WHAT A GAME! This had it all, VAR decisions, penalty scares, red card shouts. Passion a plenty! On a sunny and warm Saturday afternoon at the Emirates, the better footballing side won! The art of analysis breakdown, here we go!
The line up:
Finally Arsenal fans we got the line up of dreams. What we had always wanted and waited for this season. Was it the result of the Thomas Partey injury (out for 6 weeks with a hamstring tear), or had this been planned by Mikel all along. Regardless the 4 pillars of our defence from last year started todays game and my goodness did they perform!
In a game where the xG shows Arsenal dominated; 2.27 vs Utds 0.96. Do not be fooled. Arsenal played with a pace that at times broke through a well drilled United. But played the game with far too much respect for their opposition. Yes Saliba, Gabriel and White where defending beautifully in the later third of the match putting their bodies on the line for essential blocks in the box.
But the game overall was one of cat and mouse. Arsenal were happily allowing United possession, as they had no use for the ball. The majority of play United had was in their own starting third of the pitch passing it back and forth, with Onana having majority of touches and playing as an extra CB at times for them.
Credit must go to Zinchenko who floated from LB into Right CM of all places. Even more impressive was his replacement Tomiyasu a natural RB. Was comfortably playing on the left but would pivot with rice and move into CM. Praise to Mikel and his minimum 30+ formations in a fluid game!
The formation is good, but how do we make it great?
This is the question I have to ask. As watching the match Martinelli despite being constantly doubled against with Anthony (credit where its due is better as an extra LWB than he is a winger) was supporting Wan-Bissaka throughout the match as alone Martinelli had the man beat! The reason for this changing in the later stage of the game is Fabio Vieira! This man has an understanding with Martinelli that mirrors Saka and Ødegaard on the right hand side. Without this understanding and mutual trust there is no interplay, quick tiki-taka. That almost telephathic connection that is present on the right isn’t here on the left with Havertz.
Now this is not Kai’s fault, he is in a new club, with new players learning a new role. But what is clear is that whenever Vieira is on the pitch his abilitiy to further unlock Martinelli and in doing so improving his own game is clear and obvious. Gabriel Martinelli is capable of 15+ Goals a season. But to do this he needs Vieira in the 8 role. Kai is essentially Fabio last year. But I do like having 2 or more quality players able to fit this 8 role!
The stats speak for themselves. He must start post international break.
Blunders abound:
With the style of play changing to match the opposition in front of you. As expected with an elite level manager, one consistent issue has been present in all our games this season so far. We are vulnerable to a speedy counterattack. It worked for Man Us opening goal, and they were fractions away from a late win, as Garnacho just strayed offside before scoring what he thought would prove to be the winner.
This cannot be happening every game week. Currently Arsenal sit 5th in the league only separated from 2nd place by Goal Difference. We have not kept a single clean sheet. Now is this due to Zinchenko only just gaining full fitness, hence the rotation in the back line. Yes arguably, but you’d also have to factor superstar Timber getting injured early on too. Do I put blame on Ramsdale for the first goal? Perhaps his hands could have been stronger, but to Rashfords credit the shot was sublime.
Ultimately, I don’t know how to fix this issue of getting caught in on the counter. I’m not a manager. I don’t control this squad. But I do think there is a way forward where we avoid this, arguably with both Saliba and Gabriel on the pitch and a fit Thomas Partey at CDM?
Rice Rice Baby
Okay so maybe I just want to live in this moment. I want this picture to take me in and never let go. The elation I felt when this goal went in, knowing we would be beating Manchester United too. If I could bottle up that feeling and sell it, I’d be a millionaire!
What a performance from Declan! The £100 million man is worth every penny here alone! And he just keeps getting better. Declan won 4/5 duels, winning all his aerial battles and loosing one on the ground. He was involved in 6 ball recoveries, was dispossessed 0 times in attack, had 85 touches with an 88% pass accuracy.
Simply put he was everywhere. With the fluid state of formations in modern football, at times Rice was covering at LCB for Zinchenko, he would move into his “normal” CDM 6 role, he’d press forward and overlap into the 8 LCM position, he’d even find himself in the box. As he states in the post match interviews, he is here for 2 things, trophies and to improve as a player. He see’s that he has a long way to go in the improvement category. I for one cannot wait to see how much better he will get, for me he’s already world class. Now he can be world class as both a 6 and an 8!
Conclusion
In a game filled with emotion and turbulence the better footballing side won! Arsenal football club came through victorious, we have the 3 points and that’s all that matters. Whilst we did predict 3-1 we could have never guessed it would unfold in such a manner. Again our bet of the day (both teams to score) also came though, even though I wished it had not.
Arsenal keep on winning and winning ugly. I do not mind this slow start to the season as long as we don’t take a loss. We all know it’s a marathon and not a sprint, I don’t want to be fading away in the latter stages like last year. We’ve a long road ahead of us and we have only just begun! Come On You Gunners!
**Stats by Opta & FotMob
Written by Reekesh Somaroo