New month and still TOTL. And this was no joke. Unlike Liverpool who were brutalized by City. Just in case we’d forgotten they were lurking right behind us.
We started without the wonder boy Saka – the first time this season – but also minus our big Willie. Arteta will miss his Willie for a while it seems. Instead, we had Holding and his hair along with the return of Jesus. So, it was Holding for Willie and Jesus for Saka though we did have Partey. Whereas for Leeds it seemed they decided to concede the points and leave their few key players on the bench.
Yet this game started like we were playing Bournemouth. Right from the kick-off we were exposed on the left and Ramsdale had to make an alert save. Collective amnesia from that painful Bournemouth experience is the only explanation. Let’s see when someone else tries this move.
Throughout the first half Leeds created chances. Whereas our ball movement was slow and purposeless, Leeds were creative and sharp especially on our right. It was reminiscent of playing Palace. Maybe the useless International break had disrupted us unlike City. Gradually we started to impose ourselves on the game and regain control. It was noticeable that most good things occurred on our left with Jesus floating out there and interchanging with Martinelli. But our right side was very quiet. With Trossard operating out there we barely made a cross. Both Odegaard and White looked a little lost without their starboy. Trossard looked equally uncomfortable.
We barely had a shot on target in that first half. We could not find any penetration. While we had plenty of possession there was no fluency or speed to our play. And yet, somehow, we managed to go ahead before half-time. Jesus, in the box, put two men on their arses with the second one tapping him on the knee. That was enough for a penalty decision. Without Saka and with Jorginho (thankfully) on the bench it seemed Odergaard would step up. Instead we witnessed the resurrection of the Jesus. Not that I like penalties like that, it was enough to put us ahead. Not quite deserved but maybe it was a result of the cumulative pressure being applied.
Leeds really were pretty good though – in the first half anyway – often forcing both Odegaard and Trossard to put in a decent defensive shift. Odegaard works so much harder now out of possession. And, of course, Jesus, is all over the pitch. His energy is contagious. But it’s important to be able to grind out results. That’s what the leading teams do. So, we thankfully made it to half-time with the lead.
As we’ve seen so often, this was a game of two halves. And in the second one we turned up and resumed where we had been before the break. Our play sped up, our passing was sharper. And, most importantly, Trossard was untethered from the right hand side. He began to float around the pitch and we became more fluid. Within two minutes Zinny feed Martinelli to tee up White at the back post. We were dominant now. With Odegaard and Trossard leading the way, Jesus linked up with Trossard for the critical third goal. At this point the game felt wrapped-up. Another no pressure result, a nice stroll in the afternoon. But then Leeds, after making numerous substitutions, managed an attack, a shot and a deflected goal. Now it seemed truly reminiscent of the Palace game. But before the nerves could return, Saka fed Odegaard for a classic cross for Xhaka to nod in. It’s a shame he couldn’t have been on the end of his own cross in the first half when Jesus headed over. Anyway, that just about sealed the game for us.
That was a pretty impressive Jesus performance today. About as good as we’ve seen him. Roaming around the pitch – tracking back to defend in the second half – interchanging with Martinelli. Even if he missed he’s first headed chance thereafter he was involved in everything. I’ve tried to restrain myself in the obvious Jesus and Easter association but it’s fair to say he just about nailed his performance today, no hanging around and helped resurrect us. Yes, I’m that predictable. Sorry.
Anyway, just 9 games left now. And we’re about to enter a pretty tricky phase with some crucial fixtures that will determine whether we can actually win this league. For the moment we deservedly remain TOTL. But now the nerves will come into play. If we look down below, we’re about 3 or 4 games from finally claiming our spot back in the champions league for next season. But if our sights are set higher, then we have to find a way to grab points at City, Liverpool and Newcastle. That will define our season. And, by then we’ll need our Big Willie back. I do hope someone is taking good care of him. Because, as much as Holding is a solid player he’s really not at the same level. We saw that in the run-in last season. And we saw that again today. And there’s a knock-on effect to Gabrielle and White. Against better and sharper teams Holding will inevitably be found out.
This team is so far head of where they should be. If you can ignore the first half, we saw today yet another display of high pressing, high intensity creative football that is only really matched by City. We had no right to expect this quality of play so soon. Nor our position. Arteta has completely reinvented this team. And, as I keep saying, our best years are ahead of us. If we can somehow pull this off and stay top through the end of the year, it will be a springboard for the next 5 years. That is when this team will have fully matured. Look at Klopp’s Liverpool. They had a 5 year run. That is what lies ahead. Our promised land. We just need to keep our key players fit.
Leaving Saka on the bench was largely driven by his cold but was important. We have to be able to function without our best player. And we have to find additional players to support Odegaard and Partey. Because Vieira and Jorginho aren’t enough. Though, that’s a little unfair to Jorginho. When he came on we kept smoothly functioning. Whereas Vieira drifts much further forward compared to Odegaard. I know it’s only his first year but I just don’t think he positionally fits into this team.
But now we have to focus on the trip to Anfield. Unfortunately, they have no midweek games to distract them. Having been dismantled by a Haaland-less City they will be a different proposition at home. Klopp and the Kop will have them fully ramped up and energized for this game. I can remember too many painful performances at Anfield where we were completely overrun. Hopefully, we’ll see this more evolved and resilient Arsenal. Hopefully we’ll have the backbone and grit required. And hopefully we’ll have our big Willie back. Because I fear for Holding against the speed of Liverpool.
I’d hoped that with Haaland and Foden out, that City might slip up. And maybe they still will. They have many more games to play. But they have two full teams to pick from. And, without Haaland, they can revert to their free-flowing play of last year. But, you know, if you want to win the league, you have to be able to get points from these types of games. So, with nine games left it’s going to be a nerve tingling, bum scratching, intense few months.
It’s not possible to expect us to win every remaining game. But we can also hope that City can’t either. We need them to continue in the F A Cup and the Champions League. And we could do with someone tackling Rodri the way Rodri tackles our players. He really has turned into a thug. A fitting replacement for Fernandinho.
I’m not used to this tension so late in the season. It’s been nearly two decades since we were legitimately challenging for the tittle in April. By now we’d normally struggling to get into the NoHoppaCup. Instead, we have to remind ourselves this is what we should aspire to; that we should embrace the fear and nerves. At least though Arteta knows what involved. As do Zinny and Jesus.
So now we have another 7 days off until Sunday. Enough time to place our Willy in the cryogenic chamber. Enough time to bring in the witch doctors. Enough time to pray to Jesus. As Easter approaches we can at least expect Jesus to use his powers to help our Willy. Because we’ll need him on Sunday.
In the meantime, again, continue to enjoy being TOTL. We’ll be there for at least another few weeks. I’m off to light some incense and engage Buddha for our Willie.
-LB7