Top of the league. Nearly. Currently Man City and Man City Reserves have the top two spots. Creativity is running through our veins. We are on fire with Brazilians. As much as Jesus will and should grab the headlines don’t underestimate the Martinelli effect. He flew around like an annoying wasp causing Forfana all sorts of problems. His workrate and enthusiasm is contagious. And he scored the all important fourth goal to finally put the game to rest. He tormented them and then helped destroy them.
We weren’t perfect today. As we weren’t last week. But we did not need to be. We were more than good enough. We have plenty of time to reach perfection. And we might not reach that this year. But this is a team that continues to evolve, develop and progress. The season is young and this team is even younger. We will make mistakes – witness “our” third goal via Saliba. But today after each one rather than wilt in the summer heat we bounced back within 2 minutes after each of their goals. That is a testament to both how weak Leicester are and to how we have developed a smidge of a backbone. We’ve not seen that in the past few years. Though it would be preferable that we did not score an own goal nor that Ramsdale let them score from a narrow angle, it’s how we respond that counts.
It’s noticeable how with Zinny in the team we are much more dominant on our left hand side. Saka has yet to fully find his form. No worries, there’s plenty of time for that. And, lacking Toomy behind him and with a slightly subdued Odegaard contributes a little. The interplay and movement between Martinelli, Xhaka and Zinny was excellent. Often we’d see Zinny come inside to play more like a left midfield player – in the same way Canseco did for City v West Ham – and that allowed Xhaka to play much further up. In addition to his goal Xhaka was way more active in their penalty box. Zinny seems to have liberated Xhaka; he’s given Xhaka the freedom to be more creative and progressive. Not that Xhaka was perfect today. In the first half he was too slow on the ball and caught by Forfana. It was Ramsdale that bailed us out.
And even after our second goal we were saved by, of all things, Mike Dean. The annoying fucker finally retires, heads up into the VAR room (wherever that is) and then proceeds to out VAR Vardy. The cheating git (not his wife) rolls over with the barest touches and get the immediate penalty call. Until Dean comes to the rescue – I can’t believe after all these years I’ve written that sentence. Maybe all those years of denying us points and goals he finally realized he owed us. Sure, it was not a penalty but it’s was not obvious to me it was clear and obvious. Not, that is, by the unreliable standards of a PL referee. But luck shone on us, and the call was reversed. What’s not to love about VAR. Especially when it penalizes Vardy.
I loved the way the crowd responded to the Saliba own-goal. He is class. But he’s young and will make mistakes. Without wishing to revisit past nightmares, imagine the reaction if that had been Mustafa or David Luiz. But there is awareness that this boy is special and we need some patience. Though it could be argued that Ramsdale did not help with this one. Overall though it was another impressive performance from Saliba. He had Vardy in his pocket. But, this boy is a star make no mistake about it. He will banish our past disasters of the last 5+ years. Alongside him Gabriel was defensively solid. It’s just his passing that causes me angst. Teams will soon figure out that if they isolate him on the ball it’s much harder for us to create. He has to stop trying to make those long, Toure-like, passes and just keep things simple. In the first half he tried one of those overelaborate cross-field passes that got easily intercepted and allowed them to counter-attack. Against better teams that will burn us.
Jesus deserved a hattrick today and could have easily had one. The difference from last years center-forwards could not be more dramatic. Cigarette lacked the movement and finishing instinct and Aubameyang could only play on their last line of defense. Gabriel though can play anywhere. He drifted out to the left and right and wherever he went he caused havoc. He’s energized Martinelli – if that was possible. And he’s a goal-scorer. That first goal was sublime. Delicate and intelligent. I’m not sure that we’ve seen many center-forwards at Arsenal who could do that. Maybe the original #14 or the god-like #10. But no-one else. Only to be followed up with a poachers goal at the back post – just as we’d seen in pre-season. He had other breakaways and openings to score a third. But so far, it’s clearly been money well spent. You can see why Edu did not want to waste money on signing anyone this last January. They knew who they wanted and when they would get him. So, for all the bleating of our juvenile, emotionally unstable fans (who are all too prevalent in the AON documentary), this is what happens when you have a plan and stick with it. When you invest in the future – patiently – you end up with a world class forward. This boy has dancing feet. He will tip-toe through defenses. And his speed of thought is infectious. He’s already help take Martinelli to another level. And once Saka adjusts to the new season – and has Tommy behind him – he will also prosper.
Letting in two goals is not great. But it helps amplify that there is ample room for improvement. We were a little sloppy in defense today. They had too many chances. I thought White had another testing day – not as much as last week. But you can see he’s not a natural right-back. With his substitution through a knock, it’s going to be tough for him to retain his position. We finished with our two recognized fullbacks but I think one of them will have to be a little more patient. Zinny has to be our starter. He helps fuel our creativity.
The balance of this team has shifted though. There is no doubt now we can create. None of the stodgy sideways play we’ve seen in the recent past. With Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli and Jesus we have an electric attacking group of players with ESR, Viera and Eddie on the bench. We are gaining depth in the important areas. I’d just like to see some back-up for Partey. He was not at his best today – too many sloppy passes – but he was good enough. But when he’s not available, as much as I like Elneny, we will be exposed defensively. Tielemans did not exactly put himself in the shop window today. It did not help that self-loving Rogers played him on the right hand side where Xhaka completely dominated him.
It’s good to see fringe players depart – Torreira has finally been deposited offshore and Mari has been dumped in Italy. We have to figure out Bellerin – who has earned the right to leave – and AMN. Both should be gone by the end of the month. Which means one more midfield player and some cover for Saka – assuming we can offload Pepe.
You can only beat what’s in front of you and today we outplayed Leicester and thoroughly deserved to win. Some of our creative play was sparkling. This team has built a foundation on which he can now launch itself. But football is fragile. We’re only one or two injuries from being exposed – as we were at the end of last season. That’s why we need a little more squad depth. But this year will be exciting. The odd disaster will come our way but this is a team you want to watch and root for. This is a real football team. One that will entertain. We just have to make sure it retains a backbone. Because that will be needed against the big boys and the more brutish teams.
- LB7