Morning. It’s Friday.
Prepare for data overload. That’s proper, the supervisor will meet the press at this time forward of our sport towards Nottingham Forest tomorrow, and we’ll get some data. Which is able to nonetheless really feel like an overload as a result of we’ve had nothing for weeks now.
It appears like a very long time has handed since that Chelsea sport. Maybe that’s a great factor. I’m no fan of the Interlull, however this one might need simply allowed us to attract a line underneath the primary a part of the season (solely 11 Premier League video games, 27 to go!), and get centered once more. What little margin for error there’s all through a season might properly have been used up in that opening interval, so it’s essential that the supervisor elicits outcomes and performances when issues kick off once more tomorrow.
One factor I’m hoping to see because the weeks go on as an Arsenal crew that feels extra balanced than the one we’ve seen to this point. I feel there are apparent causes as to why we’ve struggled. Towards Brighton we performed a lot of the second half with 10 males; towards Man Metropolis we performed your complete second half (and a shitload of damage time with 10 males); and towards Bournemouth it was over an hour with 10 males. We’ve had points with accidents too, which have impacted consistency of choice, and I don’t suppose it’s unreasonable to suppose there’s been a bodily influence from enjoying these video games a person mild.
As Lewis identified this week, the return of Martin Odegaard is essential for our enchancment (and I feel between now and January, Arteta and those that are filling in for Edu proper now have to suppose very strongly about our lack of depth in his absence), however I’m curious to see if midfield would possibly begin to form up in a different way going ahead. When it grew to become clear throughout the summer time that Mikel Merino was a switch goal, I puzzled if we’d see the ‘first alternative’ trio grow to be Declan Rice, Merino, and Odegaard.
Rice anchoring, Merino because the ‘left 8‘, and the captain doing the stuff we all know he can do, with the reassurance of these two behind/alongside him. If that was the plan, it was derailed instantly as Merino picked up an damage shortly after arriving, and it’s apparent that has delayed his integration into the crew. He’s had a barely inconsistent begin to life at Arsenal, however has carried out so in a crew which has collectively inconsistent too, so it’s to not pin all of it on him as a person. I don’t suppose it’s coincidence that his most eye-catching look got here when he performed with Odegaard outdoors him within the remaining a part of the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. That’s the midfield I’d wish to see extra of within the coming weeks and months.
The opposite facet of that’s that it permits us to play Kai Havertz because the 9, and I feel this crew operates extra effectively when he’s the point of interest. The ‘job share’ bit with Leandro Trossard final season labored okay, however the Belgian isn’t in good kind proper now, so I’d wish to Havertz performed primarily because the centre-forward, flanked by a completely match Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
These 6 weeks or so earlier than the brand new 12 months are additionally essential for each Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling. If Arteta has to consider how we’ve got an enormous reliance on Odegaard, he’s additionally acquired to consider the dearth of finish product from these two gamers. I don’t suppose it’s sustainable if we actually need to problem for trophies this season, so there’s some stress on these two, and perhaps some ruthlessness required. Sure, their minutes have been scant to this point, however they’re senior gamers with tons of expertise, they know the drill and what’s anticipated.
So, let’s hope we discover the stability, let’s hope those that have under-performed to now can discover some kind, as a result of the underside line for me is that we’re able to so much higher than we’ve seen to date. Now’s the time to point out it.
Lastly, congrats to Tim whose incredible work for Arseblog masking Arsenal Ladies earned a Silver within the Soccer Content material Awards final night time, and congrats to our mates at ArsenalVision and Poorly Drawn Arsenal who received golds of their classes!
Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. There’s a model new Arsecast under wherein I chat to Miguel Delaney about his new guide ‘States of play: How sportswashing took over soccer’. There’s so much to unpack from the guide itself, the best way soccer, cash and politics have grow to be inextricably linked through the years is apparent, however what influence has it had on the sport, and what’s subsequent?
We talk about all that and much extra. And for lots extra Arsenal chat, be part of us over on Patreon later for our Nottingham Forest preview podcast.
