A bit of fun in Europe

My measure of how “good” a match is is whether or not I get distracted. If a team is playing with the handbrake on for too long, I’ll turn to one of the thousands of distractions now available. Twitter is a big one but from there, I will start daydreaming about food, maybe look up a recipe and mentally check out as I go through the steps, for example, to make katsusando the next sandwich on my list. I have to make that Hokkaido milk bread for that one! Plus I might get a jacquard – to tenderize the pork.

See. ADD. I get distracted easily. Transformers! I really wish that they had been made just slightly better back when I was a kid. You know? They were kind of flimsy and Megatron wasn’t a very good gun. Plus why did Starscream have to be so whiny? I loved airplanes when I was a kid. Did you ever make model airplanes? Oh man, I saved up my money to buy some and when I got them home I would dream of my model turning out anywhere near half as good as the picture on the box. But after about two hours of struggling, mine looked more like something that got shot down over the Pacific.

Like I say, I get distracted easily and find it difficult to stay on task. Especially when something bores me.

But this Arsenal match did not! From start to finish, I enjoyed nearly every minute of this match. Which I guess is weird because after it was over I checked out twitter and there were a lot of people “hoppin’ mad” about a lot of things. Well, look, I don’t want to argue with you and certainly won’t be trying to change anyone’s mind. So, in the interest of being just myself and adding to the conversation rather than trying to destroy it here are some ground rules:

Things I am not going to talk about

  1. How bad Dundalk were
  2. How bad any of the Arsenal players were
  3. How Arsenal were “supposed to win”
  4. How you can “only play the team in front of you”

Things I am going to talk about

  1. Getting players between the lines
  2. Getting players in the half spaces
  3. Getting runners from midfield
  4. Playing with the ball high up the pitch
  5. Attacking football
  6. 25 shots!
  7. Killer instinct
  8. Scrappy goals
  9. Nketiah, Nelson, and Willock

Arsenal lined up in a… formation. Who played where, exactly, for the full 90 minutes is more of a guess than anything. I think Maitland-Niles started and stayed mostly left and Cedric started and stayed mostly right. Elneny was almost exclusively in the middle, Nketiah up top, and Runnarson stayed in goal the entire time (I don’t think he played left wing or anything but would be happy to be corrected). But in terms of a “formation” I can’t really say that I saw anything definitive, like a 343 or 4231. Sometimes Pepe played right, sometimes he swapped with Nelson on the left. And so on. All to say it was a very fluid formation in midfield.

Unusual for an Arsenal match this season it took Arsenal about 15 minutes before their idea for attacking play became apparent: on the left they were going to let Reiss Nelson collect between the lines and on the right, the idea was to make nice triangles between Willock, Cedric, and Pepe. But while Willock ostensibly started as a midfielder, his main task seems to be to get into the box, in the half spaces, and his teammates set him up for that very nicely time and again.

In case you don’t know, “between the lines” refers to an opponent sitting in two banks and the attacking team getting players between those two lines. We saw that often yesterday and with multiple players. At one point, Arsenal had Nelson, Nketiah, and Pepe in those spaces. I can’t recall many times this season where we’ve had more than one, and even getting one in there is often difficult.

Just as important to getting players in those spaces is having a player comfortable on the ball in those spaces: step up Reiss Nelson! Nelson showed for the ball time and again, collected and probed on the edge of the box. There were a number (a few too many) of times where he would dump it out to Kolasinac for a cross but that’s something we will address in a second.

On the other side, Willock was set up in the half-space, and looking for a nice 1-2 with a teammate to get through the last line and get open in that dangerous area around the 6 yard box.

Cedric played high up the pitch, Pepe played in the right area, Willock was in those half spaces, Nketiah swarmed the back line and was a constant threat on every loose clearance or errant pass, and Nelson provided chaos (mostly) on the left. The result was an Arsenal team that was on the front foot the entire time and basically never let up.

And with the entire Arsenal team in the opposition box, they even got some runners from midfield: Elneny made a notable charge into the final third – though he did stop short of completing the run into the box. But that entire first half it felt more like “when” Arsenal would score not “if.”

The only thing that seemed to hold us back was a little bit hesitation. Nketiah was played through more than once and took an extra touch or dribbled when maybe he should have shot. The same for Nelson who especially tended to ball dawdle a bit too much. And Willock as well; he passed up chances for what may be a slick cross on paper but is a bit too easy for a compact defense to cut out.

I joked that this was “same old Arsenal, always trying to walk the ball in” but I don’t think that’s fair: Wenger actually told his players to play that way, he wanted Arsenal to make one extra pass, get it closer to goal. My sense last night was more that the players were – reticent.

That’s to be expected, though. These are young players who have very little experience at this level. If they can add that to their game, frankly Nketiah needs to be a lot more selfish and starting thinking “shoot” first, we have three guys who are top quality and could add 10+ goals and assists (each) from the wings/midfield/forward in a few years. In essence, just be a little more like Martinelli. They are a potentially killer group of 4 young attackers for Arsenal’s future. Plus Saka! That’s 5!

My only complaint is that these guys don’t get enough playing time. Nketiah is starting to see more minutes this season but Willock and Nelson need to test themselves against top quality defenders. You will catch me joking that I’d like to see these guys played over more established players (like Willian) but I get why we aren’t: I don’t think they are ready to start against Man U, for example, and that starting them in a game like that could be potentially damaging. It’s a real conundrum.

Anyway, I thought it was a fun game. I loved watching Arsenal play some attacking football. I loved seeing Arteta’s team play in spaces that they won’t normally play in. And I love seeing young players getting a chance to show what they can do against seasoned professionals in European competition.

You might as well enjoy it while you can because this weekend Arsenal have to play Mike Dean and Man U. And with Man U’s record of 13 matches with a penalty out of their last 24 matches (6 in their last 9) plus Mike Dean, the most penalty-happy referee in the League, I’m all geared up for a 6-0 defeat.

Qq

30 comments

  1. Speaking of bad referees, how absurd was it that we were called for 20 (!!) fouls, many of them for simple 50/50 duels with little contact, and Dundalk for zero? And the missed call when Willock was through on goal and had his shirt nearly taken off his back? Even Mike Dean might have been embarrassed by that performance.

    Well, probably not.

    1. I think there were two missed shirt pulls on our players, right? One on Nketiah in the box and the one on Willock that started just outside the box, if I remember correctly. I’ve not been impressed with the refs on our first 2 games so far…hopefully that improves as we progress to the next round. On to Sunday!

  2. Yeah, that was pretty ridiculous. I can see the ref having a little unintentional sympathy for the minnows. But zero fouls? Apparently that’s the first time that’s ever happened in a European match.

  3. “starting them in a game like that could be potentially damaging”

    Reminds me of Wenger starting all those youngsters in the 8-2 mauling. My lasting memory of that game was Gibbs (or was it Ox, jokes LOL) scoring an OG and crying.

    1. Actually… Just watched the low lights and Gibbs didn’t score an OG that game… What game was it where he scored an OG (on debut?) and cried?

    2. That was an insane week for Arsenal. When you read the pre-match pressers Wenger sounds like Baghdad Bob “we have good young players who can make the step very quickly”. Then poor Cpl. Jenkinson is thrown in at Old Trafford. Nuttttty.

      1. Was it against Bayern maybe that Gibbs cried?

        We always had excellent young talent but there was that period where Wenger brought them all through way too earlier and it felt like he broke them, confidence-wise especially.

    3. My lasting memory was of Frimpong playing and how open the game was, we could have score more they could have scored more, memory being what it is …..

  4. Nketiah, Willock and Nelson all need more game time to hone their skills. All three look to have a very promising future. Willock in particular, gives us the offensively minded midfielder we have lacked since Ramsey departed and brings skills to the midfield that seem vestigial in Ceballos and Elneny and are entirely deficient in Xhaka.

    As you observe, they aren’t ready to start against the likes of Manure though I’m not convinced that Willock is too far short of starting against lesser PL sides. If the senior players could regularly have wins tied up by 60 minutes (it’s seems a long, long time since we did that against even the PL strugglers) that would be the ideal situation to bring these young players on to build top level experience and confidence.

    Last night’s game was a thoroughly encouraging performance from the young Guns and quite an encouraging one from Pepe.

  5. I get frustrated with Nketiah, which isn’t fair really, because I’m comparing him with some great strikers in my head, but he misses shots and makes poor decisions too often for my liking, and his movement is weird.

    I hope he ignores doubters like me and carries on playing with self-belief, freedom and ambition against the bigger clubs, because I think we could really use him this season.

    Willock and Nelson were so good to watch.

    Now excited to see us put out the 1st eleven against Man U and play some dreck.

    1. I’m with you on Nketiah. Honestly, I’ve never gotten why some are keen. He seems like a less talented Theo Walcott. But, as you say, hope I’m proven wrong and he gets better and better.

    2. You are not alone. My opinion is that his skillset is quite limited, and even what he does (poaching) is not yet top class. He is like a little pokemon before evolving and becoming a Giroud.
      The worrying part is that besides him and Laca the club doesn’t have anybody in that position (I know people advocate for Auba, but I don’t he will add more value as a pressing forward than he does in his current role), and I must say that the introduction of Balogun yesterday made me reasonably curious.

  6. I had a feeling we’ll lose to United this weekend. And then I found out that Mike Dean is going to be the referee and that feeling turned into a certainty! I’ve already died inside.

    1. On current form, you’d have to pick United, whether Dean ends up aiding them or not. They’re clicking, dangerously. Plus they always raise their game against us.

  7. In the other news, Fahmy leaves Arsenal. From the reports I have read sounded like more like his decision, rather than being fired, although that he might have been under pressure.

  8. I thought that we looked a wee bit disjointed for the first 35 or so. Misplaced passes, unseen runs, too heavy/overhit passes. No shortage of endeavour, but little cohesion. Pepe and Nelson looked lively. Yes, I get that the youngsters haven’t had that much competitive playing time, but i don’t think we looked that great till Eddie scored. We then proceeded to kill off the game either side of the halftime break, terrible times fora team to concede. Willock took his goal very well. Here’s hoping that he brings to Arsenal, what we lost with Ramsey. I liked Pepe’s goal the best, because 2 weeks ago he’d have looked to shift that onto his left foot, and he’d have been closed down. Was good to get a good look at Rúnarsson. He looks decent, and has goal authority.

  9. Ever since Nketiah’s red card last season, he seems to be a bit more conservative, but I feel he is less conservative in the 5ft around the goal.
    It was quite a fun performance, arsenal players outpacing, out-dribbling, outmaneuvering the opponents felt fun after such a long time, the understanding between the attackers needs to develop for it to click I suppose, because some of the “automatisms” aren’t there.
    It’s been a long time since I saw an attacker point into space for a pass and run, especially a striker, saw balogun do that yesterday, the pass wasn’t made if I remember right… it was still exciting to see that nonetheless, willing to test yourself against a defender for pace..
    It just feels like we give too much respect to the opponents and not enough respect to ourselves.

  10. Yes, I managed to watch it all the way through without feeling the need to be checking my emails.
    Normally I get sick and tired of watching Ceballos & Co endlessly playing the ball sideways.
    Assuming Arteta favours 4-3-3, then Willock in that form has to be a shoo in for right midfield. Partey in the centre. Presumably Xhaka on the left.
    Up front it has to be Saka on the left, which means PEA has to play up top. There is no other option.
    That leaves Pepe, who always seems completely wasted hugging the touchline on the right. In that position he is far too predictable and easy to defend against. I’d far rather get him to tuck inside and let Willock and Bellerin patrol the right hand side. We need to get Pepe on the ball more and give him far more options to change the direction of play, in much the way Mesut used to when he could be arsed.
    Lacazette – Nope
    Kolasinac – Nope
    Ceballos – Nope
    The jury is still out on Nketiah. He’s quick and gets in the 6 yard box often enough, so will get goals. Can he “lead the line” in much the same way that Giroud and Van Persie used to? I don’t see that at all in him, so I am not convinced he is the answer. I noticed that Balogun got 20 minutes at the end. I also saw Eddie’s face drop when he was subbed off for him. Balogun might well end up the bigger talent out of the two of them from what I have seen. I wonder if Eddie has already sensed that.
    Nelson looked lively. Made some good runs into interesting spaces. He is definitely improving and visibly becoming more confident. The problem is his final delivery is in fact pretty poor. He really has to improve on that if he is to make the grade. He could develop into quite a useful right winger, but we’ll see.
    Plenty of reasons to be cheerful. The United game may result in a swing of mood, however!

  11. Balogun certainly looks very promising. His movement in his 20 minute cameo was much better than either Laca or Nketiah regularly produce. He looks a confident centre forward with the instincts to match. He may well overtake Nketiah as the internal replacement for Laca if he gets more game time. Physically heappears to have more to offer in that position than Nketiah. I hope he signs a new contract to stay at the Arsenal long-term.

  12. I also saw what you saw Tim, and I love watching the kids do well.

    I also don’t know how a Jambon Beurre is supposed to taste, but I know I failed to make a good one. Will try again tomorrow.

      1. For the baguette, I used white bread wheat flour (all that I could find), salt, instant yeast and water. It came out edible, is all I will tell you.

        For the inside of the sandwich, I could only find South African gruyere cheese, hickory ham, dijon mustard and some salted butter.

        Tomorrow, I will be going to a funeral early. There is a market on the way from the area I will be going, but has more variety in the ingredients. Maybe I will find the proper ingredients on my way back.

        1. First, my condolences.

          On the sandwich, what you made yourself there is a heck of a ham sandwich!

          jambon buerre is just the baguette, French ham, and butter, nothing else! The other things you listed are delicious but they compete with the top three ingredients.

          for the baguette: just keep trying. They say that you have to make 1000 loaves to get it right. My loaves aren’t even right, man! Plus, I told you that this is hard. This is one of the most difficult breads to make. It takes all my skill as a bread guy. All of my knowledge about when the gluten is developed. Everything I know about shaping. Everything I know about baking. Everything I know about flour and water! And even then? a little luck.

  13. Willock with his runs into the box and Nelson’s ball carrying abilities stood out for me. Pepe? Meh. Brilliant goal but AWOL far too much. Someone told be that most of Nketiah’s goals come from being deep in the area. This one one was almost on top of the GK. Fox in the Box?

    Not looking forward to Sunday, especially against Mike Dean and an in-form Marcus Rashford – the kid that everybody wants to like and appreciate except, you know – he plays for THEM. Hopefully Leno can keep it respectable.

    I expect a better outcome against Molde FK. Hopefully that’s the team and not a fungal spore from Norway.

    As ever, COME ON YOU F&*KING GUNNERS.

  14. Nketiah definitely has poacher numbers at the U-23 level. He just passed Alan Shearer as the all-time England scoring leader at that level. Also tied at that same level was Francis Jeffers. I’d say Eddie is more likely to end up being Jeffers rather than Shearer.
    He doesn’t seem quite aggressive enough, strong enough or quick enough to score lots at the top level. But…there’s at least some potential there. Martinelli and Balogun are also possibilities, but probably both need even more time. Might be worth giving Eddie more time, if for no other reason than to boost his market value.

  15. I don’t have ADD but I consider myself ADD-adjacent, in that I’m easily distracted, easily bored, but also easily consumed with focus on little details – although for me this is more to do with avoidant behaviour rather than brain chemistry.

    I have a theory that ADD-types are susceptible to depression or depressive traits, because every day is such a battle to stay engaged with the mundane, with the necessary, with the day-to-day, with the middle ground, so it’s easy to end up beating yourself up all the time, which turns your relationship with yourself into a grisly domestic scene where you’re both the abuser and the traumatised and gas-lit partner.

    I say this apropos of nothing really, except that fuck me, sometimes our brains do not help us get around the modern world.

    Anyway, football.

      1. Absolutely right. My mental health really picks up a notch when I leave the phone downstairs at night and read a damn book

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