UCL KNOCK-OUT ROUNDS AWAIT (NEARLY)
ARSENAL MAKE MINCEMEAT OF ZAGREB
Listen, sometimes you’ve just got to hand it to the boys. The job was professional. Nothing more. Nothing less. No drama. No injuries. No concerning moments we need to dissect.
Just a good old-fashioned well-drilled win.
Arsenal sit 3rd in the Champions League Super League after 7 games. One more to go against a Girona side that has lost 4 games on the bounce.
It’s going to be very hard to see us drop out of the top 8 now. As I said yesterday, that is massive, because it means we can have a break in February. The boys can get a wellness check, take in some rays, and maybe sneak a full fat Fanta on a sun lounger when the manager goes to bed.
But let’s be clear here. What Arsenal are doing right now in the Chaaaaampions League is fantastic. It’s only our second season in the comp and we haven’t conceded in open play so far this season. We have the lowest xG conceded from open play this season standing at 2.4. However you cut it, those sort of stats put you in with a shout against the very best teams.
Let’s also focus on Kai Havertz. Some scuzzy little teenager from St. Albans was sending nasty messages to his wife 2 weeks ago. Last night, he took his goal tally to 14 for the season. That’s more goals than Jota, Dias, Nunez, and Gakpo have managed. I’m not for one minute suggesting we don’t need more forwards at the club, but the idea Kai Havertz is some useless wandering bin man of the Premier League doesn’t really stand up to scrutiny. To put a finer point on it, the only player we’re targeting who has a goal record close to Kai’s is Sesko (14). Our number 9 right now has more goals than Mbuemo, Cunha, Williams, and Semenyo.
Back to the game. We blew up their mid-block plan after 2 minutes when Declan broke the deadlock with a really nice early goal. The first half felt very familiar, we got into lots of nice positions, but fluffed our lines. But, who cares when you’ve scored? I thought our £105m man really showed the potential he has in the opposition box. He makes surging late runs, he can carry the ball alone, he has a knack if taking up great positions,a and he can strike a ball and make himself available for crosses. Why can’t he score goals like Cesc or Lampard in the not-too-distant future? Arteta was pleased with him.
His intent, his purpose, especially attacking the positions he is taking and how he's driving with the ball. There is another bite to his game and today he could have scored two goal. In the last few weeks he had some big, big open chances to score to affect the game, so overall, I'm very happy because we need to affect the game from those positions and he’s certainly capable of doing that.
Our second goal was a bit more classic number 9 stuff; Martinelli put a diagonal ball into the box, and Kai put it past the keeper with an easy finish. That’s two important goals in two games now.
The final goal was at the death, Trossard with another nice pass across the box, Odegaard there for the generous tap in.
If there was a negative, you’d probably be looking at the Sterling performance. I don’t think he lacks effort, but the output just ain’t there for a man of his talent. Maybe Arsenal at this stage of his career just isn’t it? Nwaneri replaced him and it was clear what we’re going to get over the next few weeks. More speed, more desire, more tricks, and more threat. Mikel didn’t hold back on the praise.
It's great to have him. He's been training really well the last few days. He's adapting to the position and you can tell straight away the threat that he generates. How he commits people on the ball that he can put in these areas as well. So really good to have him back. We need options, we need threat, we need competition there, so it's great to have him.
So another clean sheet (0 shots on target conceded), some goals from important players, and a pretty solid run from Arsenal that has us top 3 having played three teams in the top 10.
Have a wonderful day, if you’re a subscriber, check out the On The Whistle podcast we dropped last night.
P.S. The latest Deloitte revenue numbers dropped and they make for glorious reading for Arsenal fans. We’ve moved ahead of Spurs, Chelsea, and Liverpool after a blockbuster 2024 of Champions League attendance and broadcast. The club is also finally moving the needle on commercials. Who knew that investing in the playing side of the business would reap rewards with the commercial? Great to see us progressing on and off the pitch. We’ll talk more about that tomorrow. x
First of all the reappearance of Nwaneri was good news. Both Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly are
amongst the best talents of their generation in English game and both will hopefully have long
careers at Arsenal alongside Saka.
The only question is where they will play once they establish themselves as regular first team
starters.
Since Arsenal are expected to secure Zubamendi as DMF next season it is likely that Lewis-Skelly will continue to play at left wing back. He is clearly well suited to that position.
In the case of Nwaneri the best position to play him remains less clear. At the moment he could play second fiddle to either Odegaard [RMF] or Saka [RW] but sooner or later we
will need to find him a position in the starting lineup.
Clearly Arsenal are beginning to put together a trophy winning team, but we are not quite there yet. There are still weaknesses in the team/squad which need to be resolved.
I have maintained all along that Havertz is an excellent footballer. He is versatile, intelligent
and hard working. His only shortcoming is that he is not a clinical goal scoring striker. As
I discussed many times before he can and should play a similar role to Bergkamp when playing alongside Thierry Henry. He does not have Bergkamp's flair but it is a role to which
he is well suited.
Arsenal still need to recruit an athletic and clinical goal scorer. If we find such a player then
it will be icing on the cake. That must be our transfer priority over next two transfer windows
whatever the cost.
One last point. I am delighted to see Martinelli once again showing his talent and form. The
idea that some who post on here don't rate him and would like to see him replaced is ridiculous.
Whoever thought up this new champions league format is a bloody genius.
Better matchups, better quality and thank God for the officiating.
Some big guns are on the verge of not making the last 16 and that’s mental.