Trossard’s Trying Week - And Time To Show Some ‘Smarts’

It has been a difficult week for Arsenal on several fronts. A chastening defeat at Bournemouth. A struggle to get over the line against Shakhtar. Wracked by injuries; and additionally by a key suspension. Luckily, we’ve got an easy game coming up!

Liverpool preview to follow lower down the page. But I first want to discuss the latest two results/performances. Then the raft of injuries - which is in complete contrast to last season’s plain sailing. The individual errors that continue to both plague and cost the team. Arteta’s conservative team selections. And then finally whether Arsenal are being refereed differently to other teams.

Bournemouth away. Not a venue where Arsenal have traditionally suffered. But with no Odegaard, no Saka and no Timber the team looked out of kilter from the very start. The midfield that Arteta selected was - how can I express it - ‘functional’ - Partey, Rice, Merino does lack flair, but it was clear that the Manager wanted solidity. 

I was disappointed not to see Ethan Nwaneri given the opportunity to start a game. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough; but it does seem that Arteta - hopefully not repeating the type of mistakes of 2020 that led to a run of 7 successive defeats (a sequence that very nearly cost him his job) until he finally had no choice but to pitch ESR into the side - prefers to select his teams in a hierarchical manner. More experienced players first… and I don’t like that.

The first of Trossard’s two major errors of the week occurred when he attempted an ambitious, but ultimately dangerous, first time lofted cross field pass from the wing to Saliba. The pass lacked any form of control and the normally unflappable defender, caught on the wrong side of Evanilson (who was technically standing in an offside position; although not, obviously, if he received the ball from an opponent - I do understand the Laws!), panicked and brought him down. Two individual errors in the space of three seconds;... and the yellow card came out. Which was perhaps understandable - after all, the incident took place fully 45 yards from goal, the forward wouldn’t have found it easy to get the bouncing ball under control, and Ben White was technically on the cover; although a fair distance away.

I instinctively felt that we’d got away with it when the yellow card appeared, as it could easily have been red, but what transpired over the next couple of minutes angered me greatly. Jared Gillett, the (Liverpool supporting) VAR, decided that the incident needed further consideration. Of course he did; Arsenal play Liverpool next. And, despite the brandishing of the yellow card not being a ‘clear and obvious error’, decided to re-referee the incident. And we all know what that means. Yellow upgraded to Red. And with this image popping up on our television screens just beforehand... again, I reiterate, I'm not one for conspiracy theories…

The frustration of that decision was not only felt during the game itself, but also the next day when in a virtually identical incident Tosin of Chelsea was given a yellow card for a carbon copy foul (probably a worse one, in fact), in almost exactly the same place on the field.

The Arsenal fans started a new song at that point; showing a macabre sense of humour: '10 men again Ole Ole'. And Arteta reacted to the loss of Saliba by bringing on Kivior - the last fit centre half - for the largely ineffective Sterling (now there’s a guy struggling to find his feet in the side), and things stabilised for a while until a minute’s play that formed a microcosm of the game, and of how a side can get punished. First Martinelli, released by Merino and through on goal, failed to make the most of his opportunity and shot directly at Kepa the keeper. From there, Bournemouth made their way up field and won a corner from which Christie lashed home a half volley that I defy him to manage to do ever again. Nice routine - one that Nicolas Jover would be proud of - but distinctly unsatisfactory and frustrating from an Arsenal point of view.

At which point I sensed that it was going to be a long evening. And so it proved as Arsenal - lacking in creative quality - struggled to produce a worthwhile opportunity. The game was crying out for the introduction of Nwaneri, and perhaps on reflection dropping Rice back into central defence to allow that to happen may have been a viable alternative (thank you, Captain Hindsight). 

Arsenal created little from then on as the 10 men were largely pinned back (not Man City style, but difficult). And then followed a further individual error, as Kivior’s under hit back pass under pressure from Evanilson led to Raya giving away a penalty. 2-0, and 'that was all she wrote'. Too late to bring on Nwaneri then, Mikel… and, irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the Saliba incident, Arsenal got all that they deserved from the match.Nothing.

So that was that. A first defeat of the season, followed by the usual media - and fan - pile on. Arsenal’s first defeat since February, and the reaction was ridiculous. The thing is this; it’s so rare for Arsenal to lose a game that it becomes big news. If you’re a supporter of Man United or Tottenham, it happens almost every other week. But an Arsenal defeat is News. And no; it’s not terminal from a ‘title-winning chances’ point of view. But you wouldn’t know it from the press they got.

On Tuesday, Arsenal had the opportunity to change the mood with the visit of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. Not the most challenging of opposition in Champions League terms, so perhaps an opportunity for Arteta to finally start Nwaneri. 

But not a bit of it. Same midfield as before; and that lack of creativity was quite evident as they struggled to a 1-0 win. Gabriel Martinelli was the difference-maker; he had the Shakhtar right back on toast in the first half, and it was his shot that - amusingly - deflected off the post and then the keeper’s backside for the only goal of the game. 

And as the game wore on and the opposition were quite clearly seen not to be the pushovers we’d hoped, things got rather tense. Especially when Trossard heaped further pressure on his team-mates with his limp effort from the penalty spot following a VAR-awarded penalty. Finished off his week, did that. It's not been a good week for the Belgian, and he perhaps needs to start on the bench for a game or two now, but he has plenty of credit in the Bank. Although, if he'd have allowed Havertz to take it, the German may have set a new record for scoring in successive matches at the stadium…

Arsenal held on, though, but at a further cost; Riccardo Califiori limping off with a knee injury to further exacerbate the defensive crisis. And to dismay my wife, I must add!

Goodness knows what the Manager is going to do with the meagre defensive resources that remain. No Saliba; very likely no Califiori; doubts over Timber; Zinchenko half fit; no Tomiyasu (injured following a comeback that lasted a full 6 minutes). What a mess. And with Odegaard definitely still out, and Saka’s fitness a matter of guesswork, squad depth (such as it is) is going to be sorely tested against an almost full-strength Liverpool. For those of a certain age, you can almost hear Captain Edmund Blackadder pronounce that: 'This is a crisis. A large crisis. In fact, if you've got a moment, it's a twelve-storey crisis with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour porterage and an enormous sign on the roof saying This Is A Large Crisis'

Before I get to the Liverpool game, I’m going to have another go at examining how Arsenal are being refereed this season. And it’s been harsh, to say the least. The standards against which Arsenal ‘transgressions’ are being judged do seem to be at a considerably higher bar than other clubs are getting away with. The Rice red card; letter of the Law, but harsh. Trossard’s exactly the same. Both costly in terms of dropped points. Other clubs being seen to be treated more leniently. Same issue for Saliba; on balance probably a Red; but once the Yellow had been shown… and we saw the contrast to the Chelsea one the very next day. 7 points gone… and that’s a lot in the context of the oppositions' pace at the top of the table. As regards the next match; one defeat is careless, but two would be a disaster.

And so to Liverpool. Who knows who may or may not be fit, but if it’s all bad news I can see Arsenal lining up as follows:

Raya, Partey, White, Gabriel, Kivior, Jorginho (surely needed this week), Rice, Merino, Jesus, Havertz, Martinelli. 

And that’s not going to strike fear into the opposition. Partey up against Diaz. And - worse - Kivior versus Mo Salah. Close your eyes… If the Manager wanted to be brave, he could chuck in Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. But if Bournemouth and Shakhtar weren't deemed the right games to do that, what are the chances of that in this one?

It hardly feels right to be typing that I’ll take a draw now. Because we really have to beat them. I just can’t see how - unless Arteta has a pleasant surprise or two for us on the injury front. Come on, Bukayo!

Let’s wait. And hope. And if you’re going to the game make plenty of noise! COYG!

Just before I go, I'd like to wish Arsene Wenger a very happy birthday for earlier this week. No matter the rights and wrongs of how long he stayed at the helm of the club, he gave me some of my most enjoyable moments as an Arsenal supporter. Who can deny that? Bonne anniversaire, Chef.

Back soon...

The Cavalry Ride To Arteta’s Rescue

To rotate or not to rotate? That is the question? Although if there ever was going to be an opportunity to do so, then Southampton at home ought to have been it. And so Arteta twisted instead of sticking (one cannot expect him to select essentially the same XI 55+ times in a season); but I sensed pre-game that perhaps he had overdone it with three personnel changes, plus one positional.

And so it proved to be. Despite collecting full backs as if he’s expecting a world shortage, injuries forced the manager to drop Thomas Partey in to right back with both White and Timber unfit, Tomiyasu barely back training, and young Josh Nichols deemed not ready for the Premier League despite a promising runout against Bolton. Califiori was the natural choice at left back; he'd looked somewhat uncomfortable and unfamiliar at right back in the latter stages of the PSG game - to my eyes, anyway - and so Kivior stayed on the bench.

Whether Arteta needed to play Rice and Jorginho as a ‘double pivot’ is open to debate - it would have been nice to see Nwaneri get a Premier League start - but it was further forward, with Jesus and Sterling coming in to the side in place of Trossard and Martinelli, where Arsenal struggled for cohesion. Saka always plays, of course…

It has been interesting to see how Arteta has compensated for the loss of Martin Odegaard by asking Havertz to play more on the right (he's everywhere; popping up wherever he needs to be to be honest), and I've been fascinated to see him often appear on Starboy's outside on occasion as 'B' picks up the ball and drives inside. The downside, of course, is the loss of the German's presence in the penalty area on those occasions, but Trossard and Martinelli have been making up for that.

But with Jesus and Sterling in there instead, the balance on the left hand side changed on Saturday. And took some getting used to, as Arsenal essentially lacked cohesion. I thought that Sterling did ok, without looking anything like the player he used to be, and we have to hope that after the mauling his confidence took at the Cobham Madhouse he can regain some of that form. He's an entirely different player to Martinelli, and Arteta will surely have a plan to play to his strengths as the season goes on. Jesus, for the most part, looked like a man who has forgotten how to play. He hasn't been the same player since he picked up a knee injury at the last World Cup, and as a result has struggled for fitness and then form; and now he's fit it's clear that he has lost his place to Havertz - Arsenal's undisputed Number 9. 

As Arsenal's style of play has become more and more structured (and yes; there’s loads of fluidity within that!), it has felt to me that there isn't a place in the side for somebody like Jesus, who lacks positional discipline. Sure, opponents don't know where he may pop up next; but I suspect that often his team-mates don't either! 

Arsenal started the game very quickly, as one would expect, and despite the personnel changes looked likely to overwhelm Southampton. But, frustratingly, and much like the previous week, the breakthrough goal did not come. And as the half wore on it felt that players and fans alike both felt that it was only a matter of time before it did, but there were few clear cut chances despite Arsenal's control. There wasn't a huge amount for the returning Aaron Ramsdale to do as last ditch blocks and interceptions meant that the ball wasn't getting through to goal, and the crowd was quiet. Both Jesus and Sterling had chances, but Arsenal looked disjointed, despite retaining control. 

There was a moment when Arsenal won the ball back after a rare Southampton foray into the penalty area when Sterling, had he been more alert, could have created separation from his marker and given Raya a chance to find him in acres of space, but he could not, or would not, put on the afterburners in the way that I suspect that Martinelli would have done. As for Jesus, he really needs a goal or some sort of goal involvement. He looks a little bit lost, and devoid of confidence. There were one or two flashes, to be fair, but he didn't do enough in the hour or so he spent on the field.

Southampton's attack is quite powder puff, frankly, and the busy Cameron Archer (relegated with Sheffield United last season) looked their main threat - along with young right winger Dibling. Indeed, Dibling caused Califiori one or two problems as the game wore on; the Italian looks tremendous going forward, but does appear to lack a little pace when forced back towards his own goal - an upgrade on Zinchenko in many ways, but with similar defensive issues. It does feel strange to me that despite accumulating defenders as if they're going out of fashion, so many of them (Saliba and Gabriel being the exceptions) are 'hybrids' - not a traditional full back in sight. Still, we have to assume that Arteta knows what he's doing.

It was Archer who, completely against the run of play, gave Southampton the lead 10 minutes into the second half. Sterling lost the ball in the Southampton half, and one ball over the top and one twisting run later the ball was nestling in the far corner of Raya's net. That certainly wasn't in the script!

But it was almost as if a switch went off for Arsenal at that point. The level of intensity rose, and they were level within three minutes. Saka intercepted in the Southampton half and played an instant pass to Havertz - who had immediately got on the run - one touch to set the ball, and a clinical finish from 17 yards, off the far post, gave Ramsdale no chance whatsoever.

At that point, Arteta had already been planning changes. In the aftermath of the equaliser, three took place. Martinelli, Trossard and Merino on for Sterling, Jesus and Jorginho (I had already called these exact changes; although I was once again disappointed not to see Nwaneri out there). At that point the intensity went up several notches - it really shouldn't be like that - as Martinelli and Trossard began to put the Saints defence under extra pressure. And from then it was only a matter of time before Arsenal took the lead.

And so it came to pass that Arsenal quickly went ahead; with a goal we've seen before. Saka driving in from the right, defenders lured into crowded areas in front of goal, and Martinelli totally unmarked at the back post to volley Starboy's inch perfect cross home past a bewildered Ramsdale. Glorious. There was a VAR check - and Merino was marginally offside but not deemed to be interfering with play - and following a three minute check the goal was finally awarded. Double celebrations... the second set tinged with relief!

Arsenal pressed for more, but Southampton - and in particular young Dibling, who looks to have a bright future - showed a bit more on the break. The youngster's shot had Raya at full stretch, and from the resulting corner Raya flapped, and the ball cannoned off a Saints player onto the crossbar. Nervy times, and the game not feeling quite settled; until Trossard broke forward, then lost the ball in the penalty area. Sugawara looked to clear the ball, but hadn't noticed Saka coming in from the right and a neat side foot right foot finish made the points safe at 3-1.

Saka's 49th Premier League goal, and his stats over the last two home games have been spectacular. 7 shots and 8 chances created versus Leicester, and 7 plus 7 in this one. Two assists and a goal in this game - thus justifying my decision to captain him in Fantasy Premier League! Additionally, by the way, his assist for Havertz meant that this was the seventh successive home game in which the German had scored. £60 million down the drain? I don't think so! Waka waka! And finally on the statisitics front; this was Arsenal's 400th Premier League home win. only Manchester United (almost entirely down to Sir Alex Ferguson) have more.

And so that was that. But Arsenal are by no means at their best yet this season. Especially at home. It's interesting to see how much more switched on defensively they are away from home, and the concern for Arteta and all of us is that there may come a time when instead of conceding early in the second half, they concede late on and simply don't have time to put things right. These past two weeks they've had plenty of time, and they're done what needed to be done, but they must tighten up. The cavalry came to the rescue; but another time they might not have time to do so.

One big issue for Arteta is how to handle his squad. As I've said, there were perhaps too many line-up changes in this one, but he has to be able to handle his 'alternates', and to expect them to contribute a bit more than they did here. Arsenal don't have the depth that Manchester City have, which increases the pressure. 

Talking of Manchester City, it's going to take some time to understand the implications of the Associsated Party Transactions ruling just made. And despite them claiming some sort of victory, I reckon that it's a pyrrhic one. Whilst the Premier League have lost out regarding some details, I believe that on the whole its more of a win for the PL than for City. And this, of course, is just a small part of what City are having to fight. With 30 charges relating to 'failure to cooperate', they do appear to be in quite a bit of trouble. But I'd rather win the league this year irrespective of points deductions, please...

Just a quick mention of Tottenham here. Banter Club extrordinaire. Comedy value 10/10. Nobody has blown more two goal leads than Tottenham Hotspur in the history of the Premier League. That's 10 times now - three more than any other club. The very definition of Spursy. Special thanks to ex-Gunner Danny Welbeck for sticking the final knife in. Long may the Spursiness continue; everywhere they go.

And so to another Interlull. How I hate them. So now we'll be checking how Ghana are getting on, and what time Brazil are playing. Ridiculous. Still, I guess that these two weeks are going to take Odegaard two weeks closer to fitness, and we may be getting close to seeing the Rice, Merino, Odegaard midfield that we've been craving.

Here's to an uneventful fortnight. COYG!