A Solid - If Unconvincing - Week

To tell the truth, I've not really been in the mood to write about football since the appalling events in Israel on the morning of October 7th; followed by the constant demonisation of the only democratic state in the Middle East by people who are neither able nor willing to understand the enormity of what's going on - nor what a strong Israel means for the rest of the civilised world. And before anybody clicks off in disgust, I also have huge amounts of sympathy for the ordinary citizens of Gaza who are stuck in the middle of this.

We have family and friends in Israel, and are in a constant state of worry for their safety.  But this is a football blog, so I won't go any further into that here. Let's crack on:

Difficult to know what to make of the Chelsea game, in my view. But, once more, plenty of talking points. 

Firstly, the line-up. No surprise to see Saka and Martinelli named in the starting XI; but I doubt that either of them was fully fit. In defensive midfield, I'd have much preferred to have seen Partey starting than Jorginho; for his ability to beat the press. And as it transpired the energetic Chelsea midfield swarmed all over the Brazilian; indeed, they put pressure all over the Arsenal back line as they stopped Arsenal from playing between the lines - as they like to do - for much of the game. This inhibited Arsenal, with pretty much everyone below their best almost throughout and 'sloppy' being the most apt adjective to describe the first half performance.

Chelsea are clearly improving. As they are entitled to do bearing in mind the amount of money spent on their squad, and the amount of talent assembled. All of which doesn't stop 39-year-old Thiago Silva being absolutely key to them. The midfield trio are all talented, and can all run all day. Raheem Sterling is getting back to his best. And Cole Palmer may be making Pep Guardiola regret selling him.

And so it was that Chelsea essentially stopped Arsenal from getting into their stride for much of the game. And whilst there was an element of luck to both their goals, they frankly deserved to have the lead as Arsenal struggled to get going.

The first goal - the penalty - was one of those that you'd want if it was your side on the attack. And by the Law as it's currently framed it had to be given. But it was a really harsh call - especially as the ball wasn't even going in - and frankly that Law has to be re-written. It's all in very close proximity, and where on earth was Saliba supposed to put his arms?

Anyway, after a VAR check and a bit of a shemozzle Palmer stepped up and sent Raya the wrong way. Palmer, by the way, had been booked for an early foul on Jesus that was another 'dark orange', Kovacic-style, and could easily have seen red. But it was against Arsenal, so...

Zinchenko - not at his best and additionally booked - was replaced by Tomiyasu at half-time. Something needed to be done about the constant threat imposed by Sterling. I was disappointed, however, not to see Partey replace Jorginho, as I felt that the former's extra athleticism would have helped Arsenal beat the press more easily, and get 'between the lines' - something that they had failed to do for almost the entire first half (a half chance for Rice their only real foray into the home penalty area). Plenty of possession, but nothing to show for it.

But it was down their left that Chelsea made their second breakthrough, when Odegaard lost possession (something that cost us goals last season too), which set Gallagher away, and then Mudryk took over. The Ukrainian's mishit cross - no way was that a shot! - caught Raya out and nestled in the far corner of the net. Now some say that Raya was out of position - and he was perhaps a step or two too far forward - but he was looking to intercept the cross and I can forgive him for that. 

I cannot, however, forgive him for what he did a few moments later, when a short pass directly into traffic was intercepted by Palmer, who should have done better. 

And now seems a good time to discuss the Raya/Ramsdale issue. Look, I am aware that Arteta is looking for every small gain that he can make - and that the margins to Manchester City are getting smaller. But I'm unconvinced by Raya. His kicking stats this year are nowhere as good as they were at Brentford, and there's frankly so little between him and the extremely popular Ramsdale that it's starting to look to me like a failed experiment. You will have seen him then repeat the give-away pass, and additionally nearly punch one into his own net, in Seville! 

The Manager is single-minded and ruthless, and if being ruthless gets the job done, then all well and good. But I'm not impressed by the stubborn streak that goes alongside it. For me, Raya looks out of his depth at a club the size of Arsenal, and is failing to cope with the pressure of being at a big club. There's a massive difference between playing for Brentford (no disrespect) and playing for Arsenal. Expectations are entirely different.  It's time to bring Ramsdale back into the side.

But moving on to happier aspects of this game. Arteta's substitutions and change of game plan, alongside Pochettino's more negative changes (at 2-0, perhaps understandable), meant that Arsenal could leave with a point and perhaps be disappointed not to have collected all three. Firstly, a stroke of fortune as Sanchez (nervous as a kitten in the Chelsea goal, and probably as overwhelmed by being there as Raya is at Arsenal) misplaced a pass intended for Enzo. Gallagher was on his heels, and Rice reacted quickly, nipped in and curled the ball first time into the empty net from - apparently - all of 36.6 yards. Whereupon the momentum shifted, alongside the change of plan.

Havertz, back at his old stomping ground, made an appearance and went up top alongside fellow substitute Nketiah. Extra height, and an extra body for the Chelsea defence to deal with. And Raya was instructed to go long with his kicks. From one of those, a 'second ball' was met by a stunning first time pass from White to the German that cut through the lines in a split second. Havertz linked play by turning the ball out to the right and the hitherto quiet Saka (in truth, Cuccurella had (man)handled him well up to then). White's overlap distracted Cuccurella, and Saka spotted yet another substitute, Leandro Trossard, at the far post, his pinpoint cross bypassing the sleeping Gusto and was turned home exquisitely with the outside of his boot by the Belgian for 2-2. 

So with 10 minutes or so to go, if there was going to be a winner it was suddenly only going to be Arsenal. However, apart from a moment of panic from Sanchez from a corner that saw him take out a number of players - including Gabriel Jesus, who he flattened! - that should have attracted a VAR check for a penalty (but it was against Arsenal, so...) a half-chance for Nketiah was all they could muster, and that was that. 

A point gained, or two dropped? Difficult to say, but I'm happy to settle for that on balance. Arsenal are nicely tucked in right behind Manchester City on goal difference, with only a deluded bunch of over-performing usurpers above them. Arsenal, to my eyes, however, are yet to really 'hit their straps'. Perhaps that's better than shooting their bolt early, as they did last season. We shall see. As for Chelsea; I can see them pushing for Top 6 or even Top 4 as the season progresses.

I'll quickly cover the Champions League game while I'm here. Arsenal regained control of the group with a slightly nervy 2-1 win away to a decent Sevilla team who have quite a few well-known names in their ranks. Not least former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos! Just the one change, with Tomiyasu in for Zinchenko. This was apparently, by the way, Arsenal's first away win in Europe since 2016! And it's also worth noting that Sevilla held Real Madrid off last week in La Liga.

The star of the show was undoubtedly Gabriel Jesus, whose scintillating turn and assist for Champions League debutant Gabriel Martinelli has to be seen to be believed, and who scored the second himself with a gorgeous curled shot into the far corner of the Sevilla net. 

There were a few moments of worry after Gudelj pulled a goal back from a corner - I've referred to those above in my appraisal of David Raya (my heart was in my mouth when he mis-punched that cross!), but the three points, and the draw in the other game, see Arsenal back on top of their group. Wins in the next two games - both at home - should mean the opportunity to massively rotate for the final match in Eindhoven. 

Meantime, it's about time that Arteta starting rotating a little. Maybe against Premier League whipping boys Sheffield United on Saturday. We shall see. In the meantime, COYG!