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!
