Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
So, we go into the ultimate Interlull of 2024 on the again of a 1-1 draw in opposition to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Not the win we wanted, however we stemmed the tide after two successive away defeats.
The group information noticed a a lot welcome return to the group for Martin Odegaard, whereas Declan Rice was deemed match sufficient to begin. Chelsea started effectively sufficient, David Raya making a advantageous early save from Cole Palmer who was given an excessive amount of time to shoot. In addition they had various pleasure with vertical passes straight via the centre of our midfield. As soon as we made a tactical tweak, we lower off that avenue for them, and grew into the sport ourselves.
It wasn’t a primary 45 minutes replete with probabilities. Chelsea’s finest alternative got here when Pedro Neto crossed from the left and Malo Gusto someway contrived to move over from shut vary. Virtually immediately, we had one up the opposite finish when Bukayo Saka’s shot was blocked, the ball fell for Gabriel Martinelli, however on his left foot his end lacked actual conviction.
We had the ball within the web via Kai Havertz after Rice discovered him with a fast free kick, however he was simply offside when receiving the ball, and that was about it for the primary interval. Within the second I believed we had been by a ways the higher group, and far of that was as a result of Odegaard had warmed up and grown into the sport.
Our objective got here when he gained the ball excessive up the pitch, stored it alive with Thomas Partey, and his lofted go discovered Martinelli within the field. The Brazilian’s end on the close to publish was sensible when you’re an Arsenal fan; and one which might have you ever leaving questions of your goalkeeper when you’re a Chelsea fan. Nonetheless, it was a second of ultimate third creativity that made the distinction, one thing we’ve been missing of late.
Their equaliser 10 minutes later was avoidable, I feel. You’ll be able to’t take something away from the end, however Neto was allowed an excessive amount of room to shoot from exterior the field. We had been a bit disorganised positionally after a nook, but in addition a bit gradual to get out after the set-piece had been taken. It wasn’t the primary time I seen that yesterday both, and one thing Arteta stated afterwards in all probability went some technique to explaining it:
What I’m simply praying is that after the worldwide break I’ve the group absolutely outfitted bodily, they’re accessible and they’re match as a result of it has been an absolute nightmare for eight weeks. Challenge after problem, not solely those that aren’t capable of play, however the ones which might be capable of play just for sure moments, just for sure days, not capable of practice. We have now gamers on the market that they can’t play greater than 60 minutes. They’re enjoying and struggling, you recognize.
We had been planning modifications earlier than their objective went in, and made them instantly afterwards with Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard approaching for Rice and Martinelli. There’s been fairly a little bit of chat in regards to the summer time signing within the final week or so, however I believed he was actually good when he got here on, and made our midfield extra progressive. He acquired the ball and reasonably than enjoying it backwards or laterally, he made certain it went forwards. There have been some good physique feints and actions in tight areas, and it was an encouraging cameo from him. Fascinating too to see him click on with Odegaard immediately, however they’ve earlier from their time collectively at Actual Sociedad, clearly.
I believed each subs made us brighter, but it surely was about whether or not or not we might trend the possibility that will win us the sport. Gabriel Jesus got here on to switch Saka who needed to go off after a foul by that woolly snitch Marc Cucurella. He made an opportunity which Trossard blasted over from shut vary, however there was a touch of offside within the construct up, and the identical was true of that second proper on the demise when William Saliba, of all individuals, supplied the overlap on the left hand facet. He squared it throughout the 6 yard field, if Trossard had left it it was a tap-in for Havertz however the Belgian tried the lovable end and nicked it away from the German.
Would it not have stood anyway? It’s so arduous to inform, possibly his shoulder is simply forward of Cucurella within the center, but it surely felt like such a giant second. It’s water underneath the bridge this morning in fact, however who was there making that go to Saliba? Martin Odegaard, within the 96th minute of his first Arsenal look since August thirty first. I feel he visibly and understandably drained as we headed in the direction of full-time, however that’s the standard he can convey.
Talking afterwards, Arteta stated of his captain:
I don’t know every other participant within the league that’s able to doing that after six weeks* out, he had a day and a half, a coaching and a half. Simply bodily and mentally to be linked the best way he was with the group is unbelievable.
*It’s an extended than six weeks, people, but it surely confirmed how a lot we missed him, and the way he influences the best way we play. You watch him gesture to his teammates to get greater up the pitch, coordinating the press, and you’ll see that his remit goes method past being the artistic fulcrum within the ultimate third. Hopefully he now spends two weeks actually engaged on his health on the coaching floor, and we don’t do something foolish like let him go away with Norway.
Equally, Arteta sounded fairly damaging about Rice and Saka, however I think that may be to make sure that their worldwide commitments with England come second place to making sure they’re match and prepared for Arsenal after this upcoming Interlull. Each of them have performed lots for membership and nation this season, and all all through final (together with the summer time), and I don’t suppose anybody might begrudge them a few weeks with out the depth of aggressive soccer. Let’s see what occurs there.
General, I don’t suppose we will complain an excessive amount of a few draw within the context of the sport itself. It’s irritating to be in a profitable place and to be pegged again once more, however that was our fourth successive away recreation, and because the supervisor identified, this squad has been pushed to its limits bodily. On prime of the gamers lacking, you additionally must bear in mind Gabriel, Ben White and Jurrien Timber have had accidents of late, whereas Odegaard was enjoying his first recreation in months.
Each group has to take care of this sort of stuff, in fact, and there’s no query Arsenal want to enhance – significantly within the ultimate third – however I don’t suppose you need to dig too deep to attempt to discover the solutions as to why the opening quarter of the Premier League season has fallen beneath expectations. Now it’s about discovering type and rhythm as soon as we get underway once more, however that’s a dialogue for the following couple of weeks.
I’ll go away it there for now. We can have an Arsecast Further for you in a short time, in fact. We’ve put out the decision for questions on Threads @gunnerblog and @arseblog with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or when you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod must be out round midday. For now, have a very good one.
