And so to Bergamo, home of Atalanta, where 1300 lucky Arsenal fans took their place at the newly revamped stadium. A quick glance at my Everyman’s Classical Dictionary tells me that Atalanta, for whom the club was named, as per Ned’s peerless match preview, was exposed at birth and suckled by a she-bear. Further it states, “when her father wished her to marry, she required that every suitor should contend with her in a foot race; she would wed the first man who outstripped her, but unsuccessful competitors would be put to death.” The Atalanta players certainly did her name proud last night.
The atmosphere, albeit filtered through TNT Sports inane set of pundits and commentators – Ferdinand? Savage? Really? – was fantastic especially given that the ground only holds around 25,000. Pre-match there seemed to be a lot of very positive and borderline dismissive talk in the Goonersphere about the relative ease with which we would despatch the opponents. I didn’t really understand why that should be, given that these were the Europa Cup holders, easily beating a Leverkusen side which hadn’t lost a game all season in the final. And so it proved to be.
Atalanta under manager Gasperini play a Bielsa-like game, man marking all over the pitch. While we started well, being clearly the better side in the first 15-20 minutes, slowly the attritional relentlessness of the pressing of Atalanta began to wear down the sharp point of our attacking. After 3 mins a smart Arsenal attack resulted in a shot from Saka deflected wide of the goal. 9 minutes later, Saka made the keeper work hard to save a free kick, struck low and hard down towards the keeper’s far post. Somehow the otherwise excellent officials failed to award a corner with the last touch clearly coming off the keeper. 5 minutes later we had arguably our best chance of the half when Martinelli was put in by a smart touch from Jesus, only to balloon his shot over the bar. In fairness, Martinelli did need to adjust his feet very quickly and was as a result somewhat off-balance when he struck it, but a year or so ago that would have been in the net.
In the last 20 mins of the half, the home side started to get on top and in the 30th minute had their only real chance of the half when a smart lay off from Retegui allowed de Ketelaere an opportunity to shoot from 16 yards. Fortunately, he ballooned the ball well high and wide..
Notable points from the first half were that Martinelli was all action but just can’t buy a goal. He put in a hell of a defensive shift, ensuring that Timber was never left exposed at left back and contributed some very good build up play. The rest will come. Partey looked sluggish and his control and passing were poor. Perhaps playing a tough full 90 minutes on Sunday followed by almost 60 last night were too much. I can see him being needed alongside Rice and Jorginho on Sunday so I hope he can recover quickly. For them, Ederson seemed to be trying to channel his inner Son, so much time did he spend falling over and trying get Arsenal players booked. Credit to the referee for ignoring his antics. Are you watching, PGMOL? Unlikely as they already know it all! Retegui struck me as the kind of striker who runs around a lot but doesn’t really do it. 21CG and I watched him do exactly the same for Italy vs France during the last Interlull.
Half Time Atalanta 0 Arsenal 0
No sooner had the second half started than Partey gave away a penalty. He fouled the vertiginously challenged Ederson outside the box and was then rather unfortunate to make unintentional contact in the box. Maybe if Jorginho hadn’t put in the top distance covered on Sunday and wasn’t likely be a starter on Sunday, he would have been hooked at half-time.
After an interminable PGMOL style “it’s all about us” VAR review, Retegui stepped up to take it. Raya had used the time well and managed to speak to the coaching staff, presumably to get some insight into Retegui’s penalty preferences. Whatever, it worked. A cat-like dive down low to his right saved the penalty. However, the resulting rebound from a well struck penalty bounced up to Retegui again. He didn’t get the greatest direction on the header but all credit to Raya for reacting with the agility of a hummingbird to get up and dive low past the middle of the goal to scoop the ball away on the line. A brilliant double save, but Retegui should have scored. Told you about him…..
The game was played out with little more action, apart from a couple of typically showy but wayward efforts from Atalanta substitute Cuadrado. Once again, after Sunday, the defence was imperious and stifled the all-action style of the home side.
Final Score Atalanta 0 Arsenal 0
It looked to me at times as if we may have been trying to conserve some energy for Sunday away at C115y, following 2 tough away trips in a week. City were kept quiet at home this week by an admittedly very good Inter side, and we will need all our energy and concentration to do the same. I thought Timber looked good, as did Calafiori when he came on for the last 18 minutes. An awful lot to like, given the injury situation. Winning teams grind out results in tough places and the last week showed that we have the requisite grit and determination in spades.
Didn’t see the game live but your report captures the essence of what I watched afterwards . A decent result and a wonderful save by Raya . The game showed to me how important Odegaard is to the way we play
Calafiori looked good. He could play left 8 on Sunday . Partey looks very prone to mistakes
Good going, CER, We saw the same game. I think you are right that Arteta is just trying to get through the eight days between the NLD and City away unscathed, a difficult task made harder by Ødegaard’s absence. The defence has stepped up magnificently.
Good stuff, CER – Partey is a worry indeed. I’ve always liked his ability to let the ball run and play an excellent, incisive pass u dear pressure. But his pace and precision seem to have dropped alarmingly.
Martinelli out in another huge defensive effort last night. He is having to play out wide left with no regular full back behind him – often two different ones in the same game – and no regular left eight up with him. He also has Trossard breathing down his neck for his place in the team and the pressure seems to be telling. An extra breath and half second to compose himself could be all he needs to claim a goal and restore some confidence. His pace and defensive work are really important which should keep him his place in the starting lineup.
ecg@previous drinks: to answer your Raya v Ramsdale request, looking at the Opta data for the league games they have played for us — 36 by Raya and 44 by Ramsdale — and excluding penalties, they have similar save percentages, 71.6% for Raya and 71.0% for Ramsdale. Ramsdale faced more shots on target a game, an average of 3.41 vs Raya’s 2.33, which is what our eyes would lead us to expect.
If we use the expected goals (xG) metric as a proxy for save quality (acknowledging its limitations), Raya was expected to concede 22.5 goals and let in 25, while Ramsdale was expected to concede 43.7 and let in 48. However, Raya’s numbers have been bumped up by the four games this season, in which he has kept out more goals than he was expected to (xG of 2.1 vs 1 goal conceded). Again, that tallies with the general impression that Raya has been on an upward trajectory since getting into the team.
Comparing their two ‘full’ seasons, Raya’s number for expected minus conceded goals last season was worse than Ramsdale’s for the season before (-2.6 v -2.0). Yet, to further complicate the comparison, Ramsdale faced more challenging shots than Raya. Those he had to deal with had a 54% chance of scoring on average compared to a 40% chance for the ones the Spaniard faced.
Of course, there is much more to goalkeeping than shot-stopping. Raya’s passing and cross-catching are statistically better than Ramsdale’s. Two conclusions that one could draw from the numbers above are that both are top shot-stoppers and that Raya has had less and easier shot-stopping to do because of the improvement in the defence in front of him. Given Ramsdale’s confessed problems with concentration, he might have benefited from that less than Raya has done. Also, the numbers don’t reflect the importance of any one particular save within a game. Witness Raya’s double save at Atalanta or Ramsdale’s from Madison a couple of seasons back.
Thanks for your excellent report CER. I haven’t seen any of the game either live or recorded other than the keeper’s save of Saka’s free kick and the incorrect award of the resulting corner to the Bergamo side. Fox on this side of the pond seems to making it more and more difficult this season to see more than their selected one UCL match which yesterday was some pointless encounter between teams I cannot recall. They are making it easier and easier on the other hand to see inane commentary before and after matches by Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards whose inanity causes the more succinct Thierry Henry cover his face on the other side of the studio. The phrase “Beam me up Scotty” just about covers it.
Last season we did an interesting piece asking some of our less frequent contributors to give their views. These views were eloquently expressed and happened to be largely similar to each other , and as it happened my own! The two big takeaways were that Havertz was looking a complete waste of money and Raya offered no obvious qualities that Ramsdale didn’t have and that Aaron was a very unlucky lad to lose his place .
I emphasise I felt much the same . I thought the fee for Havertz was ridiculous and I was unimpressed with Raya .
It was also clear that Arteta had a clear conviction about both players . Almost a year on and I suspect we have all changed our views . Havertz has developed into a terrific and flexible asset , the player that Chelsea thought they were signing way back when. Well worth that fee! As for Raya, watching Ramsdale last weekend there is a gulf between them and one that is growing. Marginal gains like the ones we have made in those positions make the difference in winning titles .
Let me also emphasise I’m not being remotely critical of our correspondents last year who did a great job. I suspect they reflected the views of the vast majority of Arsenal fans !
Good points all around @6, TTG. I would only add that GSD seemed preternaturally certain at the time that Havertz would come good. He must have been channeling his inner Arteta, something that we all might profit from doing more of it seems.
That was the game I saw too, with an encouraging opening spell with a couple of chances and thereafter loss of control of the game and a couple of sticky moments in the second half, not least the penalty conceded by a sluggish Partey whose form seems to have fallen off a cliff again. No wonder Raya got a group hug for getting us out of jail with his double save. We looked far more secure when JG20 replaced TP5 and even more when the Italian Stallion (not you CER, the other one) replaced a tiring but otherwise impressive Timber. I will hear no criticism of GM11 as his threat is persistent and his defensive work is awesome – goals will come.
Rest up lads, listen to Mikel and go out on Sunday and make us proud.
I came across this video of Raya training at Brentford with Inaki Cana, now our GK coach. It seems Raya’s Atalanta saves were years in the making.
Thanks for that Ned.
I think I need a lie down now.
UTA
Thanks CER, a very reasonable summary of events.
Balanced and thoughtful review CER. Thank you.
Tactically and in terms of discipline and commitment we were fine. To win a match like this against this type of opposition you need to use the little time you have on the ball very well. Our close control and forward passing were less than ordinary, and given that we don’t really have any genuinely ruthless striker with a high chance conversion rate, attempts on goal seemed to be a definite challenge.
Our overall technical quality of performance was surprisingly below par at the NLD as well. I put that down to a degree of uncertainty about orchestrating — timing, balancing midfield control against adventurous passing etc. — attacks in absence of the main conductor. Someone needs to step up into that role, maybe Kai or Saka. I don’t think Leo or Jesus quite have the personality to do that.
Maybe Arteta has some tactical surprise that he will unveil away at City.
442’s Clery on the Atalanta game:
Fine review of a game that was very far from being an exhilarating watch, CER. I thought we started really well and felt that it was only going to be a matter of time before we scored and then battened down the hatches. Saka almost did (excellent effort prompting a very good save) and then things began to go pear shaped to the extent that at the end we were lucky to come away without a defeat. (David Raya take a bow, son). Skill level and passing accuracy disappointingly low. However, against all of that, a draw is a satisfactory outcome.
Great analysis @4, Ned. Enjoyed that.
@6 TTG, I recall contributing. Was on the fence regarding Raya but was totally down on both Havertz and Vieira and keen to release both in the next window. I stand corrected on one of those two, but still think the other won’t make it at Arsenal. Havertz is one of the most improved players in the League and is now a fantastic asset. I’m now delighted to see his name on the team sheet.
A minor grouse, in days past when I posted a comment, after I’d typed BtM I’d drop down to mail, type one letter and my address would auto-fill – so all super fast. It no longer does (first world problem, I know!). I liked the autio-fill. Has it changed for everyone or has a new software download on my Mac brought this ‘innovation’? Any thoughts.
Ned@9 – that training video is awesome. Now I can see why Arteta wanted Caña at Arsenal. And the (Einaudi?) soundtrack is perfect.
Excited on this fine (golf free) Saturday morning to be training quite soon to Putney Bridge station for a walk to the Duke’s Head and a catch up lunch with Bath – it’s been a wee while. And then on to see ‘Arsenal 2’ in the form of Leno, Iwobi, Nelson and Emile stuff the odious barcodes.
In a second piece of good news, despite Arsenal’s resolute refusal to sell me entrance to Emirates Stadium under absolutely any circumstance, I’ve been handed a means of burrowing under the electrified barbed wire fence and tunnelling twixt the mines in the minefield that begins just off Holloway Road and ends just before the drone strike area just by the ticket office for unwelcome fans. I’ll be taking a seat in Emirates Airlines hospitality box with lunch and all the trimmings or the Leicester game. (Nothing to do with my personal charms, my daughter’s taking me along as her significant other!). Keep it quiet though, guys. Arsenal may yet find a way to blow me out of the water if they found out that they have a mole planning to be in their midst.
The one letter auto-fill is still working for me BtM, on this iPad anyway.
Though it doesn’t for some reason on my iPhone.
Autofill of my e-mail works on both my laptop and I-phone. On my way to Putney as I type.
OM @17. And for me Matt.
BtM, The autofill email address works on my i-phone but slightly differently than in the old Gonneeholic days. Now my email address pops up in a mini-window near the top of the keyboard (after I have tapped the empty email window) and when I tap that my address then appears in the appropriate window in the website. Not as convenient as before (as I vaguely recall), but still more convenient than typing my entire email address.
Good luck with fooling the VIP stewards. 😉
test message please ignore
BtM@14: Autocomplete/autofill are usually browser-determined. A first step would be to check your browser’s settings/preferences to ensure they are turned on. If you are using Safari on your Mac, a workaround is to create a card for BtM in your Contacts.
A fine report CER of a forgettable match, well apart from David Raya and our formidable defensive effort. For whatever the reason we rarely seem to play our A game away from home in the European competitions but at the end of the day it’s the result that counts.
@ TTG 6 – in the early days I thought there was a player in Havertz desperately trying to get out but it was not happening in m/f and I pondered that playing up front might be preferable for him. No doubt that is his best position in this team but he is not a natural / instinctive striker, one we are short of in this squad. With regards to Raya I could not see any upgrade to Ramsdale at all in his initial period but his confidence had grown these past few months and I now consider it to be an excellent purchase.
Well done in breaking the Emirates security net BtM. You are of course a person of “significant other” – she wouldn’t be here without your intervention.
I also find when typing in my email address it no longer auto fills – long hand for me nowadays. In the scope of irritants I encounter this is rather low down the list. At the top of the list are the commentators & tv pundits. To avoid having a serious altercation with my tv screen I switch to mute or go & make a cuppa.
As I was idly watching Fulham shred the Riyadh defence I checked where I had stood on Raya / Kai after TTG’s article. My take had been stick with Raya and see what happens over the course of a season with Kai. Inspired fence-sitting.
ESR and Iwobi carved Newcastle open for an excellent goal, it looked such a made in Arsenal goal that I laughed.
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