A Little Respect

Respect. How much should any manager show to his opponent? As far as many of Arsenal's opponents are concerned, it's clearly OK to take risks and take the game to them, because Arteta's side are clearly superior to almost all of them, and have the stingiest defence in the league. And take chances with those sides he will definitely do. But to Liverpool? To Manchester City? And - as I suspect we may see next Sunday - to Newcastle when Arsenal get to conclude their nightmare start to the season at St James Park? A little more, perhaps...

However, I cannot condone the choice of starting XI for Sunday. It smacked of too much respect. Of fear, even. And when the manager has such an array of talent from which to choose as he does now - as with the game at Anfield - it was the wrong message to send out. As much to his own supporters as it was to his opponents.

Of course, there's a lot of nuance to this. And much of that was discussed following the Liverpool defeat. And whilst I understood and was happy to side with the manager's game plan at Anfield, I cannot support what he did on Sunday. In two positions; not just one.

With all due respect to a very good Manchester City side - any side with Rodri and Haaland in has to be respected - they are not the side they were. Arsenal's team and squad are generally accepted as now being better than theirs. And Arsenal were at home. So I cannot understand the midfield selection. In the absence of Odegaard, the team was crying out for some creativity, yet Arteta went for solidity instead. And it was soon clear that it was the wrong decision. Rice, Zubimendi and Merino. No, I'm sorry. Not at home. To anyone. 

As for the decision to start Trossard on the left... well, that was another interesting one. It's becoming increasingly apparent to me that despite having no less than 4 possible left-wingers in his squad, Arteta is not fully happy with any of them. Madueke clearly prefers the right, and had to play on that side in the continuing absence of Bukayo Saka. Of the others Martinelli continually disappoints in that role with his decision-making, and Eze much prefers an interior role. As for Leo himself, he is looking increasingly like an impact player; not a starter. What would I have done? Well, despite his underwhelming showing in Bilbao, I would have stuck with Eze - and if that required a change in tactics to accommodate his natural desire to play in an inside forward position, I'd have done it.

Clearly, it wasn't in the plan for City to take an early lead. But that was actually down to Arsenal over-committing in midfield. Following a bit of pinball, Gabriel lunged in to win the ball when perhaps he ought not to have done, Haaland got there first and found Reijnders, and then... well, it was nothing short of brilliant from the Norwegian. Firstly, to spot what was on and to react instantly - I was watching from side on and his acceleration and desire to make the most of the situation meant that he left Gabriel trailing in his wake, and City were suddenly three on two. Reijnders driving run and perfect pass; and there was simply no way that Haaland was going to miss. A brilliant goal.

Of course, this left Arsenal in a bind. Especially with a lack of creative spark in midfield. Prior to the goal, City had been pressing high, but they then dropped off a little and let Arsenal have the ball as their defenders stayed disciplined, and Rodri started to drop in amongst them to receive and distribute. What an impressive player Rodri is, by the way. Calm, composed, seemingly able to read opposition players' minds - and a magnificent physical specimen to boot.  

As far as Arenal were concerned, there was far too much of that old umbrella/horseshoe passing that we've grown to hate, with the only out ball seemingly to Madueke on the right. They were creating nothing, playing far too far away from the opponent's goal, and worst of all simply not capable of moving the ball fast enough to upset City's equilibrium. For all of their possession - and there was loads of it - it was frankly quite a boring spectacle, and the crowd was completely subdued. 

All the home side had to show for their territorial advantage was a series of corners; but with the giant Donnarumma in goal they had to vary the delivery, with the ball being aimed either near or far post to avoid him; but in truth there was little real threat. Things did improve towards half time, with Madueke causing most of the problems for City (he forced one smart save from the giant Italian goalkeeper), but it was quite disheartening on the whole, and there was a clamour for personnel change in the stands as the whistle blew.

Thankfully, Arteta took ownership of the team selection issues and made half-time changes. Saka for Madueke was forced - the former Chelsea man has a knee injury on which we await news of a scan - although I doubt that the plan was to give Starboy a whole half of football on his return. The other obvious change was Eze for Merino. The sight of those two standing ready to come on caused havoc in the concourses as - for a change - people rushed to get back into their seats instead of finishing their pints. As my daughter said to me: 'What's going on? We've never had to queue to get back to our seats after half-time.' Well, there's her explanation.

Anyway, the changes made an immediate impact as Eze, playing left8/10, started to get on the ball straight away. And Saka showed why - for all his undoubted ability - why Madueke is never going to keep him out of the side. Saka began to run at his full back, and City were pushed back even further.An  early Eze shot saved by Donnarumma, and another from Zubimendi just over the bar were better signs. But there was always a threat going the other way. On one swift break Doku ran 40 yards before a brilliant pass split the Arsenal defence and sent Haaland away at Raya. We expected the worst; but the shot was straight at the keeper.

One bizarre incident to report as Bernardo Silva (or 'the little sh*t' as we called him in block 17) - who had already literally scythed Gabriel to the floor and been booked for it - attempted to win an Oscar when Trossard, who he had hit with the ball when on the ground, threw the ball back at him and hit him in the stomach. The diminutive Portuguese flung himself to the floor holding his face. It was pathetic! My mate @mattkandela of The Arsenal Opinion podcast, back in the UK for a flying visit and taking up his seat next to mine, was out of the aforementioned seat in a flash and down to the front of the block to give Bernardo a piece of his mind from close range. His mother would be proud of him, I'm sure!

Anyway, back to the football, and all sorts of strange goings on as Pep began to systematically take of all of his forwards (including Haaland) and replace them with centre-backs. City were getting pushed further and further back, and for every defensive change Pep made, Arteta made an attacking one. It was like watching the crazy Wenger days when he would simply chuck every forward player onto the field.

The corner count continued to mount, the half-chances came and went, and it was strange to comprehend a Guardiola team resorting to playing in such a fashion. I've literally never seen it before. And they finally paid the price, in the 92nd minute, in the most unusual of circumstances. For some strange reason the City defence found themselves in a high line - all 5 of them (with the other 5 also in their half)  - as Eze picked the ball up in midfield. A quick look up to see Martinelli starting a run between two of the centre-backs, a lofted ball into 25 yards of space behind the line, and the Brazilian was clear on goal. One delicate touch to control the ball, a glance up to see Donnarumma in no man's land, and a deft lob with the outside of his right foot... And that's two vital goal contributions from Gabi in the space of a week - great to see.

It felt like time stood still as the ball bounced once and then nestled into the far corner of the unguarded goal. What a relief! And if it didn't feel entirely what Arsenal had earned - loads of sweat but little guile -  it certainly did feel that Pep had brought it on himself by making all those negative changes. At this point who cares; but there's plenty of learning for even the great Guardiola to take from that.

5 minutes of basketball-type football, with neither side settling for a draw but no clear cut chances to follow, and that was that. Points shared. But was this another chance blown by Arteta? I'd argue Yes, I'm afraid. A little respect for such exalted opposition as Manchester City is all well and good, but he'd shown too much. All the talk on the way out of the ground, and then in the media, was on the same lines. 

Mikel must surely start taking this on board and be prepared to go after sides from the very start. Especially with the defence he has assembled to fall back on. I have been one of his biggest supporters, but times like these do make me wonder whether he does have it to take Arsenal all the way. Still... who else is available to take up that mantle? Much as I dislike Jose Mourinho's for the way he used to abuse Arsene Wenger, I do wish that Arteta would swap defensive thoughts for Mourinho's pragmatism. Still, despite this being his 6th season it's still Arteta's first ever management job...

Anyway, that's done. The gap to Liverpool is already 5 points, however, and it's Newcastle away next. I wanted 14 points by the end of next weekend, but it can only be a maximum of 13 now. And it needs to be 13. Port Vale away before then, and a shadow Arsenal side I'm sure. But let's keep moving on. COYG!