In what has started to become an all too familiar pattern, Arsenal's failure to convert territorial, possession, field tilt and xG superiority when on top led to late jitters and concerns in Saturday's win over Brighton. Some time soon, some team is really going to cop it, but in the meantime everyone associated with the club ends up suffering through nerve-wracking moments that really don't need to occur. Can we not just sit back and relax occasionally?
And we'll start Saturday's review with... yet another defensive injury. No; wait. Two defensive injuries! With Timber left out as a precautionary measure (already adding further strain on the squad), Arsenal lost Calafiori in the warm-up with a recurrence of something he did in training the day before. And so, with MLS as the only fully fit 'senior' defender on the bench at that point, we were left speculating as to how the Arsenal defence were going to line up. Ricci had been due to partner Saliba at centre-back, we believe, but Hincapie was switched inside from left back, MLS came in to the vacated left back role... but right back? Would it be Rice? Zubimendi? Possibly even Saka? As it turns out, Declan Rice filled the role almost as if he'd played it all his life, in yet another 8+/10 performance.
Injuries have become some sort of revolving door with this squad; and I've only got one possible answer for it that doesn't involve some sort of gypsy curse. This time, the defensive injury roll call was White, Timber, Mosquera and Calafiori. With Big Gabi just about back; fit enough to make the bench. It doesn't matter how big the squad is; it's never, ever big enough.
Whilst I'm not prepared to blame the Manager for the injury crises - and remember, this isn't the first one this season (the attack was decimated a couple of months ago) - I do think that his failure to rotate when he does have the chance cannot be helping the situation. He has had opportunities to sit the likes of Rice and Saka down for 20-30 minutes at a time, but has chosen not to do so. The knock on effect means that they get extra unnecessary miles in their legs; whilst at the same time failing to afford opportunities to the likes of Madueke, Norgaard and (particularly) Ethan Nwaneri. I know it's difficult, but if and when that squad is ever close to full fitness he's going to really struggle to keep players happy.
In the meantime, here's a list of players lost to injury at various times this season: Timber, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Hincapie, Mosquera, Norgaard, Saka, Odegaard, Madueke, Trossard, Jesus, Gyokeres, Havertz. 15 players - add them up - lost for between one and 25 matches so far...
But I tell you what does contribute to Arteta's failure to take the opportunity to rotate. It's the players' inability to put the opposition away. Match after match is dominated, yet the scoreline somehow remains too close for comfort. Yet again on Saturday, Arsenal failed to turn their complete domination into sufficient goals so as to manage the game as we'd like to see it managed. Brighton's xG at half time was 0.00!
As far as Arsenal were concerned, it was business as usual. But that's not necessarily what you want to see. There was an early chance for Gyokeres; which he failed to hit with any real conviction. And there were early signs that Bukayo Saka might be in for a field day down the right, with De Cuyper totally incapable of dealing with our Starboy. Two shots; one straight at the keeper when he perhaps could have squared the ball for others, and a second high, wide and not too handsome.
But after less than a quarter of an hour, Arsenal were ahead; and it was down to pressure on the press that led to a Brighton error. From a Brighton goal kick, Verbruggen felt forced to play the ball short and very vertically into midfield, where Hincapie closed down rapidly on Garuda. The ball popped up to Rice, whose first time header was directed to Saka. A quick shimmy and a neat ball to Odegaard - who had dropped back to manufacture some space as Rice drew two players away from him - and a powerful near post shot that left the keeper floundering. Well deserved on a balance of play that had seen virtually total domination.
Further opportunities followed. Several for Saka, long range efforts from Rice and Merino, and a goal-mouth mêlée that somehow saw the ball stay out of the net. Somehow, and familiarly, it remained just 1-0.
Just before half-time, a moment of controversy. Gyokeres, set free down the left by MLS's chipped pass, beat his man and knocked the ball past the onrushing Verbruggen 20 yards from goal and near the touchline. The Belgian's momentum took Gyokeres out, in a challenge that would be frowned upon on a rugby pitch. Much to the crowd's dismay, referee Brooks deemed the offence worthy of a mere yellow card and technically, by the law book, that was possibly the correct decision when looked at in the light of whether he had denied a 'clear goalscoring opportunity'. He had not. However, the force of the challenge was well beyond what I'd regard as acceptable; if that happens in midfield between opposing players, that's a red. And that is what I believed the goalkeeper deserved.
Brighton, so passive in the first half, needed to react during the interval. And the two changes they made certainly helped in their ongoing battle to stop the rampant Saka. And they even managed a (very tame) shot on target early on in the half. Yet moments later it was 2-0. Rice's sublime corner - won following the blocking of another 20-yard effort from Odegaard - was flicked into his own net by the unfortunate Rutter. If he'd made such contact at the other end, it would have been regarded as a superb finish. But Own Goal had struck again, and the scoreline looked much more reasonable at that point - with the crowd hoping for a stroll to the final whistle at that stage and as the domination continued with further opportunities for Saka and Gyokeres.
But the mood was soon to change, as with their first decent attack of the entire match Brighton pulled a goal back. Room was manufactured down their right, Ayari's shot across goal hit the post, and the ball rebounded into the path of Gomez, who had the whole goal to aim at. So unbelievably frustrating; and prompting the unveiling of every Arsenal fan's Christmas gift - the return of Big Gabi to restore order.
Yet not long after, a match-saving save - possibly the best save you'll see all season - from Raya as he leapt to his right and tipped Minteh's curling shot over the bar. Sublime. Superb. And - as we wondered - so, so unnecessary for Arsenal to be in this position. They say that goals change matches, but Arsenal's fragility in adversity was there for all to see. They ought to have been out of sight and that, unquestionably, was preying on both the players' and the crowd's minds. Something my dearly departed father used to say came to mind at the very moment that Raya tipped the ball over. 'Shoulda held it', he used to say. Hahaha.
A few minutes of nerves, and finally the tables started to turn back Arsenal's way as Brighton's comeback ran out of steam. In truth, the final 10 minutes or so felt more controlled and comfortable; and certainly would have been so if Gabriel Martinelli - on for Leandro Trossard - had managed to keep the ball down as he got on to the end of Saka's cross following a fast break. In typical Martinelli fashion, he blasted the ball over the bar. It would have been a lovely goal; and it would have eased all the tension from the game.
So three points, and back on top following City's earlier win. But they cannot keep doing this. It will not always work. And whilst I understand Arteta's reluctance to change the team when things are tight, he surely must start to trust those who sit on the bench. Sure, I can understand that the likes of Eze and Madueke don't necessarily look after the ball they way he'd like to see them do it; but he trusts Martinelli in these circumstances. It's so hard; on everyone concerned.
Meantime, these tweets sum up where Arsenal are on xG at the moment. Set Piece FC? Own Goal FC? At the end of the day, how these goals come doesn't really matter provided the points keep coming, and surely xG will right itself in Arsenal's favour. But in the meantime it's nothing short of downright stressful.
Just a few quick things before I wrap up. Firstly, Leandro Trossard has had quite a week. Booed by the Crystal Palace fans on Tuesday for having played for Brighton for many years, he then followed up by getting the same treatment from the Brighton supporters. Oh well; he needs (and has!) a thick skin - and he couldn't have been supported any more by the home crowd in either game.
Secondly, following the win over Palace on Tuesday - another game that should not have gone down to the wire - in this case a penalty shoot-out! - it's Chelsea in the semi-final. They're totally inconsistent, so let's look forward to Wembley...
And now a word for our skipper. Finally, in this game, Odegaard looked to be back approaching his best. And at his best he is indispensible. Long may this form continue. Quite what this means for the balance of the side - and the likes of Eze and Nwaneri - I do not know. Arteta's problem to sort.
And finally... it's Aston Villa at home on Tuesday. So soon after our last-minute loss to them just a few matches ago, and an immediate chance for revenge. They're on a long winning run - and the only game Arsenal have lost since September was at Villa Park. This is a massive game. So... why, PGMOL, have you selected the diabolical Darren England to referee, with a Championship referee on VAR. Are you doing it on purpose?
Anyway, I'm certain that this one is going to be spiking our blood pressure once again. But a win is imperative! COYG!!!
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