Trossard Winner Saves Us From Yet More VAR Controversy

1-0 to The Arsenal. The very least that they deserved from a match that they dominated pretty much from start to finish. But - and I'll cover this later on - 75% possession with an xG of barely over 1 is rather unsatisfactory. and I would hope and expect there to be plenty more to come from this team.

The headline news from Arteta's team selection was, of course, the choice of David Raya over Aaron Ramsdale. As yet, we cannot really know what this means going forward - there is a lot of football to be played. And this one is not as cut and dried as Ramsdale for Leno was. Raya's stats make for very impressive reading - certainly when compared to the bare figures that Ramsdale put up last season - but there's not that much between them. On the other hand, why spend £30m (as it will be by next summer) on a keeper when the guy who ought to be England's Number One is in possession of the jersey? Watch this space...

Personally, I get nervous whenever ANY Arsenal keeper plays out from the back. That will never go away. I suppose that all that Raya has to do is to keep everybody calm when he has the ball in hand or at his feet - some of his distribution was glorious in this match; one particular 50-yard drop kick to Saka was a thing of rare beauty - but it does seem harsh on Ramsdale. Further evidence of Arteta's ruthless streak, I guess.

Vieira for Havertz was perhaps a little more obvious. I did say that I was anticipating that change in my previous post. The Portuguese has made a good impact on several occasions as a substitute, so he'd earned his chance. And indeed he looked to have justified his inclusion early on with a sumptuous slide rule pass into the path of Martinelli, who finished it off with an Henry-like far post curler. Only for VAR to rule the goal out.

Here's what I don't get; the ambiguity of it all. Nketiah is, technically, in an offside position when the ball reaches him. However, Gabriel wasn't looking to pass to him - he was trying to play a square pass back to Saliba - and the interception from Beto is what sends the ball into Eddie's path. The Law states that the defender's touch has to be regarded as 'inadvertent' for offside to kick in. Was his touch inadvertent? No, it wasn't. Yes, he clearly wasn't looking to send the ball 20 yards backwards; but what he was doing was making a deliberate effort to block Gabriel's pass. 

I'm sorry; if that's City, or United, or Liverpool, the goal stands. Why is is always decisions involving Arsenal that cause such controversy? But fortunately later events prevented this decision from being the decisive moment of the game. Otherwise we'd all be looking at this game in an entirely different light. 

Martinelli looked to have injured himself in the act of scoring, and Arteta made the correct decision in introducing Trossard at this point. What this did do was make Arsenal less predictable down the left, with the Belgian interchanging with Vieira. A different challenge to the more direct Martinelli for the 'veteran' Ashley Young.

In truth, the game was like a siege. Everton are an absolutely terrible side. They're proabaly fortunate that the teams that came up look sub-standard. That just might get them out of trouble. But their fans are yet again due for a miserable season. 

Yes, they can defend as others do; deep and with numbers. But that's asking for trouble and it was up to Arsenal to find the key. But the home side could barely keep the ball for more than a couple of seconds before giving it away again; They're pedestrian in midfield, and whilst Beto ran around a bit and tried to cause problems there was virtually nothing to worry about. 

This was illustrated when Saliba merely allowed Beto to run down a blind alley on the rare occasion when they were one on one. I know that we're used to it by now, and barely required comment, but Saliba is an absolute Rolls Royce of a defender; he cruises through matches, uses his pace effortlessly, and is silky smooth in possession. And he's only 22?!?

So still 0-0 at half time. Incredibly. But I felt that Arsenal were trying to play around Everton a bit too much, when more decisive balls into the feet of the forwards may have made a difference. With the opposition little or no threat, losing the ball occasionally - risk/reward - was probably worth the chance. But as it turned out a set piece did the trick.

A short corner - one of many - drew Everton out of shape, with not enough players out to the ball quickly enough. A sharp interchange between Odegaard and Saka, and Starboy found Trossard unmarked 12 yards out. In truth, there was plenty still to do, but the finish was sublime. And so Arsenal took a well-deserved lead.

And it could/should have been more. Pickford and a series of last ditch blocks kept the score at merely 1, when a three goal lead would not have flattered Arsenal. But I do feel that there's loads more to come from this side. Especially when Jesus comes in from the start, as he must surely be ready to do now. Eddie had one of his less effective games - a moment of indecision and an extra touch cost him his best opportunity - so I'd expect to see Jesus start, if not against PSV, then surely on Sunday against You Know Who.

Still, three points in the bag, and that's all that matters as we starting getting into the meat of the season. The long overdue return to Champions League action, and then Tottenham. Mouth-watering stuff. Tottenham, with a decent percentage of their supporters getting carried away by their start to the season, need to be taken down a peg or two. It would be fitting if Arsenal can be the team to do it. Stop Maddison; stop Tottenham. There'll be no customary Kane goal this time round. Time to put on a show. 3-1 yet again? Why not?

Just before I go, a word on Sky Sports' punditry. They had the B Team in, with the recently retired and completely biased Theo Walcott in with Karen Carney and  Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. And questions need to be asked of the latter's preparation for this game; especially when you hear nonsense like 'Odegaard needs to add more goals'. The guy scred 15 PL goals last season! Do your homework! Or go home after the Chelsea game. Bring back Graeme Souness!

Right. We move on. This week is what it's all about. COYG!