A cushty victory. First 3 factors of the season within the bag. Our £65m striker scores his first of the season.
Pre-game, a variety of the speak was in regards to the lack of recent ahead on the membership. Within the pub chats, I stood sturdy on my opinion – anybody that is available in should be higher than Kai Havertz, and as of but no striker has moved golf equipment who I’d have taken above Germany’s first alternative.
As Havertz rose to go in our opener, I felt vindicated in sticking by my weapons.
My thought was that had we signed Dominic Solanke, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins or Benjamin Sesko they usually scored that objective, we might all be saying “what a distinction a correct striker makes.”
Havertz objective was a pleasant header. A correct strikers objective. One thing that Olivier Giroud would have been pleased with. And he has the additional benefit of his all spherical sport being superior to others who’re merely simply objective scorers.
I get why some followers would have been a little bit damaging when seeing the beginning XI. It contained no new gamers, with Riccardo Calafiori on the bench. However that is the place we’re with the squad proper now.
Final season we pushed Manchester Metropolis all the best way. So there isn’t a want to repair one thing that’s not damaged.
It’s all the time golf equipment decrease down the desk that make an enormous variety of signings. These on the high, with world class squads, have a tendency to not see an enormous turnover in gamers. And those who are available in must be higher than the gamers they’re changing.
Would Dominic Solanke at £65m or Julian Alvarez at £80m be an enchancment on Havertz and Gabriel Jesus? I’d say no. In the meantime, Calafiori is a step up on Jakub Kiwior, and Mikel Merino is a greater choice centrally than Emile Smith Rowe.
In years gone previous, we’ve got began slowly as new gamers wanted to familiarize yourself with enjoying with one another. The benefit of signing so few was that everybody already knew their roles, and had the connections.
We noticed Ben White and Bukayo Saka renew their relationship on the precise – whoever the brand new England supervisor is must make amends with White. We’ve Oleksandr Zinchenko coming in off the left to make an additional man in midfield. Thomas Parety working as a one man defensive midfielder. Gabriel Martinelli an outlet on the left. It was very a lot “standard Arsenal”.
It was attention-grabbing to see Zinchenko going off after 60 minutes to get replaced by Jurrien Timber relatively than Calafiori.
The sensation is that Calafiori has joined to be a “Ben White” of the left and can finally be our first alternative left again. However with Timber and Zinchenko we’ve got choices to play extra progressive full backs on both flank.
The sub was not a sign that Timber is forward of Calafiori within the pecking order, however that totally different gamers shall be used for various conditions.
There shall be video games the place we wish to go White left, and both Timber or Zinchenko proper. And different video games the place it is going to be Timber proper, and Calafiori left.
One remark I heard within the floor which hit a word was about how Arteta needed to “cut back the minutes” of gamers.
A criticism of Arteta is that he trusts only a few, and he doesn’t overly belief his squad. While that is justified, it’s also as a result of a few of the squad gamers (corresponding to Smith Rowe and Nelson) aren’t adequate.
This season we’ll see Timber and White share minutes on the precise, Zinchenko and Calafiori share minutes on the left. Partey, Merino, Declan Rice and Jorginho share minutes in these two midfield place. Leandro Trossard and Martinelli rotate on the left and Havertz and Jesus rotate up high.
It’s only William Saliba, Gabriel, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard who will all Begin when match”.
On the later two, you merely don’t relaxation your greatest gamers. How usually did Lionel Messi, Mo Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo et al get rested or rotated at their peak? The reply isn’t.
When you could have particular skills like Odegaard and Saka, you play them. And the extra they play the extra their our bodies adapt to enjoying.
So we’ve got the primary win of the season on the board. We now have per week off till Aston Villa subsequent weekend. After which earlier than we all know it we’re on the cusp of the primary worldwide break of the season.
Take pleasure in your Sunday!
Keenos