YOU’RE DEFENCE IS IN TROUBLE, NKETIAH IN THE ROOM! What an excellent game from Eddie, his 2nd ever Hattrick, his first in the Premier League! An emphatic victory that saw Tomiyasu score his first ever Arsenal goal and Fabio Vieira scoring to celebrate his new-born!
This game had everything Mikel could have wanted excellent from the lads and excellent management from Arteta. Now for a mediocre Art of Analysis breakdown:
The lineup:
Mikel absolutely got the team selection right and so did our Previews and Predictions ahead of Game Week 10.
Emile Smith row playing in the 10 role to give Martin Ødegaard a more than deserved rest. His performances as of late had certainly dipped below his personal expected level let alone that of the fans. The fact Mikel has the option to switch in a talent like ESR will be incredible. A boy did he deliver. He gave a commanding performance with an assist to his name in his first premier league start this season.
The other prediction we hit on the head was Kai Havertz in the starting lineup. His presence was certainly needed he was able to create space for the wingers with his off the ball movement and physical play.
Zinchenko was another name we felt picked himself for this game. With the low block we rightly predicted from a defensive and physical side like Sheffield. Arsenal was able to utilise Zinchenko’s creative presence to really open up the opposition. He had the ability to cut inside throughout the game inverting from LB to LCM consistently creating more options for the attacking three whilst causing headaches for the opposition defence.
Nketiah In The Room:
certainly his third goal really was one to remember what a cracker of a strike!
Eddie Nketiah silenced any concerns about Arsenal’s attack without Gabriel Jesus with a spectacular first-ever Premier League hat-trick. Wearing the captain’s armband, Nketiah proved that he is more than capable of leading the line for the Gunners.
“I’m here,” Nketiah declared, pointing to the Emirates pitch after his stunning 25-yard strike sealed his hat-trick. The academy graduate has been a staple of Arsenal’s attack for some time now, and while he may not always be the most consistent player, he is clearly not ready to give up his starting spot.
Nketiah’s performance impressive as it was. Still came against a Sheffield United side that was already relegated to the Championship. However, you can only play the opposition in front of you and Eddie did make the most of it all. The fact that Saka, who was captaining the team in place of the rested Ødegaard, gave Nketiah the armband when he was substituted in the second half was a clear sign of respect for his teammate’s achievement.
Key Stats:
Arsenal are unbeaten in their first 10 Premier League games of the season, their best start since 2007-2008. They have only had more than their current 24 points after 10 games on four occasions in the competition: 2004-2005, 2007-2008, 2013-2014, and 2022-2023.
Arsenal have kept consecutive home clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since December 2021. This is as many clean sheets as they managed in their previous 15 home games combined.
Eddie Nketiah is the first Arsenal player to score a Premier League hat-trick since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in February 2021, and the first Englishman to do so since Theo Walcott in May 2015.
Arsenal have had four different penalty scorers in the Premier League this season: Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, and Vieira. This is their most in a single campaign since 2008-2009, when Eboue, Adebayor, van Persie, and Bendtner all scored from the spot.
Takehiro Tomiyasu became the first Asian player to score a Premier League goal for Arsenal.
Conclusions:
Eddie will take all the headlines from the game today and deservedly so. However, just looking at the stats all the players and substitutes were excellent. Each with an above 7 rating and truly dominated the opposition.
With a busy schedule this week as Arsenal have a Carabao cup game on Wednesday and then away to Newcastle on Saturday. Mikel must make the most of the rotation available in the squad. He did good with Kiwior, ESR and the substitutions to give Saka and Martinelli their rest too. But we have to be smart in our teams to play ahead of us.
Overall it was a convincing win and a dominant display. Well done to the squad and well done Eddie Nketiah. He really had Sheffield’s defence in trouble!
Written by Reekesh Somaroo