Welcome back to the blog, a little deflating one all in all. Anfield away and a first defeat of the season for the Gunners, thanks to an absolute world class strike from Dominik Szoboszlai, in a game bereft of quality and if both fans and teams are being honest, didn’t deserve a goal of that quality. The 83rd minute goal a real sucker punch to the Arsenal.
Now look, was I fan of the game plan? Yes to an extent, the personnel not so much in some areas of the pitch which I’ll discuss later on. Undoubtedly forced by injuries once again, which didn’t help and that was the reality three minutes in, yep another one. Saliba rolling an ankle in the warm up tried to carry on, but we were forced into an early change. Mosquera stepping in and what a display from the young man, comfortable on the ball, reads the game well, he looked so comfortable in the cauldron that is Anfield, not putting a foot wrong.
The two teams nullified each other through out and Arsenal with what you could argue having the better of the first half. More half chances and that’s all they were in all honesty, Madeuke with the only big chance forcing Allison down low to a save after the ball bounced around from a corner.
When you have a midfield three of Rice, Merino and Zubimendi, the words that come to mind in this game, physical, industrial and scrappy. We nullified Liverpools attack and won the midfield battle on the day but lacked creative spark. Taking them until the 49th minute to get a touch in the Arsenal box, which you do give credit at such a tough place to go.
The frustration from the first half, it’s when we had the ball, we just simply didn’t do enough, too many times, it was slow, passing in zones and a lot of times back to Raya. Coincidentally we looked most threatening when Raya went long to Madueke, showing a turn of pace down the right flank a few times in the opening thirty minutes, causing Kerkez a few issues. A number of corners forced by Arsenal in the game, but with the outswingers on the day, with no Saka or Odegaard on the pitch, Liverpool coped well with our usual threatening set pieces.
At least Madueuke has some threat and directness to his game. Martinelli unfortunately on the left right now, just looks bereft of any confidence or invention right now.
I was surprised that Eze didn’t make his Arsenal bow from the start but did understand it from a standpoint of Martinelli’s defensive work in supporting Calafiori but is that where we should focus our energy and not ask questions of our own?
Szoboszlai, not a right back, probably had one of his easiest games in the position he will ever have while Martinelli was against him. One example of where we just didn’t do enough with the ball when we had it, a break away moment early in the game, a ball into Martinelli, Gyokeres running alongside, making a run outside behind Konate, he feeds and thrives on those balls down the left channel. Even then, giving Martinelli the opportunity to then go centrally and possibly receive it back. Martinelli here, head down, running into a blind alley, Konate shuffling him to the touch line and forcing a goal kick.
It was a moment and you don’t get many at Anfield, you just have to try something, move the ball, link up, he just lets himself get pinned to the touchline at the moment, no risks to his game. Is that direction of the manager? I just don’t see it, you don’t sign an Eze type player if you don’t want risks.
It was comfortable, Calafiori having a really good game against Salah, unusually quiet on the day who had one or two glimpses in the second half but not much to scare you as an opposition fan like he normally does.
But 0-0 at the break and you just knew that Liverpool at some stage would kick on and you expect an increase in energy and chances. It came after a first 15 minutes of the second half with much of the same from the first half, both teams defending well and especially Konate who has taken some flack over the first few weeks, doing well against Gyokeres, who was starved again at a tough away ground of any quality service, like Old Trafford.
Liverpool did find the goal but the linesman also found himself positioned well to put the flag up with no need for VAR, this was the 60th minute, Gakpo just straying off.
At this point, I thought you now need to go for it, you need to counter the momentum Liverpool had here. The game was crying out for an Eze, some invention from somewhere, an Odegaard, by all accounts only training on the Saturday, with something different.
I think we missed a trick not capitalising on the half time where substitution windows don’t count, Eze coming on then would of given Liverpool more of a headache, given the breakaway goals Bournemouth scored on the opening night, the possibility of counter attack was there.
We had enough legs and defensive nous to help cover and put fires out still on the pitch, Rice covering could of helped Calafiori doubling up on Salah in the second half, leaving an Eze on the halfway line.
But, we waited and we waited until around the 70th minute. Instant impact as soon as he came on, first touch, bang past Szoboszlai, by the touchline, it just showed what can be done with some confidence and invention to go past a man.
A half chance where we crafted an opportunity with Odegaard nearly slipping in Gyokeres with a clever disguised ball, the Swedish striker maybe just not on the same wave length just yet, and Konate stretching a long leg to scupper the chance. I seem to only remember one save of note from Allison in the second half, if you don’t shoot you won’t score, what a cliche.
The game slowly winding down to a 0-0 as was the cagey nature of the game that unfolded. And then came the moment, Van Dijk playing what was probably one of the only forward balls with drive and purpose in the whole game, Curtis Jones who added energy and some drive after coming on, turning away from Zubimendi, who thirty yards out probably thought I need to stop him here otherwise he’s bearing down on the defence, I’ll take one for the team. No dramas, no worries, the spider cam on Sky making it look absolutely miles out.
Szoboszlai, lining up, straight run up and it dipped, it moved, it swerved and got quicker the closer it got to post, crashing off the woodwork with such venom and into the net.
Raya actually anticipating the flight well but there was no way he was getting to it. 1-0 to the home side, around ten minutes to rescue something. Ultimately, we couldn’t find it, Eze with a half chance/half penalty shout but not enough to give one as Allison came out to get the ball. A late handball shout against Szoboszlai, seen them given, yes, but it would fall into the category of harsh had it been and I’d been furious if this type of handball was given against an Arsenal man.
All in all, a disappointing result. Two top class teams, both playing risk adverse football, not wanting to lose, Slot saying as much in his press conference unlike the Sky Sports clickbait show that is now.
The stats would suggest so, it was so evenly matched, the defences on top and the game hinging on one moment.
It again comes down to, as discussed in previous blogs, Arsenal keeping games tight and close, you ultimately leave yourself vulnerable, as last season showed, too many draws, this though a narrow loss to a sublime moment and the three points to the Champions.
Do we need to stop being so cautious? I’m not so sure, as much as pundits hate the style, 23 games unbeaten against top six opposition shows you the Arsenal can operate in these big clashes. Going back to the setup, yes, it was correct to me, too many times I’ve seen us blown away by the Anfield wave in the first half and out of the game. We planted our feet in the ground, set our stall out, I just think personnel and maybe some risk was needed here earlier.
Swap out a Merino for an Odegaard and you get the same work rate and just a lot more quality. Merino working hard in the press but when we are full flow, it is the captain who does this role so so well, setting the tone and the traps. The shoulder injury coming at a bad time last week as well as the injury to Saka. We just don’t seem to currently be able to get the first 11 out regularly enough in these big clashes and maybe the international break has just come at the right time for a reset. Havertz undergone surgery, Bukayo out for three to four weeks, now Saliba added to the list.
The next clash of this nature, I think Arteta now needs to strike the balance of defensive stability which we have in abundance and sprinkle in some invention, some chaos. Caution will only get you so far, invention will tip you to the next level to turn these narrow games into wins and perhaps a lifting of the handbrake somewhat.
Thankfully this was three games in and not three games to go, plenty of matches in front of us, some time to refresh, get some players back and get this team in a cohesive state ahead of a tough run of games in the September period.
The transfer window closing, some out goings and another defender, Hincapie coming in from Bayern Leverkusen, yes another one, until the Forest game, speak to you then.
The View From Block 107 