Pointless dominance

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

So a point against Man City at the Emirates. Leaving the ground I wasn’t happy and in some way that is probably a good sign in a roundabout way and shows where we are right now in terms of progress over the last few seasons.

The teamsheet saw Saliba come back in to the side following injury, coming in for the impressive Mosquera. The midfield three comprising Rice, Zubimendi and Merino.

Probably most surprising was the inclusion of Trossard when I checked my phone on the way to the game, who did have an impact in Bilbao on Tuesday night, again from the bench that night.

That game was a top drawer European away performance, limiting Bilbao to very few chances, dominating the ball and killing the energy of the home side. Players like Merino, Zubimendi and Rice dominating the midfield battle on the day in a hostile atmosphere.

With the impact of Martinelli and Trossard on the game late on, getting the three points. Martinelli’s goal was a standout moment, reminiscent of his breakaway strike at the Bernabeu last season. He was also key in Trossard’s goal, driving down the left, beating his man, and squaring for Leo, whose deflected effort found the net.

Back to the City game on Sunday. Was I surprised by Merino’s inclusion? Not really, this was the same script as Anfield away. The frustration being that as the home team I want us to take the game to any opponent, say with an Eze on the pitch, who was bought for these moments.

What I did think happened again as was the same at Anfield. I believe Arteta set up on the premise that City with the style they have had for years under Pep, would be dominating the ball much more.

Again, it was Arsenal in this game that had the majority of the ball just like the first half at Liverpool away. City sitting back and playing on the break, not something that a Pep team has done to often during his tenure at the Etihad.

I actually thought we started very well, we pressed City high, beat their press out from the back time after time found space to exploit them, made in roads to good areas, winning corners and it was all going one way in terms of traffic. Then the 9th minute, it had to be him didn’t it. The robot that is Haaland, the man is inevitable.

When you have a striker of that level in your team you always have a chance and it was a devastating break from the team in blue.

What I did notice and said to those around me, Gabriel was way too aggressive and as soon as he pressed that high into midfield it killed the side, Calafiori also high up leaving the left hand side exposed.

Haaland starting the move, flicking the ball into the midfield on the turn, then it’s catch him if you can. Reijnders tearing away with the ball, Saliba having to jockey him otherwise making the job even easier as he rolled into Haaland who steamrolled down the right for City. The timing of the ball was perfection and you know what happens next, the ball rolled past Raya and City with somewhat a smash and grab 1-0 lead.

As the half rolled on, Arsenal dominating the ball but it was recycled possession with no purpose. The game state had changed and City had something to hold onto, not something we’re used to from City, who are currently far from the vintage Peps sides in their pomp. But can I criticise them? Probably not. As Arsenal have also demonstrated these types of performances over the recent years.

Our brightest spark probably was again Madueke on the right in the first half, getting past the fullback a few times with good cutbacks again but no midfielder with an attacking mind to get to the penalty spot and Gyokeres being marshalled well by Diaz and Gvardiol. A snapshot from Noni saved by Donnarumma at the near post was the best it got in terms of chances for the Arsenal.

The only other highlight for me in the first half was the amateur dramatics from Bernado Silva, throwing the ball towards Trossard after being hit in a particular delicate area, in his anger the Belgian throwing it back at the Portuguese player who hit the deck like he’d been thrown a brick to the midrift, not a football. Interestingly enough on a booking and trying to get another player booked, is this not simulation? Hey ho, this was football in all its glory of what it has become, players trying to find small margins to gain advantages.

The team just wasn’t free flowing, Merino, Zubimendi and Rice, just isn’t progressive enough. Very sideways and slow, recycling the ball. Like I said, a European away game, good for quieten down the atmosphere but here City were for the taking.

Factoring in the squad they now have and the fact they’d played Thursday night. Here, an Eze or Nwaneri may of been the trick on the turn in the 10 role, play at pace, play with power.

Go back to February in the 5-1 game at home against the same opposition, it was Arsenal who started on the front foot, energy, drive and pressing which led to the early Odeegaard goal on that afternoon. Here, at half time, it was a sense of the game drifting by and you could say a waste of a half of football.

As the half time entertainment of the fans penalties finished, it was Eze and Saka on the side lines being prepared to come on. A sign of intent and maybe recognition that the manager realised the half had drifted by. Merino replaced by Eze and unfortunately Madueke by all accounts with a knee injury replaced by the returning Saka.

From the get go, it was intent, Eze and Saka on the ball. Bukayo instantly getting the ball time and time again, it felt like the energy was up and the team needed to force a change.

It was constant one way traffic in terms of the ball in the Man City half, but few chances as the box became even more crowded. A half chance from Zubimendi just over the bar and Donnarumma denying Eze with a snap shot in the six yard box. Doku remained a threat all afternoon, drawing fouls and setting up City’s best chance of the half sending Haaland away once more, you were just waiting for the net to bulge again but Raya got down low well, with the ball bouncing around and eventually going out off Rice for a City corner.

The time ticking away and ultimately looking more and more like a City win. Pep using all his subs on defensive additions and even taking off Doku and Haaland as the game came to a close. City clearing every ball, stifling Arsenal as we probed around the edge, getting the ball wide, whipped deliveries but it seemed to keep finding the City defenders heading away time and time again.

The introduction of Martinelli late on, did give Arsenal a platform to go longer and stretch City, ultimately this was the way the equaliser came about.

The one time City defenders were dragged out of position, the centre backs tracking Gyokeres as he was a mile offside, Martinelli making a central run with Ake dropping further than his team mates. The ball from Eze floated with the craft of a number 10, perfect for Martinelli running onto it, Donnarumma caught in no mans land, as Martinelli perfectly and expertly stabbed it over the Italian as he backtracked towards his goal. Relief across the Emirates and me wanting the side to get the ball and go again to find a winner.

It was like time stood still as it looped in and found the side netting. Two in two for the Brazilian and showing the impact he can have, especially when he is set free to run in behind.

The game petered out with around another five minutes left of the seven added after the goal. Arsenal not building much momentum as City drew a few free kicks.

So the final whistle went, a feeling of happiness of the equaliser but annoyance of the restricted first half once again putting us on the back foot.

Getting home and seeing the stats suggested dominance. The eye test from the game for me was that it was pointless dominance.

For the amount the team has the ball, we need to start converting dominance to good solid chances. Coming away from the game, yes, the big six record is good, we do generally go into these games with no trepidation but the handbrake should be taken off a tad in these games especially at home.

With essentially six defensive minded players on the pitch if you count the centre backs and Rice with Zubimendi, that is enough of a platform to go and play. Keeping the game tight to try and go for it in the final twenty minutes is to me just as risky as not starting your best attacking players to try and get the goals to kill a game.

You’re giving yourself a small margin to win the game or in some cases, just as at Anfield, the risk of losing it late on. Perhaps, with the schedule which has been handed to the team, Old Trafford, Anfield and City at home, Arteta would argue that it is not the time to throw too many new players into the mix at one go.

What is clear now, a five point gap to Liverpool has opened up, therefore in some way the team will need to open up and take more risks to close that margin, we could barely be in October with the possibility of an eight point gap if we’re not careful.

It doesn’t get any easier, with St James Park on the horizon next Sunday after a midweek trip to Port Vale in the league cup. That will be an interesting side, how does the manager rotate?

Is it a sense of players returning from fitness or a chance to forge relationships of free flowing football, do Eze and Saka get 60 more minutes under their belts to get fitness and patterns of play?

I think Gyokeres needs a good few minutes, be it off the bench.The team needs to start getting used to the Swedish striker, learning his movement, his runs and start maximising the reason we bought an out and out striker. With the games coming thick and fast, Premier League, Champions League and now league cup, the team needs to start finding a flow, rhythm and patterns. Hopefully a more settled side will form as we head towards the next international break and then the busy winter period coming up.

Until the next one, have a great week.