Improvement in relations between the media and England players over a darts competition, positive steps… Credit: @RobHarris on Twitter
A continuation of these sorts of relations could be huge for certain players, especially those with far less experience in “blocking the noise out”. In the past, papers have caused rifts in countless England camps, revealed irrelevant yet sensitive details about players and managers personal lives and have heaped pressure on certain individuals who have had tough periods. England players seemed to play with hesitation, in the knowledge that any minor mistake would lead to an assassination by the media. This has slowly been erased bit by bit, with great credit due to Gareth Southgate for protecting his players as we saw after the loss on penalties in the final. Raheem Sterling also deserves high praise for fearlessly defending himself and others against slander. Whilst I feel our press should be honest there is a line between criticism that is warranted and a blame game being played. It is vital that the media play their part in England’s resurgence as much as anyone else, all parties acting as one team for a unified goal gives England the best chance of glory.
So is success approaching? I do believe that all parties discussed here today should be proud of themselves, especially the players. I am certain they will not become complacent and celebrating progress will keep them heading in the right direction. Tournament football can be unpredictable but with this talent and willingness to improve, I’m more confident than ever that the wait will be over soon.
Joe Writes Football 