Mikel's Madueke Conundrum

Three points were eventually secured from Saturday's return to Premier League action. But this was very much a game of two halves - although not equally divided halves (not actual halves then, as pedants may point out)...

Up to the point when Leeds deservedly took the lead after 55 minutes, Arsenal were frankly second best when it came to effectiveness; for all their dominance of the ball. But the goal sparked the home side into life, and victory was ultimately achieved fairly comfortably. All of which leaves questions.

As far as team selection was concerned, there were two surprises. Firstly that Kai Havertz was deemed fit enough to start - thus leaving moot all questions about whether Arteta would prefer Gyokeres or Merino up top. And Noni Madueke was the perhaps slightly surprising choice to replace the injured Tzolis on the left instead of Eberechi Eze.

And Arsenal started fairly well; dominating possession if not creating too much. Indeed, throughout the half Leeds were far more effective with the limited possession they had than Arsenal were. The home aide looked sluggish and ponderous on the ball; failing to move it quickly enough in the face of the massed yellow ranks. Two headers from Havertz - from Madueke crosses - were the only worthwhile attempts they had on goal throughout the half, whereas Raya had to work considerably harder than his counterpart, Trafford - making three important saves - and the away side's tactic of quick switches deep into the Arsenal penalty area - one of which would hurt the home side later - was clear, obvious and effective. 

Frankly, Arsenal were poor. Only Raya was playing well, with Gabriel, Saka and Havertz the three players I'd single out for particular criticism. Gabriel has been all over the world during the international break (to Australia and India), so I am sure that there would have been some jet lag in his legs; he was well off his normal standards. Additionally, Starboy certainly didn't bring his England form back with him, and Havertz looked sluggish and nowhere near fully fit to my eyes.

The butt of the crowd's displeasure - and a lightning rod for moans and groans - was Madueke. Which I thought was really harsh. With the exception of Odegaard - who buzzed around in midfield constantly; although he often frustrates me by taking 5 touches when one or two would do - Noni was the only player really looking to make things happen. By trying some of the more difficult stuff - the risky pass into the box, or the take-on when it would be easier to come back inside - he is of course more likely to cough up possession. Which he did on several occasions. But in contrast to the ultra-safe Saka on the other side he looked the most likely source of chance making. He doesn't hide, and he doesn't stop trying something different. And he created all the worthwhile chances for the home side on Saturday. He deserves to stay in the side.

Saka, on the other hand, has to my eyes never fully recovered from that horrendous hamstring injury he sustained a couple of years ago. As a result, he may never quite reach the heights that we thought he might. Look; I'm not saying that he's not a high-class player, but he seems less willing to do some of the stuff he was doing prior to the injury nowadays. He played a lot of football over the Interlull, and I feel that Arteta needs to handle his load much for judiciously than he has done historically.

It was no surprise when Arsenal fell behind. It had been coming. And there were numerous Arsenal errors that led up to it. Gudmonsson ran off the back of Declan Rice into the left channel. Raya failed to cut out the low cross just 6 yards out, and Madueke had switched off completely, allowing Justin a clear run into the penalty area to slam the ball back across goal. You may recall that this was the player who scored twice for Leicester City at Emirates Stadium a few years ago - not too shabby for a full back.

The goal turned out to be a fatal error for Leeds. The bear had been poked, and Arsenal finally shook off their funk. Arteta reacted immediately by lining up no fewer than 4 substitutes, and while they were getting ready the home side equalised; a mere 6 minutes after the Leeds goal. And whilst the goal and assist go down to Calafiori and White, it was a pinpoint right-footed cross from deep out on the touchline by the left-footed Madueke that caused the mayhem. A magnificent delivery. Credit to the two full backs, of course, for both being deep in the Leeds penalty area to apply the finishing touches, but that doesn't happen without the initial delivery. The moment in itself justified the selection of Madueke. 

Arteta went ahead with 75% of his substitutions; sitting Eze back down, but bringing on Timber, Gyokeres and Bruno. And Arsenal had their tails up at this point - the atmosphere in the ground had flipped, and from that moment there was only going to be one winner. And the second goal came just a few minutes later.

And this was a thing of beauty. Arsenal - unusually - overloaded their left-hand side instead of the right, with Saka driving into the inside left position. Some pinpoint passing from him and Odegaard, Rice's driving run and clever back flick, and Bruno was on the edge of the penalty area to slide the ball into the corner of Trafford's net. A contender for goal of the month. Interestingly, if you watch the video carefully, Madueke has his hands in the air in celebration as Bruno hits the shot. Noni knows... https://x.com/i/status/2108914713908138429     

Bruno Guimaraes, the man we used to love to hate, is now an Arsenal hero. Fickle, aren't we?

Arsenal were in complete control for the last 20 minutes as Leeds tired. It's a funny old game; because if they'd have been 3-0 down after an hour that wouldn't necessarily have come as a shock, but in the end it could have been 4- or 5-1 (Bukayo Saka will not look back fondly at the one-on-one he fluffed as time expired). Three points were vital following the Brighton thrashing and three week gap; and three points were what they eventually came away with.

Credit to Leeds, however. There's no chance of them being involved in a relegation scrap this season on that showing. They - like Sunderland - will give plenty of teams plenty of problems this season.

Bizarre news came in the post-game warm down, with Hincapie - in particular - and Zubimendi both suffering non-contact and self-inflicted injuries that will reduce Arteta's ability to rotate for Tuesday's Champions League game against Lille. I guess that we may see MLS at left back for this one, with Bruno starting alongside Dec. I'd expect 5 or 6 changes, frankly, as Lille aren't the strongest team in the competition by a long chalk. Let's see.

Lille, incidentally, have former Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud in their ranks. Now, I'm not 100% sure that he'll get the sort of welcome he'd hope for from the home crowd, following some of the comparisons he made between Arsenal and Chelsea following the Europa League Final that Eden Hazard dominated. I will choose to simply ignore him, I think.

Just a couple of things before I go:

Manchester United vs Tottenham - and the home side were terrible, and should have been three or four goals behind before them took the lead. Which was highly amusing. Of course, 10-man Spurs did finally equalise; and I suppose that seeing as I didn't want either side to win that was a satisfactory result. Spurs are actually improving, but I think that Michael Carrick is going to be fortunate to last the season.  

Then to Anfield, where Manchester City eventually blew a much-depleted Liverpool away. But not before they got a helping hand from Chris Kavanagh (it looks like the direct debits haven't been cancelled yet, then...). 0-0 when Gravenberch received his second yellow card, bu the result already looked inevitable, with substitute Doku running rings around poor Aruajo. City remain with a 100% percent record; not that that matters, of course, with sanctions around the corner.

Three things on the game: 

• Liverpool were missing Szoboszlai, Isak and Gakpo following the Interlull, and so looked ripe for the taking in any case. The referee ensured that was the case
• I was a little disappointed in the Liverpool supporters - they didn't give City anything like enough grief in my opinion
• City's general arrogance at the end is exactly the wrong message to send out. As if fans of other clubs aren't already up in arms. I would hope that this sort of behaviour will only serve to stiffen the resolve of the authorities and their rivals to give them a punishment that fully fits the crime

Anyway, Arsenal move on. Lille on Tuesday, then a trip to a somewhat underwhelming Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

COYG!