TOTL. Again. Another 24 hours at the top before United implode yet again.
Today was such an impressive performance. Against a genuinely dangerous team that has not lost at home since August we were in complete control.
More changes after Luton. Jesus, Rice along with Jorginho and Saka returned. And so did our smoothness. This team just dominated Brighton and made them look quite ordinary. Let’s hope when City play they rediscover some form.
It took a while to breach their defense but we had chances from the 2nd minute onwards when Gabriel headed wide with the goal open. But whereas in previous years where you’d worry that that was “the” chance, today we just continued to create.
At the center of it all was Odegaard orchestrating and Have-that wondering around, linking up and creating. Our movement was incisive and quick. Our passing was sharp. And Brighton had no real response. Once the game settled down there seemed an inevitability about the outcome.
Even with the squandered chances you just felt eventually we’d put one away. Jesus was a constant nuisance on the left and, importantly, provided cover for the vulnerable Zinny. I thought it was brave to play him against Brighton and he looked susceptible to a mistake. Defensively he seemed too exposed and prone to lapses in concentration. Thankfully though Gabriel also knows this and seems to know to cover for him. As much as Zinny helps us going forward against a team with a real winger you just can’t play him. The sooner we get Timber fit the better.
Jesus missed a couple of great chances before he was brought down by Lamptey for a penalty that Saka converted. Saka clearly benefited from his little rest. Along with the White/Odegaard combination they terrorized the right hand side of their defense. Saka could and should have also scored when he cut inside but overall he looked so much fresher. And it was good to see him brought off early as well.
The Jorginho and Rice axis was again in complete control and provided any protection the defense required. Not that they were that troubled. With our old friend Welbeck in their front line there was little danger that he would be able to score against us. But Enrico on their left is a little tricky but White had him under control. And Saliba and Gabriel dominated at the back. And from their corners White seemed to win every header. I’m not sure that Raya actually had a real save to make today. Again. That is a testament to the blanket coverage this defense provides. And yet another clean sheet – and that’s with Zinny at left back.
We’ve scored more goals than anyone and also let is less goals; with the largest number of clean sheets. That’s a remarkable statistic. For a game where we should have been 2-0 up inside the first twenty minutes it never felt like we’d let our chances slip.
The second goal was vital to creating some breathing space. As against Luton, through our high press we won the ball back high up the pitch. Thereafter it was a goal made by our ex-Chelsea friends. And there was Have-that at the near post to receive the Jorghino pass to nicely slot the ball away. Have-that really has been on fire for the last 7 games. Our run has coincided with his rise to prominence. He now seems to have owned that false 9 position.
With Have-that upfront, that enables Jorginho to play at the number 6 and Rice in the number 8. Which means we apply a high press more consistently. And that usually starts with Odegaard who seems to have found additional reserves of energy to propel him forward through the entire 90 minutes.
After that second goal we sat back and absorbed some of their pressure without them actually getting a shot on target. And then we broke away, care of yet another assist from Have-that. I figured Trossard would run out of steam charging up field. But with the ungrateful Brighton fans booing him on, he delicately chipped their goalie to put the result beyond any doubt. And also further increase our goal difference.
This was a complete performance today. Brilliantly executed. Throughout we exuded a calmness and confidence that we just did not see last year. In addition to the interplay and control of the ball we have a grit and backbone that supplements our creativity. And this was no better demonstrated than the reaction of Gabriel and his teammates to his block of one of their few shots in the 80th minute. It was as though he’d scored himself.
Last year Gabriel (like Zinny now) seemed prone to at least one moment of madness per game. And his distribution – whether long or short – was inconsistent. At the start of this year he was even, initially, dropped to the bench so that Partey could play right back. Thankfully that experiment was terminated. Since then, as smooth and skillful as Saliba has been, and as much as Saliba has, rightly attracted all the plaudits, it’s really Gabriel that has developed the most.
This year, in addition to his four goals, he seems to have irradicated those mistakes of previous years. His distribution – because of the availability of Rice – is more consistent and his defensive play has irradicated those careless or clumsy fouls. In terms of the most important players to this team, I know Gabriel will not rate in the top 4 (after Rice, Saka, Saliba and Odegaard) most important players but his improvement is pivotal to our defensive stability.
Even though Brighton was a much more daunting task than Luton, in many ways, this was, yet again, a relaxing watch. No stress. No anxiety. No drama. Even with our missed opportunities. That is the measure of this team. It is a pleasure to watch their development and evolution. They really have developed into a mature, controlled and exciting team to watch. And this all seems to have come together since the break in Dubai. Unlike last season where we started strong, led the league and then notoriously faded, this year we seem to have reversed the order. We are proving it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.
So, back to TOTL. Unfortunately, as Liverpool have to play that shambles that is United, it’s likely to be only temporary. And with City having the easier run-in, the odds are still against us. The European matches might now dictate where the title goes. Let’s hope that City can overcome Madrid to keep them engaged on the Champions League even they have a clear history of being able to win both at the same time. But we need them to pick up a few more injuries. Preferably to KDB. And as for Liverpool, let’s just pray they only manage a draw tomorrow. Unlikely though that is.
Bayern at home on Tuesday could be a nice distraction. In some ways this will be easier than playing Porto. Bayern will at least attempt to engage us. And with Partey and ESR rested they should be able to contribute some important minutes. But my focus will remain on the Villa home match. And at least Douglas Luiz is now ineligible. We just need McGinn to be injured. This will be another difficult challenge for us and would, unfortunately, help that lot get closer to the Champions League. But I suppose it’s more important for us to win. Just.
So enjoy the next few hours as we return to TOTL. We deserve it. This is far beyond my expectations at the start of the year. And unimaginable after that loss at Fulham. And while I’m still unconvinced that we can win the league it’s important to enjoy each and everyone of these victorys and recognize that this team is for real. And we’re still a few years away from being in our prime. How dominant were we today? So dominant that Arteta barely had to break into a sweat. No berating the referee or screaming from the sideline. He can see our patterns of play develop and has increased confidence in this team. As we should all have.
-LB7