Europe Beckons: Arsenal Set the Tone in Milan
I liked the way we approached the match from the get-go. Saka attacking down the right flank and putting the home side on the back foot right off the bat. We pressed, harried and attacked the Nerazzurri like we needed the points more. Strange it was, to be honest. The first 10 minutes saw the Italians struggling for any sustained bit of possession. The goal duly came from a smart bit of play with Eze, Timber and finally Jesus contriving to make a goal out of a shot that was going wayward from Timber, I think. Jesus deserves credit for his awareness to steer the ball back on target for the opener. Inter snapped out of their shell like the goal was a jolt to their arm. Suddenly Dimarco, Thuram and Martinez started getting the ball to stick and they threatened. MLS and Mosquera had to be alert to snuff out a couple of half chances from Thuram.
Their breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Arsenal failed to properly deal with a ball into the box. Our failure to clear the line properly allowed Sučić (18’) to bend one around our defenders. At first I thought, Raya come on, how did you allow that go in. I watched the replay and thought, okay, well done Sučić. 1–1 at 18 minutes. Arsenal turned on the next gear though, wrestling back control, forcing errors from the Italians and our favourite assister this season, Set Piece Ole Ole, was on hand again. We won a corner kick, Saka delivered to the back post and Trossard showed the hunger that typified Arsenal by chasing what may have been a lost ball. He looped a header back across goal and there was Jesus to nod in for our second goal of the night. Arsenal were putting their foot on the gas pedal with the hunger they showed.
That was Arsenal’s 19th goal from a corner this season, well clear of anyone in Europe’s top five leagues. For context, Liverpool scored only their second goal from a corner this evening versus Bournemouth from 102 attempts. Arsenal, on the other hand, have turned this into another string to their bow, it’s crazy. The Gunners went into the interval with a one-goal advantage, deservedly.
Game Management, Depth and Why the Numbers Matter
Both teams came back for the second half with the home side showing a bit more desire. Arsenal had to ride the initial wave of pressure before wrestling back control. Esposito was particularly lively for the Italians when he came on, putting us on the back foot for a bit with his smart play, picking the ball up in some tight pockets here and there. He just needed some support around him.
Arteta made changes, bringing on Gyökeres, Rice, Gabby, Benny and Martinelli. Jesus, Trossard, Timber, Mosquera and Zubi made way. Martinelli played a wonderful outside-of-the-boot curler looking for Gyökeres. He played it into Saka who miscued it back for Gyökeres to put one in the top bin. The finish, coming from a mishap between Saka and Gyökeres, was ironic considering the amount of furor generated over the past few weeks. The Arsenal manager alluded to something in his post-match thoughts, what if his strikers start firing on 0.75 cylinders, not all, just two thirds. Let’s put some context with stats. The Gunners have the second-highest XG in the Champions League after seven games, have conceded just two goals, four fewer than the next best defence. All this after playing Bayern, Atletico and Inter. Liverpool, who topped the league phase last season, had scored 17 goals at this stage. This is the same Arsenal team that pundits say is underperforming in terms of goals scored. Imagine a 30 percent boost in attacking ruthlessness. Let that sink in.
Some random thoughts. This Arsenal team still has a couple more levels to go up, that’s sure. I can see a run akin to the 2023/24 second-half surge of 16 wins, one draw and one loss. We just played the top team in Italy, Inter sitting top of Serie A, and made them look ordinary at best. No mean feat. Arsenal have now played four consecutive away games in four different competitions and ended up with three wins and one draw. The only draw came in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest, a performance that wasn’t good enough by our own high standards, which in itself tells you how far the bar has been raised.
In Europe, teams come out to play. In the Premier League, teams sit deep and deny space. If you play open football against Arsenal, you’re likely to get smacked. If you park the bus, you might frustrate them into a draw or lose to a set piece. Anyway, that’s seven wins in seven Champions League games. Kairat up next at the Emirates. Again....We move.
Manchester United at the Emirates – Context, Pressure and Mentality
The Gunners return home this weekend for a top-of-the-bill clash with Manchester United. After back-to-back nil-nil draws in the league, getting back to winning ways feels like a must. The backdrop of United handing City a spanking last week adds spice. The way they ripped into that City side was scary, and Arsenal will do well to be wary.
Arsenal remain unbeaten at home this season, with all wins and two draws, and haven’t conceded more than one goal at the Emirates. Bayern, Wolves, Brighton, Spurs and City are the only sides to breach us once each. History matters too. Wenger versus Fergie, Vieira versus Keane, Keown versus Van Nistelrooy. United may have fallen far from title contention, but Arteta needs the boys to feel like they’re not. Calafiori and Hincapié are back from injury, which can only bode well. MLS hasn’t been at his best this season and Calafiori has raised the level when fit, bringing spontaneity and chaos in our transitions. Still, I don’t see him starting on Sunday. It would be too much of a risk. Mosquera deserves huge praise for his performance against Inter, slotting back into the heart of defence like he never left, even against elite opposition. Mikel Arteta is under no illusions about what’s coming. With City winning at Wolves, the pressure is back on.
“I dont think anybody, has probably more motivation, more hunger more desire for us to go all the way, and win than me. But we know that the only way to do it is to focus and be very present in the moment and doing everything that we have to do and do it better tomorrow that's it.
Thats the only thing we can control, the rest is just doesn't add any value to us and can take the focus away from the wrong place”
Those are the kind of words you want your manager drilling into the boys. Until City are mathematically out of the title race, the energy stays the same. Mikel knows what needs to be done, the players hopefully do too, and more importantly, the lads look up for it from the first whistle.
I would try a bit of a gamble here to hurt united with Pace and Trickery, Martinelli up top with Eze, Ødegaard, and Saka buzzing behind his fleet foot, while detailing Rice and Zubi to sit. This is important to protect our left side in the absence of Calafiori. We must keep Mbuemo, Diallo and Cuhna very quiet while also showing a ruthlessness in front of goal by taking our chances. Sesko is beginning to show bit and pieces of a player Man United thought they paid for, but I trust our center backs on him. That midfield battle is going to be key to achieving the above, harrying Bruno off the ball, so he has little time to pick those passes that break the lines to hurt the opposition. I know Arteta wont be having this but here is how i would set up my team against the red devils below:
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