ETHAN NWANERI FORCES RETHINK ON SAKA UNDERSTUDY
The first away day of the year nearly went off the rails before the game had started. Ego-driven ITK leaks indicated that there had been a bug going around the dressing room and we were going to be down a few players... it was one big miss: Kai Havertz not even making the bench for the first time in his Arsenal career. Trossard was also absent the starting 11 and Declan was struggling a bit with tightness, so Arteta de-risked and opted for Thomas.
Worse still... my 'give Ethan a run and show the world we don't need a backup winger signing' agenda was given an early runout. He was started on the right. That forward line 6 weeks ago would have been cause for concern; I didn't feel that way yesterday though.
The Brentford injury meltdown we were promised didn't materialize. Bar Pinnock, Brentford had a really good starting 11, and it certainly didn't feel makeshift like the Spurs side Liverpool faced.
Arsenal started with a dominant force that gave me the assurance this wouldn't be a bad day. All the players I'd worried about were on fire in the opening 11 minutes. Ethan didn't look overawed, Jesus looked like an aggressive striker, and Thomas Partey was monstering around the pitch.
Then Odegaard made a very bad pass after Partey had won the ball back in midfield. The ensuing break saw Calafiori go up against Mbeumo. The Cameroon star cut inside then threw everyone by cutting a low strike inside Raya's near post. A goal off 0.06 xG.
We won the game, so I can put up this tweet that outlines how mad our run of luck has been with goals conceded. Just a whole bunch of goals from very unlikely parts of the pitch. Matt and Johnny on the podcast thought this was rank defending... I agree, but we've been on a terrible run this season of getting punished to the absolute max in these scenarios. We've conceded 9 goals this season from less than 0.1 xG. That is wildly annoying, my friends.
Back to the game.
When Mbeumo scored that goal, I was thinking about Fulham. We dominated the game then were shocked by a stupid freak goal and struggled to deal with a dirty deep block reserved only for us. The players didn't really react well right away. They looked shellshocked, probably thinking the same as us: 'NOT AGAIN'
Brentford did a really good job sucking the life out of the game. Arsenal looked a little bit lost. The pitch all of a sudden felt really large. You wondered if we were going to fuck up our season in early January for the second season running.
... but then... Jesus appeared in our lives to put us back on the righteous path. Thomas Partey, who was having an extraordinary game, leathered a loose ball from outside of the area. Flekken parried back into danger, Jesus was fastest to the ball and dropped his diving header into the net.
The thing I hate about being an Arsenal fan is I didn't celebrate... I just waited, fully expecting VAR to find a problem. It didn't. Game on...
Our next goal came from a set piece. Ethan took over Saka duties. He punched a head-height inswinger at Flekken. The punch was dismal. The melee in the box fell in our favor, Merino the man in the right space to leather in number two. That goal was pure Brentford. A dirty cross, limbs everywhere, an ugly finish. You had to feel for Thomas Frank, we stole his keeper, keeping coach, took one of his old set-piece coaches, and stole his corner style by molesting the opposing keeper.
THAT ONE WAS FOR PINNING BERND LENO 3 YEARS AGO!
The third one was about two wide players in different parts of their career. On the right, you had Ethan Nwaneri really lighting up the win with his running, decision-making and balls-out attitude to the game. On the left, you had Martinelli who looked uninspired for the most part. But... after I had tweeted my disdain for his performance, he picked up a poor clearance from an Ethan diagonal cross and lashed his strike back from whence it came. He looked very, very pleased to have finished that. Hopefully that goal can act as a bit of spark in what feels like a bit of a listless season. 5 Premier League goals and two assists isn't terrible... but we know he has more in the locker.
So what to make of that?
12 games. 32 goals. 8 conceded. Lads and ladettes, it's pretty fucking decent wouldn't you say? How was there serious discourse about Arteta not being the right man for Arsenal? There are too many weak-kneed BIG voices in the fanbase. Someone left a comment on a tweet earlier explaining that this comment from Thomas Frank was 'cope.'
'Liverpool haven't had a dip yet and that will most likely come, and Arsenal are picking up points when they're not fully firing. It will go right to the end.'
Giving up when you’re still in the fight is how the weak cope. Sticking with the team and believing there's a chance might seem naive, but this is sport, and one of the most important attributes of top-tier athletes is they never give up, even when the chips are down. I can't for the life of me understand what is wrong with people who'd rather throw in the towel than dream during the season.
'My feelings have been hurt too many times before'
Honestly, it's like hanging out at your mate Dave's house, listening to Cher, after he's been dumped inside 4 months again. Such an energy sap, the tears are boring now, I don’t care if you’ll never trust again. Get back on that horse, cook up some hopium, and believe.
Liverpool crashed last year in February when everyone said they'd win because Klopp had a great fist pump and the narrative was attractive. Arsenal crashed two seasons ago in April when we lost Saliba to a broken back. Arsenal were trailing United by 13 points in FEBRUARY 1998 and went on to win the league. We won 10 games on the bounce. Wenger’s first Premier League title.
It's going to be tough, there can't be many down days for Arsenal, but it doesn't take long for a couple of hamstrings to go at a crucial part of the season and for momentum to take a spanking. Arsenal fans should know this better than any other fanbase. Remember the dark days under Wenger when we'd be on for the treble in March, then go out of everything inside a week? That can happen to Liverpool... but only if you believe in life after love.
Back to the game.
Gabriel Jesus looks like he's finally got the memo. To be a number 9, you have to play like a number 9. Attack in the box, get shots off early, float into unconventional positions but only if it's to create space or chances... and finish your chances. 7 goals and 2 assists. If he gets to 15, we'll be in the title race this season.
I've already said a lot about Ethan, but like I said the other day, putting Ethan in the side for an extended run makes sporting sense because he's good, and business sense because he could solve the 'Saka understudy' problem and allow the club to put £45m elsewhere. He was electric. His burst of pace, rapid body movement, and his supernatural belief that he belongs was all on show against Brentford. He has so much to offer our starting 11 and based on that run out... who else in world football do you think we'd be picking up in January that could play like that?
Thomas Partey. What did I fucking tell you? His legs were never gone. You all slandered him while I defended his honor. You disgusting frauds, trying to revel in his incredible form... I see you.
Ok, ok, I'll own it. This is the second best 32-year-old African on the planet right now. Partey is a man in control of his technique, his mind, and finally... his body. He is so sharp at the moment. Genuinely, he is a joy to watch. The way he thinks and moves the ball around the pitch is incredible. That was one hell of a display. We're gonna need that and more at the weekend when he faces off against Mitoma at right back due to the suspension of Timber.
Final word to the whole defence. The goal wasn't great. But overall, whatever combo we put out right now has been so secure. It must be really depressing playing against defenders who are fast, calm on the ball, while also being built like Gladiators. Great defences win the league and our defence is great and unlucky right now... imagine what a fortress our backline will be when the luck rolls in?
Last point (promise this time)... I see a lot of aggressive criticism of our attack. The basic gist is we're not Liverpool. We don't have Salah. It's not as fun watching us. I hear it, but it's not going to change because Arteta is all about controlling space and squeezing opposition. He doesn't want players taking massive risks with moonraker passes. This is because there are spaces he hates losing the ball in. If the team loses the ball, he wants players close enough to stamp out the danger. A team that is the opposite of that is Spurs. They're high risk, high octane, and when things aren't going their way, they ship monstrous amounts of goals. We'll never be that, so we'll never be Liverpool.
But...
Liverpool have 45 goals. Arsenal are joint second with 38 goals. xG difference is a little less at 4.77. Worth noting Arsenal have played 3 games with 10 men this season. Had their best creator missing for 8 games and now we're without Bukayo Saka. We also didn’t play Spurs with 8 players out rocking an 18-year-old midfielder playing his first game as a centre back.
In Champions League, Liverpool have 13 goals. Arsenal have 11.
For all the complaining - hard numbers are pretty decent. Let me reiterate. 12 games. 32 goals. 8 conceded. 10 wins. 2 draws.
Arsenal are hunting down Liverpool. Putting points on the board. Praying for a slip that won't come against that god-awful United side this Sunday. The thing I’m looking at right now is the Liverpool hierarchy deciding to brief Owen and Carragher to attack Trent and turn their fans against him. Crazy move. Very Liverpool. Won’t matter until they start losing games. Trent won’t be the last issue Liverpool have to deal with this season in terms of exits. Salah seems the most likely to sign… let’s see if Virgil follows. He’ll be very attractive on a free.
Ok, that's me done. If you like this sort of writing, why not sub up for the year? You could get that On The Whistle LIVE and earlybird. Go on, give it a whirl.