Match report – Player ratings – Arteta reaction – Video
Yet another down, two to go. Yesterday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth was a type of video games that would have been received much more comfortably, but in addition one that would have been much more uncomfortable.
Mikel Arteta named an unchanged facet, and from the off they tore into the guests. How we didn’t rating within the first half is a bit nuts actually. 16 photographs, 1.97xG racked up, probability after probability, alternative after alternative and we didn’t take them. I feel some credit score has to go to how resolutely Bournemouth defended in their very own field, to get our bodies in the way in which and block photographs, whereas Mark Travers made a few good saves/interventions to stop the ball hitting the again of the online.
Different occasions we had been wasteful. Each Thomas Partey and Declan Rice had superb probabilities which they didn’t profit from, and it was onerous to flee the sensation it may be a type of days. My thoughts went again to that sport in opposition to Fulham years in the past when Edwin van der Sar made about 200 saves in a 0-0 draw.
Then, simply earlier than the break, a superb Martin Odegaard cross discovered Kai Havertz, the keeper got here, the Arsenal ahead left a leg out and went down. The ref pointed to the spot, VAR checked, and it was a type of the place I don’t suppose they might fairly overturn the on-field choice.
I’ve to be sincere, and say I hate when these are given as penalties. Sure, the keeper will get in the way in which a bit, and the ahead is impeded so makes certain there’s contact, however they’ve all the time pissed off me as a result of we used to get them given in opposition to us on a regular basis. So I can perceive Andoni Iraolo being pissed off by it, however whereas the 2 issues aren’t related, I feel we may also be pissed off that Ryan Christie wasn’t despatched off within the eleventh minute for a nasty problem on Bukayo Saka. I do know that’s not the way it works, however nonetheless.
3 of our final 4 video games, 3 pink card challenges have resulted in 1 yellow card
— arseblog (@arseblog) May 4, 2024
I had no situation with Fabio Vieira’s pink card in opposition to Burnley earlier this season, and I don’t see this as any completely different. It was excessive, over the ball, harmful, and clearly prompted some actual injury to Saka. So, if our penalty was a contact beneficiant, so too was the truth that problem didn’t even end in a yellow card for the Bournemouth man (one other absurdity of VAR is that it has no energy to inform the ref ‘That’s a reserving, on the very least’).
Saka stepped up. Saka scored like he had ice operating via his veins. That was a stress second, simply earlier than half-time, and had he missed the ‘One-of-those-days-ometer’ would have hit MAX. I feel he ought to have doubled the lead early within the second half, when actually good play from the impressive-again Havertz gave him a sight of purpose with simply the keeper to beat, however his end was rushed and lacked the form of precision wanted.
Bournemouth had been much better within the second half, enjoying larger up the pitch, and David Raya needed to make a great save from Dominic Solanke at his close to publish. It seemed like there had been a foul on Odegaard within the build-up, however the ref performed on. We couldn’t discover the second, Rice rampaged ahead to drill the ball throughout the face of purpose however no person was there to faucet it dwelling.
However he made the distinction within the seventieth minute, beginning a run from the sting of his personal field to get the ball on the sting of theirs. His contact wasn’t good, however the way in which he improvised to play the ball with the surface of his foot for Leandro Trossard to tuck it dwelling for 2-0 was very good. An excellent help, one other massive purpose from the Belgian, and that eased among the nerves.
Then the second which might have made the ultimate levels extra uncomfortable. A Bournemouth cross got here into the field, Tomiyasu bought there first and booted it to the moon, Raya determined to take cost and got here out to punch it. I feel there’s sufficient of deliberate foul on him from Solanke to place him off – he isn’t going for the ball, which I do suppose is a vital consideration. If he was simply leaping, difficult, high-quality, however you’ll be able to see him look straight at Raya, and I believe that’s why the choice went our method.
The Arsenal keeper didn’t get nice contact on it, the ball was fired again in off the bar after which into the again of the online. At that time, the ref blew the whistle to disallow it. There’s additionally the difficulty of William Saliba and Philip Billing, and the Arsenal defender does have maintain of his arm, and you can simply argue that’s a foul. I don’t actually perceive the method properly sufficient to know if their mindset is that if Solanke hadn’t nudged Raya, the keeper would have gotten there earlier than Billing. Or if it’s only a common tussle within the field with out crossing the edge for a penalty.
If I utilized my penalty choice making course of to this, how would I really feel if an Arsenal purpose was disallowed on this context? In all probability somewhat pissed off, but when the principle and first motion within the chaos was a slight, however very deliberate foul by an Arsenal participant, I might most likely perceive it. Finally although, I don’t suppose it’s an enormous injustice, only a pretty borderline choice that went our method. Contemplating what number of we’ve been on the opposite finish of this season, perhaps it’s a case these items even themselves out (they don’t, however what I imply).
Gabriel Martinelli got here on and instantly had an opportunity to make an impression, but when something encapsulates his latest type, it’s the actual fact he took it on, drove into the field, fell over, and nothing occurred. Final season’s Martinelli scores that, or supplies an help. I don’t suppose it’s something to put in writing lengthy think-pieces about, he’s simply off form and low on confidence. It’ll come again.
The third purpose got here proper on the demise, and once more it confirmed what Rice brings to this crew. The need to get ahead and to run 50 or 60 yards at that time is excellent. The ball hit the online at 96’21 – there have been 8 minutes of added time. The sport was received. Over. Finito. Even when we had been denied a superb Gabriel strike from a marginal offside.
However nonetheless fuming from his first half miss, Rice charged via midfield, discovered a niche, Jesus gave him the ball and he completed with energy and accuracy. Each purpose issues, and that simply summed up his character. You relaxation when the sport is over, when the ultimate whistle is blown, not earlier than – whatever the scoreline. He’s not alone in that perspective by the way in which, however this was an excellent instance of the way it can present itself throughout a sport.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta mentioned:
We began the sport with most likely the perfect first half we’ve performed all season. I feel we had been unbelievable, we had been tremendous composed on the ball, actually aggressive with out the ball, we generated so many probabilities, we might have scored three, 4 or 5 simply. However we didn’t, we scored one after which credit score to Bournemouth as properly, they modified just a few issues, they created some points for us and the sport turned somewhat bit extra open. That was one thing we needed to keep away from, however inside that sport as properly we resolved sure conditions in the fitting method and we had been very environment friendly in entrance of purpose to attain the objectives, and keep one other clear sheet.
The clear sheet means David Raya wins this season’s Golden Glove. Good for him, however he ought to give a finger to every of the defenders in entrance of him too, as a result of they’ve been a giant a part of that. The three factors put us 4 away from Metropolis till they hammered Wolves, it’s now one level, however the title push continues.
The collective efficiency within the first half was glorious, the whole lot however the objectives [insert your own pun here about ‘And I missed you’ when referring to all those chances], and there have been some excellent people too. Rice, I’ve talked about. Odegaard pulled the strings so properly. Havertz put within the form of efficiency that if we’d signed him as an £80m striker in January and he did that folks could be screaming ‘BARGAIN’. And I feel Saka deserves a point out too – there’s a high-volume relentlessness about the way in which he performs that’s immediately related to his end-product. It’s 20 objectives in all competitions this season, with 14 assists too. What a person.
Now, we head to the penultimate weekend of the season nonetheless in a title race. It’s out of our palms, however soccer is filled with surprises. All we are able to do is maintain the stress on and see what occurs. We’re going to speak loads about all of it within the week forward and the one after that, and as a lot because it may be joyous, it would get painful too.
So, let me simply use this second to say that nonetheless it finally ends up, I actually love this crew, what they do, and the way they do it. In these fallow years, I mentioned many occasions that I’m not so entitled that I demand trophies or else. All I needed to see was an Arsenal crew that was genuinely aggressive, and that performed in a method I might join with. One whose performances and perspective confirmed they actually cared, in the way in which we care as followers. We’ve bought that. We’ve bought a crew that performs for the badge, not the paycheck and the snug life-style, and no matter occurs within the subsequent two weeks, I respect that a lot.
Proper, I’m gonna go away it there. Be a part of us tomorrow for an Arsecast Additional, and for now, have an excellent Sunday people.
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