Yuk. Too many mistakes and too many injuries. We should have won the game in the first half and then lost it in the second. This was a game of what could have been. Let’s just hope the injury room is not too overcrowded.
Raya was officially anointed the number 1 today. There was one brilliant save in the first half from Johnson. But his distribution was not great and he should have done better on the initial cross for their first goal. I’m clearly biased but Ramsdale should regain his position for the next few games but he wont.
We also missed Trossard today. Unfortunately, Eddie chose today to have his worst performance for us. Nothing he did worked. His passing was off, his touch was off and he added nothing to our game. He did seem to close them down either. If Jesus was fully fit, then Nelson should have replaced him not Jesus.
Of course, in that first half, Jesus should have increased our lead when he dispossessed Maddison on the edge of their box. Prior to that he had a back-post shot saved but this one really should have hit the target. This is where games are won and lost.
But back to Eddie. This was so frustrating to watch. In such a big game to see him flounder reminded me of how he was a couple of years ago. Even when he did win the ball back he’d lose it straight-away. He’s body language seemed off as was his effort. He was really ineffectual. So much so that Vieira looked quite good in comparison. It was brave of Arteta to start him over Have-that. He also though had trouble coming up to the speed of the game.
On that same side Zinny had one of his quietest games. And, likewise Rice. Early on he charged forward but he was as subdued as I can remember. We should have gone in at half-time ahead. We regained possession of the ball high up the pitch on a number of occasions but could not create real chances. The Saka goal arrived from their turnover and our quick movement. Maybe that shot would have curled in. But we deserved the lead. And we needed to extend it.
The wankers continued to play out from the back and were very high risk but, to be fair, they did play football. Unlike prior years, they came to play. There were periods in the first half where they controlled the ball quite nicely. And, once the second half started, they further asserted themselves.
In hindsight, losing Rice was the turning point. The change to our rhythm was dramatic. We were unable to retain the ball nor create. Have-that was an improvement over the injured and withdrawn Vieira. Again our corners came to the rescue. We had a couple of chances – even though, today, none were short corners. Then we had the penalty. With Paul Tierney on VAR duty it was always going to be complicated. That was as clear as a hand bull as you could see. Yet Tierney dragged on the review for so long like he was looking for any opportunity not too award it.
And then, as the TV was showing yet the nth replay we missed the lead into to the Jorginho Gerrard-like mistake to hand them an immediate reply. Ironically, this was reminiscent for the Fabergas goal against from the kick-off about ten years ago. Anyway, by this stage without Rice and Partey, Jorghinho with all his experience should have kept it simple rather than dallied on the ball. A fundamental mistake which destroyed our momentum. At that point I feared we’d lose this game.
We had no fluency or control. Maddison was carving us open and they were controlling the game. It was only when he joined our injured players that we started to find some control. Saka then added to our injury list while Eddie continued to lose every knock down and chance. The one he missed in the first half was difficult but thereafter his contribution was zero. I was hoping he’d be replaced by Nelson and Jesus could go centrally.
This was such a frustrating and disappointing performance. The second half was as poor as we’ve seen in a while. I can understand why though. With so many replacements it was hard to find a rhythm against a fluent side that had a clear intent in playing. This unlike the United game was a challenge for us. One that we did not meet. While we might have won this game it’s not clear we deserved to. Even at the end that thug Ricarlison could have scored.
Even Saliba was making a few mistakes today with his distribution. Both he and Gabriel were resolute in defense. As was White. Until, when Saka was too easily beaten by Maddison, no-one had anticipated that and we too slow to come out and close him down.
Saka was hacked most of the game. We expect that. It was a relief to see him replaced in order to protect him. Let’s hope his recovers quickly. We saw today why we needed a little more cover for him. Less money on Raya and more on a replacement.
As frustrating as this performance was – and I have some sympathy given the disruption through the injuries – this was all compounded by the unbearable TV camera work. As mentioned, we nearly missed the entirety of their second goal. But there is this new fixation to show prolonged shots of each manager while the game is happening. Likewise, we have these tedious close up shots of individuals in the crowd. And, then after any action, they have close-ups of any player involved. All the while, the game is happening. I just don’t understand why there is not more of an outcry. It makes the game so difficult to follow. It disrupts your sense of the flow of the game. And these shots add literally zero value. And then we have the constant replays whilst the play is continuing. Over the years I’ve been complaining (it’s in my nature) but this season it seems to have deteriorated. The camera director thinks he’s trying to provide some insight into the emotions or brain patterns of the managers, players etc whereas instead we are denied the chance to actually follow the game. The only solutions I can think of are (1) introduction of picture in picture or (2) I become anointed the Czar of all TV camera decisions. It’s not clear which one of these two is more unlikely.
Given our performance against PSV our expectations were quite high going into this game. And, given that they are only a few months into their new managers reign, they are not quite at the level they would expect. Therefore, this was our chance today. And quite frankly, for various reasons, we blew it. As we know, this is a game of fine margins. You have to take your chances when you are dominating. Both Jesus and Eddie missed theirs today. And thereafter, with all our injuries, the second half was as scrappy and as disjointed as I can remember seeing us. In fact, watching this performance today highlighted high much more work we still have to do in order to compete with City. Even with Rodri now out for game – and how refreshing was it to see one of their players finally get a straight red – if we play like we did today in the second half, they will tear us apart.
All eyes will now turn to the injury room. Mine will also turn to the goalkeeper but that’s just my obsession. With Rice, Partey and possibly Saka in addition to Martinelli and Trossard all requiring treatment we are, so early in the season, going to be challenged. Now we will see how our squad depth looks. We knew Partey would be injured. That’s as certain as day following night. But losing both Rice and Saka will cause a relapse of this team. Though I doubt Jorginho can be as hesitant and uncertain as he was today.
As we know it’s a long season but with these addition Champions League fixtures it’s going to be stressful on the playing time for players. Obviously it’s too early to concede on the mickey-mouse Milk-League-Coca-Cola-whatever-its-called-cup, but Wednesdays game should see an entirely different team fielded. With Ramsdale of course 🙂 . Though it’s only Bournemouth at the weekend, we need players to recover prior to Lens and then City.
With LA Chelsea imploding and United being just tiresome and dire, we’ll be fighting Liverpool, The wankers, Brighton and Newcastle for these other top 3 spots. Or is it 5 next year? Today we demonstrated why we’re not quite ready to challenge City. Without a world-class striker or left-midfield player we’re just a little deficient. And then once injuries kick-in we are exposed. We could easily have lost this game.
Arteta has a ton of work to do. As good as this team has become, getting it to the next level will require a fully fit Rice. Today we again saw his importance; without him we were vulnerable. I don’t think for one minute that he was fully fit even in the first half. And we need to convert our chances. Of course, some would say, I don’t know who, that we also need Ramsdale in goal.
By the end of the match we had started to reassert ourselves but without any real cutting edge. Minus Saka and Jesus and with no Trossard or Martinelli there was not obvious place the goals would come from. Odegaard was also kept fairly quite today. He continued to work hard on the press – along with Jesus – but Eddie was always a little late to the press. But today Maddison outshone Odegaard. Though part of that was because of the Rice being fried (sorry) and Vieira being, well, Vieira. Have-that was more assured today so let’s hope it’s part of his acclimatization to our team. Because we’ll need him now. And Elneny!
We played a decent team today so this is not like dropping point to Fulham. And it was a pleasure to watch a game (well, that part that the TV cameras would show) where neither team parked the bus. But it’s clear there’s plenty of work to be done on our young team. Arteta will be tested this year given the increased expectations. And we have to remain patient. In particular, I have to. But once we start converting our chances we’ll move in the right direction. As long as our physios can kept our key players fit.
So I’ll give the Wednesdays game a pass and start training for the Bournemouth game in case Arteta needs someone to play alongside Elneny in midfield.
-LB7