Arsenal were good today, running out deserved winners with three unanswered goals.
However, what may be most pleasing both to the gaffer and to the fans was that this was a long way from a perfect performance – and it is easy to see where we can make serious improvements. That bodes well given that our aim must be to go on a run where we rack up the points and chase down the league leaders.
However, the only way to do that is game by game, and whilst today was a template for us to build on, it is only worth three points. In the dressing room, the focus will already have moved on.
For us fans however, we can enjoy this Interlull banishing result for a while longer at least.
When the team sheet came out, I was surprised by what I saw. Havertz and Rice were on the bench, Jorginho started instead of Partey and Trossard was in for Martinelli.
The bright opening ten minutes showed us that Arteta had judged it well. We had a Timber goal disallowed after VAR took an age to confirm a marginal offside call against Merino, who looks increasingly comfortable in this side and continues to threaten in the air.
A few more shots and some good play from us looked ominous for Forest and we took less than fifteen minutes to score our first, the effervescent Ødegaard offering end-product in a brilliant captain’s performance when he combined with Saka on the right to set our rejuvenated England absentee up with the ball in the area; he danced around three defenders before lashing the ball back across the in-form Sels and high into the net. Top, top quality and it was so clear all day what we’ve been missing in our captain’s absence. He is a joy to watch and he makes Saka more effective too, either by starting on the right in Saka’s space and dragging a defender infield, or by dropping deep and playing early balls out to our man hugging the touchline. It was good from them today, but there was still a lot they can improve. When they do, we are going to hand some unlucky team an absolute thrashing.
The first half was mostly us. We didn’t quite create the chances to go with our dominance, but we were in control. The watching Martin Keown – I can’t wait to read his new book, which I would be a good shout for a Christmas present for the Gooner(s) in your life – would have been pleased. So too the Prime Minister and well-known Gooner, Sir Kier Starmer, no stranger himself to early challenges under his leadership but doubtless hoping he can have a similar effect Arteta has had in implementing his ideas for change. It might look on the surface like the PM’s job is harder, but he won’t have to deal with PGMOL, so swings and roundabouts.
Speaking of referees, we ended a fairly innocuous half with three yellow cards: the measured Jorginho receiving one for a nothing challenge when Simon Hooper bought an overreaction from the Forest lad; hard-working Jesùs unlucky but deserved when he accidentally caught an ankle; Saka for a high foot when he didn’t touch the player, who made that very modern action of bravely putting his head in where it might get caught but without any intention of getting the ball, simply of getting his opponent a card. It worked. Forest got a card of their own right at the end; it was either for delaying a restart (but I doubt it as every other offence was ignored) or for a late attempt at a block that was never a yellow card either. Just the typical low-level mistakes we are accustomed too.
Like many a Gooner, first half yellow cards put me on edge much more than they used to – it is hard not to feel that the refs are just looking for an excuse to reduce our numbers – but fortunately Hooper had a quiet second half and no big decisions to make. At one point, he did get in the way of the ball as we tried to break forwards. A meaner man than me might congratulate him on avoiding it the rest of the time, given the size of the target he presents.
At half-time, Arteta decided discretion was the better part of valour, taking no unnecessary chances on red cards and bringing on Partey for Jorginho. It took the Ghanaian six minutes to sweep the ball home with his instep after Saka teed him up just outside the box. Tactical genius from the gaffer, that. Ahem!
We simply controlled the game after that. No fuss, no panic, we held them at arm’s length, continuing along the way to play some great stuff that lacked end product. Sels made some saves. Raya got us going more than once with some sublime distribution, absolutely the best in league when he sprays it about like that. His safe hands from crosses completed a consummate day’s work for him, and the clean sheet was one we will look to build on.
Forest brought on a lad called Jota who appears to have modelled his look on Jack Grealish (calves notwithstanding). He had a snapshot volley that might have been headed in until it hit Chris Wood in the bonce, the New Zealander following his instructions to the letter, after being introduced to get his head on the end of things.
With ten minutes left we brought on Nwaneri and Sterling for Saka and Ødegaard, who we will need to keep fresh for the busy run ahead. The two new arrivals combined a few minutes later when Sterling made a good run and pulled the ball back intelligently into space for young Ethan to knock it home, becoming our second youngest ever PL goalscorer. If he goes on to have a career anything like Fabregas (the only man (boy?) to do so at a younger age) then we will all be thrilled. Although he will want to give Chelsea a swerve, obviously.
One thing I do notice is that he drifts around into space in the same way Ødegaard does. It’s a very rare skill to find the space and the ball, and I wonder how much Ødegaard’s mentorship is shaping his game as well as his attitude?
The match petered out, Forest demoralised and without hope. They have had a good start to the season and rightly taken the plaudits but we looked levels above them today.
Jesùs had a good game and the minutes and vote of confidence from the manager will have done him the world of good. If Timber stays fit then we won’t miss White, and I can’t offer higher praise to a right back than that. Calafiori managed over an hour and played with his usual blend of class and energy before being swapped for Zinchenko, a player I still think has a lot to offer us both on the field and in the dressing room.
After a bitty start to the season which just doesn’t get going until the three awful international breaks are over (my advice is to vote with your wallets people, just ignore them) it is now that things kick off for real. Form up to this point counts for little if results start to slide on this unforgiving lead into the New Year. Similarly, early struggles are forgotten if the chances are taken to rack up the points.
There was so much to enjoy about the game today, and so much more to come from the team. Arteta and the players know they need to build their season brick by brick, but today was a reminder that bad luck and a series of underwhelming results have done nothing to shake the foundations we have laid down with years of hard work and commitment. It shows.
Our players are tough. They believe.
So do I.
Until next time, ‘holics.
Great stuff Dino. I suspect it was as much fun to write as it was to read.
COYG
Thanks GSD, an enjoyable report to read as I missed the game and have only seen the goals. Good that we could dominate and stick three past the second meanest defence in the league. A clean sheet as well, a good day for us and a bad one for 115ty.
Just back French side guess I’ll read that back sober tomorrow, fast reporting! Have to say it was nice to enjoy a pretty straightforward win, it had been a while.
Cheers GSD!
Super fast and very good match report Dino.
A highly enjoyable afternoon at a rainy Emirates.
Best performance of the season dusted with glamour by Saka, Odegaard and Nwaneri
GSD ,
A very fair and enjoyable report .
I’ve just watched the whole game on Sky and we made what could have been a very difficult game look very straightforward. Odegaard is like a battery charger for these team. He imbued life and energy and seemed to give a charge to all our players. Saka was terrific especially in the first half and it was our best and most concerted performance this season.
The ignoramuses on Sky and TalkShite who ask why Arsenal are struggling might see over the next few weeks that we’ve had it incredibly hard on the road . We’ve come through that and I’m very hopeful if we can avoid injuries . And so good to see Nwaneri’s brilliant cameo . He’s already a star
Much as c100 loves it when we score on corners, I love it when we keep a clean sheet.
Excellent report, Dino, very much the game I saw from the back of block 10, thankfully shielded from the constant rain. Just what the doctor ordered after our last few weeks and perhaps we saw the benefits of players not taking part in the internationals, the point if which, beyond being money spinners for UEFA, nobody seems able to explain. There was some considerable surprise in the ground at the team picked by Arteta, with Havertz, Rice and Partey being left out. As usual, the manager was right and the doubters were wrong. Long may it continue.
Thanks GSD: an excellent account of an impressive performance delivered at breathtaking speed. Great work.
Watching the match in the ground and then again on Sky, Martin Ødegaard was even more influential and peripatetic than I remembered. What a player! When Ethan came on his movement and interplay was that of a doppelgänger – the future is red!
MA certainly picked the defence I was expecting, and they seem to have been pretty solid from the limited highlights and reports I have seen. The clean sheet is extremely welcome as we have been letting a few more in with the recent injuries / suspensions.
The midfield / attack had a surprise or two, but the Jorginho / Partey split halves worked out well as it turned out. I heard Jesus worked hard as usual and it was good that Sterling came on and contributed. To be honest it feels now like Ode is the most important cog and with the quality of the cast of stars around him MA can vary the line up and still get results if Ode is pulling the strings. On to Sporting with renewed confidence.
Cheers GSD!
Thanks GSD for a super quick match report full of facts & verve. It’s so heartening to see the return to positive, attractive play which must be down to our inspirational captain. We haven’t been lacking team effort these past few matches but MO8 just provides that extra nous which produces that marginal difference to success.
We are now through a run of very difficult matches – with a good run of minimal injury disruption and PGMOL arbitrary decisions we can get back to challenging at the very top of the table over the next weeks.
A few further thoughts on the game.
Beyond Saka, Odegaard and Nwaneri, I was impressed with Merino and Calafiori. They are really settling into the team. I thought Raya’s distribution was reminiscent of the best of Aaron Ramsdale (e.g. against Norwich away a couple of years ago).
On a day of overwhelming positives, the only false note for me was Jesus. I’ve seen reports that he played well. He really didn’t. Yes he tried really hard, but he lost the ball time and again and his clever flicks around the area didn’t really come off. But the biggest loss, compared with having Kai leading the line, was in the air. I think Jesus lost every aerial challenge yesterday. Kai wins a majority. When we do occasionally go long, it makes a difference.
But enough carping. A great performance in which the squad proved its worth. On to Sporting where the team will be accompanied by CER and 21CG, who have booked themselves a nice little three day break around the game in the beautiful city of Lisbon. Enjoy the fish restaurants and the pastel de nata chaps!
A very enjoyable day at the office with a great deal to like. I thought we were a little wasteful in the first half and 3-0 at half time wouldn’t have been an unfair scoreline based on the balance of play. Like C100, I was puzzled by the early decisions to play high balls into the box where our number 9 was inferior by about two to forest’s CBs. Other than that, a very pleasing performance all round with the workload shared admirably into the deeper recesses of the squad.
Win the next one.
Much like C100@12, I was a bit surprised to see so many reports of a good game for Jesus. I sympathise with him for not winning much in the air – at least one of the Forest centre halves was huge, almost to the point of looking like he belonged in the circus. But Jesus did seem to lose the ball a lot and nothing is really coming off for him. I still love his tenacity and never say due spirit though, but expect him to be replaced on Tuesday in Lisbon by Havertz.
Talking of which, ve never been to Lisbon before so am really looking forward to it. 21CG and I will put out a match report on Wednesday morning. Hopefully it won’t take 2 hours from the whistle back to the hotel as it did in Milan, thanks to them keeping us in for over an hour.
I understand the comments about Jesus. He certainly played nothing like he did I’m first 6 months for us. But I thought his day was positive nonetheless. He was wrongly called offside when making a clever run in the channel and squaring across the face of goal. He was involved in some lovely interplay with Odegaard, Saka and Timber, and he was clearly on the same wavelength, even if some things didn’t come off. He worked hard, as he always does.
However, context is key. He’s been feeding off scraps recently, with very little game time. I didn’t expect him to come into the game and immediately look like his old self. We need to play him back to form and fitness as well as to rest Havertz. He was also coming into a team that hasn’t got the results we wanted recently. Much like the team, I thought he put in a solid performance that can be built on, even though there is plenty of room for improvement.
I didn’t mention Trossard but he did some good stuff at times and had a decent, if unspectacular, game.
Thanks, GSD – very enjoyable read.
PGMOL have found yet another whopper – quite literally – in Simon Hooper. Actually, it’s only just occurred to me that Hooper is very close to Whopper in the nominative determinism stakes. He awarded Forest free kicks for every contact and several non-contacts, while dishing out some extremely soft, i.e. errant yellow cards to us.
It reminds me of a quote by the late, great Peter Ustinov when discussing the headmaster’s comments on his school reports with the also late, great Michael Parkinson.
To paraphrase – “ PGMOL sets itself extremely low standards which it unfortunately fails to live up to.”
A brilliant man actually was Ustinov who was, despite his full name of Peter Alexander Freiherr von Ustinov, a British actor, writer, director snd internationally known raconteur. As such he received over his career 2 Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, 3 Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award. Anyway, apologies for the indulgence but he was fun !
A very good performance yesterday, quietly seeing off the recently much heralded men from Nottingham who turned up in our hood – geddit ! Martin Odegaard is an absolute master who makes everyone else- even the world class Saka – better. I thought it was interesting to see the lad he has been mentoring – 17 year old Ethan Nwaneri – turning up in all his usual places from one penalty area to the other and constantly wanting the ball.
Nwaneri drove his first premier league goal most assuredly between keeper and near post as though it was quite the normal thing to do. Let’s hope it turns out to be. Some player.
GSD @15, I think you sum up Jesùs’ performance and current position very well. The lad is playing his way back to form and will also give Havertz time out of the firing line. Those high balls towards him were ridiculous given the monsters he was up against. However, I also understand the criticism from C100 and CER. Compared to the rest of the forwards and midfielders on the pitch, he was more profligate in possession and frustrating to the crowd but, had that curling shot gone the correct side of the far post after that blissful move between Ødegaard, Saka and himself from right to left, his assessment would have been universally more favourable and goal of the season could have been awarded yesterday. Patience, gentlemen.
Some interesting and varied comments here. The most contentious issue is Jesus . I well remember the day he was signed and the credit given to Edu for signing him. I thought at the time why are C115y ( not that they had acquired that name then ) selling us two players when we aspire to their place at the top ? The answer was they could afford to let them go. Both are very injury prone, Jesus has had a scoring drought in each of the three seasons we’ve had him and Zinchenko isn’t a good defender . C115y may be repulsive but they aren’t stupid.
But both players have helped us on the journey we’ve been on , Jesus was sensational for the first few months, he has a great record in Europe( remember his performance in Seville last season? ) and he is a superb presser- he just won’t get you many goals. Zinny is a very positive influence on the team but don’t leave him one on one with Salah. We’ve grown beyond them and I’m sure they won’t be here next season . But they are going to be useful this season…and when Jesus scores it is often a wonderful goal.
If we don’t play Havertz it leaves a big hole upfront and we need to address that . Nobody else combines his aerial ability with his work rate . If we do progress this season we may need to find a more physically imposing front man who gets goals . Come in Danny Ings ( only joking ) . But I suspect we are considering Isak , Gyokeres and David . But it’s tough to sign anyone in January particularly strikers – might they consider a loan for Ferguson ( too inexperienced and injury prone? ) or a purchase of Joao Pedro , Cunha or Mateta . . Is Awoniyi worth a punt ? Big dilemma for the new SD. We can’t get it wrong and we can’t aim too low or we end up with another Jesus situation .
TTG – I really like the idea of Cunha. I wanted to suggest it myself but thought transfer tittle tattle in November might be a bit unpopular. He scored a goal against Fulham yesterday right out of the Dennis Bergkamp playbook and then rifled another one into top bibs from distance – first touch, no take back, little follow through. If we are up for a. Brazilian swap for our current number 9 then I’m fully on board.
Don’t want to be too harsh on Jesus as he is bound to need time to find form again but I think you’re right that the team has moved on.
Trev. That tops bibs goal from Cunha left me dribbling.
Excellent overview TTG @18 with which I fully agree Although you forget to mention Sesko who was our number 1 target last summer and of whom it is rumoured that we have a gentleman’s agreement for next summer – though such things are of course probably more a creation of speculative hacks than a reality.
Trev @19, that swap, while a tasty aperitif to a bigger solution, isn’t viable as Wolves cannot afford Jesùs’ current salary and I suspect Jesùs would decline a move to a relegation candidate.
GSD@20, I had to ring out my nappy. 🤣
I see Steve Cooper was given the tin tack over the weekend. He was my choice for the sack race. Second again …..
Cheers GSD and many thanks for your description of a game I planned to see but my cable package prevented. I must investigate. Three lovely jubbly pointinhas.
Mine too C100 @22
Ten Hag was even more useless than we anticipated 😂😂
Bath @21 – yep I realise that – just really meant we could swap our Brazilian out and get another one in. I don’t honestly see anyone queuing for Jesus on current form and with the last couple of years injury history.
Trev @25, indeed, which is why we should patiently allow him to play himself back to match fitness and a few goals wouldn’t do either our challenge or his sale price any harm at all.
Incidentally, Gary O’Neill concurs with you about Cunha:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cpwrpz454prt
Isak looks nowhere near a £60m striker let alone does he look worth the £115m that the Saudis apparently want for him. Even allowing for pretty lousy service from his teammates he is not my choice for the Arsenal. In fact he looks more like a poor imitation of Kai Havertz rather than another TH14 as some have suggested. There are better striker options around offering far better value and giving us a striker who offers a different challenge to opposition defences..
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