And this is what it’s all about. Happy October. Dominated, dictated and deserved. There was only one team and one team bus today. It was one-way traffic. Clearly superior, we got the result we deserved today with only one team on the pitch. And we’re still TOTL.
Eight games in – 21% of the season – and we’re still top. That’s got to be worth something. A little piece of a medal. Or early qualification for some useless third rate European competition. Not that I expect to retain this place come end of the season. But, in the interim, how much fun is this? Watching this team is starting to feel like a throw-back to the best AW years. Obviously, we’re not there yet. We’re still very young, lacking in experience and are short of being the finished product. But, days like today re-enforce how much progress we’ve made and how much further we can go.
Right from the start – again – we controlled the game. With Zinny, Odegaard and Partey returning our balance was re-established. I’m not sure any of them was entirely fully fit. The first two were relatively quiet by their standards. But Partey shook the world to its core when he not only got a shot on target but actually scored. And a mighty fine goal it was. Surprisingly good in fact. I don’t think we can expect to see that again from him in our lifetimes. And overall, his play was simple and accurate. Zinny dropped into the middle of the pitch often to support him. But Partey picked up Kane when he dropped deep and also overshadowed their ugly Danish midfielder.
Saka shone brightly today. He reserved his best performance of the season for this game. They had to double mark him at all times and thus left others open – such as Partey. Nearly anything good today ran through Saka. He scared the wits out of them. And, along with Jesus and Martinelli, kept them off balance the entire game. I think this was the first game this season in which they did not foul Saka nor pick-up a yellow card. For such a genuinely dull and dreary team such as Sp*rs that is unexpected. They play the most tedious form of football you could see. Blanket defending, little possession and then hit you on the counter-attack. Apart from a stupid penalty, one free-kick and one corner, Ramsdale did not have a real save to make. They have two of the best strikers in the league (including one of the ugliest) yet they insist on playing the most boring form of football you could hope for. This is what happens though when you’re managed by Mourinho 2.0.
In contrast, we continued to carve them open and entertain. Jesus could have added another in the first half but for shooting directly at Lloris. And Xhaka, who seemed to play in an even more advanced role today, had the freedom of the park. Unfortunately, as well as he played, he was partially at fault for their penalty when he missed controlled the ball. Of course, it was mighty clumsy for Gabriel to dive in and give up the penalty. That’s not the first time he’s done that and he has to learn to be more patient.
He could just look over to his right. Saliba was masterfall today. Aside from one foul and one yellow card, he utterly dominated both Son and Kane. His touch is delicate, his anticipation is beyond his years and his strength allowed him to withstand any bullying. They literally got nothing out of him. And on the ball he’s so calm. He was the best defender out there today. There were a few instances where he was defending one on one and each time came out on top.
Alongside him, White was able to both push up and support Saka and also deal with any counter-attacks. His positioning was excellent and, like Saliba, his distribution was excellent. How this boy was not in the England squad is beyond me. Southgate picks the forehead that sits on the bench for Man United and their reserve left-back, but can’t pick the best English defender that has played in every game this season. But then this is the same manage that put Nick Fucking Pope in goal for two matches and then watched him hand a draw to the underpowered Nazis at Wembley. Pope’s distribution was utterly horrendous. He’s incapable of passing the ball. Whereas, today, we saw Ramsdale play a number of perfect long balls to Martinelli, Zinny and others. Yet Pope – like Pickford – would kick the ball into touch. Southgate clearly has shit in his eyes. From starting Saka at left back to them leaving him on the bench. Only when Saka came on as a sub did England suddenly come into life and should have won the game if not for Dope in goal.
Saka set up the second goal. As they continued to drop further back and allow more space, he was able to beat a few men and cause mayhem in their goal area. Like Dope, Lloris spilled the ball when he should have caught it and then proceed to entirely miss the ball. But as poor as Lloris is – he should also, I think, have done better on the Partey shot and also with Xhakas’ – Romero should have smashed the ball into touch. Thankfully Jesus was there to reestablish the deserved lead. And this guy is their captain. But, clearly, they are a crap team.
Then, of course, we had payback for Rob Holding. There is no version of this world in which that was a straight red-card. It was VAR reviewable but, in slow motion, everything looks worse. It was a poor decision but could not have happened to a more useless player. Royale is pretty gormless and we should forever be thankful that we acquired Tommy and not him. Royale follows in the rich tradition of Auriel and Doherty. Right-backs, who can’t defend that they have overpaid for. It was a stupid, unnecessary foul in a part of the pitch where he did not even need to win the ball. But he was late and high (not on drugs – but you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise) on Martinelli’s shin.
But they got what they deserved. They did not come to play football whereas from the outset we played attractive, entertaining football. That is why we watch the game. Who would watch that lot? There’s nothing there. You can’t win this league playing like that. A truck load of defenders – who are not that good – trying to blanket the opposition with no intent to play. They managed to pull it off last year at Manchester City. But who wants to see their team play like that? In the very early years of Arteta he had to set up his team like that. But he quickly evolved. Whereas Mourinho 2.0 has always set up his team like this. They should be embarrassed to play like this. I would hate Arsenal to be anything like this. And when they have genuine forwards as well? What’s the point. It’s unenjoyable and so negative. Sure they could threaten on the counter-attack and against others it might work. But today, we had them completely beaten. We controlled all phases of the game and highlighted the stark contrast between the direction of these two teams. They have won nothing for years and yet this is the best they can offer? Maybe in other games – and maybe at home – they will have more urgency and passion. But today, they were too passive and fearful of us. Maybe they were right to be. But that negative, pessimistic philosophy is not something you’ll find in our team.
Who would have believed we could be top of the league 8 games in? Today, naturally, was a pleasure. Generally I hate these games. Because a referee will intervene, in a Holding-like way – to undermine us. And I despise that lot so much that I always fear the worst – because they just don’t deserve to be in the same elevated company as us. They have no history and no record of success. But yet they think they are worthy. Enough about them though; they are shite. We knew that before today and just confirmed it again.
But we continue to grow and evolve. There is a sense of progress and maturity. Look at the reaction of Xhaka after that first goal. That is leadership. He immediately gathered everyone round him to get them re-focused. Aside from the previously mentioned mistake, he was immense today culminating in the deserved third goal. The additions to the team over the last year have helped rebuild Arsenal. But we’re not done yet. This team has more room to grow and evolve. We are far from perfect. And yet we’re the youngest team in the league. We know we’re vulnerable to the loss of Partey. We are exposed in that position. But hopefully in January that will be addressed. But when you can bring on Vieira, Eddie, Sambi and Tierney as subs you know we’ve developed a stronger team. This team is incomparable to previous years. The evolution is so exciting. And that lays at the feet of Arteta. This is his creation. And we’re seeing the fruits of that commitment to play the game in the right way.
Today was so much better than I could have hoped for. Sure, we beat them last year at home but then they had a clueless manager who was clearly out of his depth. This year they had a manager that actually has organized them. An early morning start that set up an enjoyable weekend for all of us. And, you know what? We’re still Top Of The League. Enjoy it. And enjoy the beautiful game.
-LB7