Good morning.
First up, congrats to Arsenal Ladies who demolished Hacken 4-0 final night time within the second leg of the Champions League qualifier. Having misplaced the primary leg 1-0, there was some actual strain going into this one, however the workforce got here up with the products and go into the draw which takes place at midday immediately. You may see the objectives within the match report, and skim Jonas Eidevall’s response over on Arseblog Information.
Immediately, Mikel Arteta will meet the press forward of our sport in opposition to Leicester tomorrow, and I actually hope there aren’t extra questions in regards to the ‘darkish arts’. As I mentioned earlier within the week, we must always take it as a sort of praise that persons are making such a fuss out of it, nevertheless it’s all very boring now. Certain, make it your speaking level after a giant sport with Man Metropolis so you possibly can wring each click on out of it together with your engagement-bait protection, however can we come again right down to earth now please?
Each workforce does it, each supervisor does it, each participant does it. Attempting to gaslight folks into considering that is one thing distinctive to Arsenal is each tedious and patronising. Everybody is aware of higher. There have been a lot of folks in glass homes this week throwing a lot of stones. The absurdity of some ex-pros sticking the knife into our second half show on Sunday when you think about a number of the stuff they bought as much as of their enjoying days is off the charts.
I really suppose it’s one thing Mikel Arteta will quietly take pleasure in as a approach of additional fostering an ‘us in opposition to them’ mentality inside his squad. He’s a person who retains receipts, as we all know. Ivan Toney’s ‘good kick about with the boys’ Tweet festered with him till we subsequent performed Brentford, at which level he used as motivation for his workforce. I’m positive there are numerous different examples which have by no means been made public, and this might properly be certainly one of them.
He would possibly fear about how these items being relentlessly regurgitated within the media means we play below a sort of highlight which isn’t at all times useful, however these items tends to fade away as soon as there’s one thing else for them to get their enamel into. Additionally, it’s laborious to not suppose loads of that is linked to the schedule. Three actually powerful away video games in per week, and by the tip of the final one we have been digging in with 10 males in opposition to certainly one of most troublesome sides to play in opposition to in world soccer, making an attempt to carry them out with every part we had left within the tank. Each workforce would have accomplished precisely the identical as we did.
I think the supervisor can be hoping {that a} comparatively kinder schedule within the weeks forward will enable us to simply play video games, rating objectives, and take factors, with out all of the fuss. Which is to take nothing with no consideration, however some intervals of the season are harder than others, and we’ve come by a very difficult one. We’ve got three dwelling video games earlier than the following Interlull, two within the Premier League (Leicester and Southampton) and one within the Champions League (PSG). Domestically, at the very least, you must suppose these are very winnable fixtures, and whereas PSG will definitely be a problem, that dwelling benefit could possibly be crucial on a giant European night time.
I’m additionally positive {that a} matter of dialog on the coaching floor this week can be about self-discipline. I don’t have to say once more how ridiculous I feel it’s that Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard have been despatched off and suspended for one thing as trivial as ‘delaying the restart’, however Arteta can be ensuring his gamers perceive they will’t give referees even a sniff of an opportunity to do what they appear to like doing most – making themselves the centre of consideration. To this point this season there have been 263 yellow playing cards and 6 crimson playing cards within the opening 5 video games. I don’t understand how that stacks up in opposition to final season, or earlier seasons, nevertheless it looks like lots, and all we will management is what we do – which is a message I feel Arteta can be eager to impress upon his gamers.
For some further studying this morning, Tim’s column takes a take a look at how Arteta would possibly tweak issues now that the three powerful away video games are accomplished. There’s a brand new Arsecast for you beneath, chatting in regards to the Bolton win in the event you haven’t had an opportunity to hear already, and you’ll be a part of us a bit later on Patreon as we look forward to Leicester tomorrow.
Bye for now.
