Match report – Participant scores – Video
There was a second on the Sky Sports activities commentary when, after Martin Odegaard had created maybe 3 or 4 of the 5 first half possibilities that he made, Martin Tyler stated, “We haven’t seen loads of James Maddison thus far”, and I genuinely forgotten he was even taking part in.
This isn’t an Odegaard v Maddison ‘instructed you so’ kinda factor, however a testomony to how good the Norwegian was. The Leicester man had extra affect within the closing 15-20 minutes of the primary interval after we struggled to exert any management, however Odegaard was sensational early on, and even higher within the second half.
We are able to all see the expertise, the imaginative and prescient, the craft, the deftness of his contact, and his potential to see and execute issues we are able to’t (that sweeping move to Saka when it regarded like he was set for a shot, for instance), however he {couples} all of that with the sort of work-rate and dedication to his off the ball work that should swell the guts of Mikel Arteta and make him as a lot a pleasure to work with as he’s to look at.
It’s fairly one thing to suppose that after we performed Leicester earlier within the season, he began on the bench. There have been questions on how he was going to get into the crew forward of Alexandre Lacazette, however even on that day, he helped modified the second half momentum when the house aspect tried in useless to overturn the 2 purpose deficit they had been dealing with. Now, Odegaard is indispensable to this aspect, the fulcrum of a lot that we do – and never merely from an attacking perspective. As Arsene Wenger as soon as stated about Robert Pires, he’s the oil in our engine, and there are occasions in video games after we want somebody simply to assist us preserve the ball transferring for a couple of seconds and he’s nearly at all times there to do this.
I feel it was becoming that Thomas Partey was on the scoresheet yesterday, as a result of he too exerted his personal highly effective affect on the sport. His function because the deepest mendacity midfielder is one which he’s now extraordinarily comfy with, not simply because he has gamers forward of him, however behind him there may be the suitable platform with Ben White and Gabriel. His close to publish header might need uncovered some weaknesses in Leicester’s defending, nevertheless it was a superb end. He might need had a second, curling a shot onto the bar, however his contribution went far past what he provided in assault.
It’s very uncommon that you just don’t face some hazard in a Premier League recreation, and even with out Jamie Vardy, Leicester have some risk. Harvey Barnes is a really good participant down that left hand aspect, and he pressured Aaron Ramsdale into an outstanding save from a header which had Brendan Rodgers celebrating then ‘wow’-ing at its high quality. It was harking back to Vardy celebrating Maddison’s free kick earlier than Ramsdale’s save within the away recreation. They have to be sick of the sight of him.
Ben White made an equally vital sort out within the field a couple of minutes earlier, nevertheless it’s value paying attention to Gabriel Martinelli on this passage of play too. He tracked his man into the field and bought a contact on the ball which helped White’s intervention, however as we bought it clear and broke up subject, the Brazilian was the the person on the top of our attacking transfer, his shot from inside their field only a few seconds later blocked away. It’s the right instance of how Arteta has his gamers switched on and contributing at each ends of the pitch.
After the break we had been higher once more, extra in management, and harmful once more. Martinelli threatened, Lacazette had a shot blocked, Schmeichel saved from Saka, after which one thing wonderful occurred: Arsenal had been awarded a penalty. Caglar Soyuncu instinctively reached out for the ball because it was going past him, and whereas the contact might need been tiny, there’s little doubt he bought fingertips on it earlier than it was cleared off the road. VAR checked and checked and checked, then requested Anthony Taylor to go have a look at it – at which level I assumed our possibilities had been zero – however he pointed to the spot and handed the Leicester man a reserving.
I feel Lacazette is an excellent penalty taker, however when a striker hasn’t scored in nearly three months, it’s onerous to be 100% assured. However, he gave the keeper no probability with an amazing end into the highest nook. Schmeichel went berserk for some cause, complaining concerning the stuttered run up however possibly it was misdirected given he’d stepped ahead off his line by a few yards and nonetheless couldn’t put it aside. Flip that rage inwards, Kasper, you not so pleasant ghost.
After that, the best way we managed the sport was significantly pleasing. There have been nonetheless instances we needed to be switched on, Tierney made one unbelievable clearance within the field, however Partey continued to drag the midfield strings as Odegaard added glitter to them. Saka bought kicked round as he at all times does with nearly no safety from the officers, and we noticed out the sport with late subs and the boldness of a crew that is aware of as a collective it’s going locations and making very apparent progress.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta spoke concerning the togetherness in his aspect when requested concerning the camaraderie on Sky Sports activities:
You realize, you’ll be able to sense it, you’ll be able to really feel it. They’re actually having a superb time collectively. And I feel that transmits on the pitch.
And had phrases for man of the match Martin Odegaard:
He was terrific once more right this moment in each facet of the sport, what he needed to do in defending, after we had been excessive, after we had been deep, in build-up phases, within the closing third, the best way he understands and manages the sport when wanted. I feel he’s come a great distance since his arrival, he’s exhibiting nice maturity and duty on the pitch and he makes the opposite gamers higher I feel.
It feels nearly too apparent to speak extra about him and Partey, however even when they had been the excellent performers on the day in my view, there was a lot to love about this as a crew efficiency too. Generally a person can shine as a result of they’re head and shoulders above everybody else, however Odegaard and Partey sticking in 9 out of 10 performances whereas everybody else was doing 7s and 8s is actually encouraging.
It’s now 5 wins from 5 and we’re again into the highest 4, and there was a graphic on Sky exhibiting the most recent kind desk and we’re proper up there too. The mantra from the supervisor and the gamers stays ‘recreation by recreation’, which I totally perceive and completely help. That’s the proper mindset for them, not simply because it prevents anybody wanting too far ahead, however it will likely be helpful as and when issues don’t go nicely – which is sure to occur between now and Could. It can really feel unhealthy, but when it’s only one recreation, it’s simpler to deal with.
Essentially the most thrilling facet of what we’re doing isn’t the apparent progress, or how clearly you’ll be able to see the weather of our recreation which have taken steps and even leaps ahead, it’s how – if we are able to preserve this – the summer season switch market may kick it on one other stage. That’s to not disrespect any of the gamers who did such a superb job yesterday, however considering medium-term about the place we go is an element and parcel of the expertise too.
Coming again to the short-term although, outcomes + engaging, thrilling, enjoyable soccer is a really tasty mixture and there’s loads of credit score to go round, from gamers to supervisor to employees. It looks like one thing is brewing and it’s loads of enjoyable to look at. Clearly the following fixture goes to be a major problem, and maybe a measuring stick with the place we predict we’re, however this morning we should always take time to take pleasure in what we’re doing as a result of it is vitally good.
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As ever, James and I will probably be recording the Arsecast Further in a while this morning so preserve an eye fixed out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or for those who’re on Arseblog Member on Patreon, depart your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod ought to be out by lunchtime. Till then, take it simple.
