Eight Arsenal Observations: Rice is Ready now, Raya Rules and Noni Beams.

TotalArsenal

Arsenal 3 – 1 Bayern Munich

I don’t know about you, but I am still getting used to this new era of consistently good Arsenal performances and successes. They are so frequent now that we are becoming addicted to them and, like a gambling addiction, we just cannot wait for our boys to play again, to win again, to satisfy our unquenchable hunger. The team keeps delivering and with key players returning to the squad the sky seems the limit. But we need to keep our feet on the ground, of course, and focus on OGAAT only.

Last night performance against the German champions was such fantastic evidence of the true progress Arsenal have made under Arteta. Gone are the days of fearing these sort of encounters. It does of course make a big difference whether we play the likes of Atletico or Bayern at home or away, and I would like to see us taking these teams on away from Ashburton Grove rather sooner than later, but there is also the factor of home crowd expectations and pressure; and these the boys are managing ever so well these days.

Eight quick observations:

  1. Rice (supported by the solid rock Zubimendi) is starting to realise that he is the one to lead this team to the final stage of its development. Systems and culture are great, teams need to play like a unconquerable team, quality players are needed and so is depth of squad, but at some point a player in midfield needs to lead a team to glory. All great teams had such a player. Declan is that player for us, and his second half performance was a statement to the rest of Europe and the PL. Rice is ready to burst to the summit.
  2. Bayern tried to play their football against us, but with just two shots on goal in the entire match we can safely say that they failed. It was another demonstration of Arsenal’s ability to control games, set the tempo and (gradually) overcome an opponent. The Germans started quite strong but they soon realised that they needed something very special to crack us. Once Arsenal warmed up, we slowly became stronger and stronger and the game seemed to simply pass Bayern by the longer it took; like the boys dozed them to sleep. This is all down to Arsenal’s tactics and application of Arteta’s instructions.
  3. The set-pieces looked even more impressive against players who have not experienced anything like it in the Bundesliga. If Merino had had a bit more focus and luck he would have scored a brace last night. I bet the Bayern defenders and goalkeeper will have recurring nightmares of last night’s set-piece bombardment!
  4. Miles did struggle at times but I loved the way the team sensed this and made sure they doubled up as much as possible. Arteta made the right decision to sub him after 68 minutes, which did only strengthen our defence but also led to the all important second goal.
  5. I thought Raya, who actually had little to do with his gloves, did very, very well with his feet. His decision-making and distribution of the ball were a joy to watch – a class apart last night.
  6. Once again, we used both flanks very well, which is a huge difference to last season. Teams focus hard on Saka by denying him space and fouling him as soon as he breaks free. But we do need to feed him better balls to use him better. The good news is Odegaard is back, and we all know how well he is able to combine with Bukayo; but the big question is will he fit back in to the team now that Eze is so settled in?
  7. Gabriel, who?! I really thought we would struggle more without Big Gabby, but both Hincapie and Mosquera just fit like a glove into our defence. It is quite astonishing how unaffected our defending is by the absence of such a big player as our Brazilian monster.
  8. I want to finish with that smile of Madueke after he scored, AND yet another incredible CL goal by Martinelli. These boys started on the bench but what a difference they made straightaway in the game. Martinelli just seems to fly rather than run when we can break from the back, and how deadly he is every time! Noni made sure that a fine cross by Calafiori was not wasted, and I am sure that every Arsenal supporter with a human heart was as delighted as he was with his ever-so-important goal. Only good things happen to man who can beam a smile like Noni does.

By TotalArsenal.

52 thoughts on “Eight Arsenal Observations: Rice is Ready now, Raya Rules and Noni Beams.”

  • Spot on with the observations, Total.

    Now, the discussions have shifted to the clash between Rice and Caicedo on Sunday. The sport has its way of creating all kinds of rivalries. Declan Rice, in his post-match interview last night, gave Caicedo his flowers and pointed out the difference in roles/positions between them both (Caicedo, a pure 6; Rice, more box to box 8 type). Still, will look forward to Rice closing him down repeatedly.

    Raya’s foot game was good in that game. He had more touches (45) than even MLS (27) in the game. That’s understandable as it is a part of Arteta’s control philosophy to go back to the keeper, when in doubt.

    Bayern are European royalty and before that meeting, the best team in Europe. Being all over them in that second half and giving them their first loss of the season was no mean feat. This team is growing.

  • I just hope with big performances from this Arsenal team
    We can be able to break the curse of lifting a major trophy this season
    And I will be the happiest Arsenal fan here in Nigeria

  • Thanks Frank. “Noni’s smile”, let’s hope we see a lot more of it on Sunday, as seems likely he will come in for our injured ‘prachtig’ Belgian. Chelsea, the third instalment in what is proving a fabulous week of football. As with the past two games my heart warms in anticipation of the prospect of seeing our lads in action again, the promise of utter absorption.
    The return of that magician, Dupont for Toulouse may be similarly affecting your heart, LG?

  • There was this “Dexy’s” song at the turn of the 1980s, “7 days is too long (without you)” – well, 4 days without an Arsenal game is too long for us indeed now.
    The way our European games are dealt with since last season may be the most dramatic improvement of ours, along our general journey on an upward slope. MA took his time to get the hang of it, and our surrenders against Olympiacos, Sporting, and most of all Villareal in the Europa League were the lowest points of his tenure imo.
    I’m pretty sure a scan of Mick’s brain would reveal a Library of Alexandria of football for any alien who’d want to be fast-tracked to learning everything there is to know about it. It’s always been true as far as technique, tactics, athleticism were concerned but for more than a year now he’s grasped the human side of it too, the little something that binds a team together and decides who survives in the end at the oxygen-deprived altitudes of CL’s top-level showdowns – the stuff Carlo Ancelotti’s record in the competition is made of. It’s exhilarating to watch, and Kimmich can cry all the rivers he wants about our physicality etc. truth is he and his buddies simply had no answer to Mick’s HT adjustments – and to get back to my point, to the sheer will and determination he infected the team with then.
    Myles is the question mark the game left all of us with; I think I wrote something about his “young millipede“ problem, but I have a feeling he’s fed up with this LB-LWB position too. He’s a natural-born BtB midfielder, Myles is, he knows it and I hope the next time Mick puts him back on the saddle, it’ll be to boss the midfield, as the natural backup of our Declan that he is – our N°41 has been nothing short of otherwordly this season, but for him to perform at this level ’til may 30th, I’d love him to be rested time and again.
    Estêvāo, Palmer … all those headlines tell the story of how much the media would love us to stumble come Sunday. Look, I think they’re an excellent side, Chelsea, probably the only one whose passion, speed, intensity match ours; they’re very young too, and there’s a recklessness about them which, even though Maresca if a kind of control freak too, make them unpredictable. But I feel strangely confident anyway; after all this’ll be CL final knockout stages level and … well, see above.
    PS (1): Sittin’ on a fence about Antoine, Stu. Everyone’s happy to know that the kid appears to be out of harm’s way, at long last, but it’s the same knee’s 2nd ACL tear of his career already, so all fans are more than a lil’ worried too …
    PS (2): About sore losers in general and crybaby Kimmich in particular, yesterday’s Gooner Talk’s program was hilarious – the part about second balls definitely made my day. Enjoy (and thank you, Tom!).

  • Did you ever view this little charmer, LG?

    Liam Brady’s biography has some insights into that era of Juve history. Michel was brought in to replace Liam setting up that wonderful partnership with Zbignew which you have alluded to.

    Yes, I can see MLS as an understudy to Declan, what a master to serve under. Any of you fellows fancy him for the Ballon d’or?

  • To me MLS looks like a great full back/ wing back in the making. Some wingers will prove a challenge to any full back. But yes I can also see him play in midfield.

    We mashed the Spuds, we pulled those Lederhosen down, now will we put those Chavs in their place?

    Big game for the boys. CoyrrGs. 🔥

  • I have a feeling that this will be Bukayo’s day. Always plays well but he hasn’t been among the goals as much recently, and i think he will feel a strong urge to change this today.

  • It will be interesting to find out who will be on the bench and who will start today. I think the energy of Hincapie and Calafiori, and maybe Martinelli and Gyokeres will be key.

  • (I don’t think any risk will be taken with Leandro, so…)
    … strangely enough the starting XI looks like a no-brainer to me:
    Raya
    Timber-Saliba-Hincapié-Calafiori
    Zubi-Rice
    Saka-Eze-Madueke
    Merino
    … and for the first time this season the bench might be as formidable as we expected it to be in August
    (Kepa-White-Mosquera-LewisSkelly-Nørgaard-Ødegaard- Martinelli-Nwaneri-Gyö (??)- reborn Jesus (??))
    Still can hardly believe such a squad is ours …
    COYG

  • LG, liked that video. Kimmich must look back at that interview with some regret as he truly sounded salty and such a bad loser. The irony of accusing Arsenal of playing long balls (not that it isn’t a part of the game) when that was all Bayern utilized, including for their only goal. “Second balls have been renamed ‘Bayern ball’…” Hilarious take.

    Isak just got his first goal for Liverpool against West Ham. They would be hoping it is the start of a few more. I think WHU are rather toothless or choosing the games they will come out to play for.

  • Total, that may be the reason Saka was taken off early vs Bayern; to help him focus on this game today. My concern is Cucurella always seems to get away with roughing up Bukayo, being the only way he blunts him. Cucurella is a handful for good wingers because he has this aggressive, crazed defender style that could spook even the best wingers; ask Lamine Yamal. A lot will be expected of the officials to curb that behaviour on the pitch. I have no problem with pure aggressive defending, mind you. It is the holding, foot nibbling, ankle gnawing, play acting and general brinksmanship Cucurella gets up to that frustrates me, especially when the ref does nothing.

    My solution? Start Madueke on the right and Saka on the left and have them inter-change often. That would rattle their coaching staff and affect their game plan.

    It is a derby (London gets too many of these), so expect a fierce contest for which a win is important.

    COYG!!

  • LINE UPS

    Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
    Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Madueke, Gyokeres, Jesus.

    Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Cucurella, Chalobah, James, Fernandez, Estevao, Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Pedro.
    Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashille, Santos, Palmer, Gittens, Garnacho, Delap.

  • Yes Eris, Cucurella is a handful and a head full of hair!😃

    I think Bukayo just needs this kind of challenge today.

    Lineup out. Mosquero and Hincapie in central defence. Big Sal not even on bench. Martinelli starts.

  • Paqueta of west ham just got the silliest of second yellow cards. He should be docked some of his wages for that. Bad enough trying to get the equalizer against a stronger Liverpool side, only to show such petulance leaving the ref no choice. Like he was looking to be relieved of the expectation of pulling off a result.

    Is Saliba injured, perhaps? He is not even on the bench. Or, does Arteta feel Chelsea aren’t much of a threat?

  • Neves had to pull the hair, didn’t he? I recall Christian Romero also couldn’t resist a nibble at Cucurella’s hair too. 🤣. Hopefully, we don’t have to do such.

  • Good morning gentlemen. Pitch black and swelteringly hot outside, and my bright screen is attracting the mozzies, maybe out in support of our new centre back pairing. COYG.

  • This has been a proper battle, especially in midfield. Caicedo rightly sees red while Cucurella keeps playing on borderline red.

    Hincapie gets close to being considered for a sending off. Our boys have to keep control.

  • Half time. Chelsea have opted for a real scrap of a game and we have obliged. There is a need for calm heads and that’s where the 3 points will come from.

    The CB pairing will need the midfield to stay strong. I am happy for them in a curious kind of way: if they come away from this game unscathed, it will be a huge feather to their caps. Eberechi was not allowed into this game by Caicedo. Now he is out, I expect more. Eze is surprisingly lightweight for the derby day battles.

  • All about those cards now. Cool heads and gaining ruthless control, wear their 10 men out, the chances will come, carpe diem gentlemen.

  • 1-0. Chelsea have scored from a corner kick. Chaloba has been their own Gabriel from set pieces.

    Well, now we have to take deep breathes and see how well the team can recover from this. Why did Arteta take off Calafiori again?

  • I miss Trossard now. Different levels from Martinelli on the football brain front. Martinelli never tries to be strong on the ball, one bit.

    Noni and Martin coming on for Martinelli and Zubimendi. Don’t get that too. Avoiding a second yellow?

  • 1-1!! Merino header, off a Saka cross.
    Odegaard inspired, if you ask me.
    Now, let’s go for it.

  • I am surprised Madueke has not made this game one to remember. Come on, lad! Make your old mates cry.

  • Not a bad result with such an energetic Chelsea team on the day. We live to fight another day.

  • 5 point lead and already played away: Manchester U, Newcastle U, Liverpool, Sunderland and Chavs. Let’s get results in next two games- Villa away another tough one, and then there will be a good run of games to collect loads of points.

  • Indeed, it’s been a tough week for the boys. 7 points from 9, against some serious rivals all within 7 days; I will take it, much as I would have liked us to silence the chavs.

  • Nothing to say about the game from a strictly football perspective, imo. They’re the 21st century Crazy Gang, but being VinnieJoneses … with talent, makes them very hard to take.
    Taylor is not the ref setting my teeth on edge most usually, but he’s 100% responsible for how ugly the game turned out to be. The first tackle of their Wooly Loco was a pre-planned test on him – not on our skipper -, and he failed it miserably. For yesterday’s to be a game worth the name of football, this had to be a yellow all day long. It wasn’t, and from then on the thugs knew the gates of Arckham Asylum were wide open. Caicedo is like a hybrid of Joker and Penguin let loose on a football pitch, and the time it took Taylor to give him his marching orders should get Baldy put in the fridge for quite a while – what a shame.
    Well … I don’t want to make too much of it, though … modern football is often too “hygienic“ for my taste, and the silver lining of all this is that it brought out the Black Swans from within some of our well-behaved lads. I tipped my hat to Gyö for not holding back his tackle on … the ball (it was the ball, wasn’t it?), I just wish his studs had left more of a mark on Sanchez. I’m pretty sure Bukayo relished making a fool of a whirling dervish out of Cruella before assisting Merino’s equalizer; under such circumstances Jürrien’s bravery is the rock our church is built on, etc. As for Hincapié … if his elbow reshaping Chalobah’s face and his tackle and growling grin on Neto haven’t already turned him into an Arsenal hero, I don’t know what will.
    This game is the reason why we can’t get our CL win expectations too high. The round of 8 takes place mid-April; by then PSG and Bayern’s squads will be as fresh as roses in the spring morning dew, ours will be bruised and battered by our showdowns with Sunderland, Newcastle … Chelsea, etc. … not to mention Villa away at 12.30 at the end of a 3-game-week (thanks a lot indeed, FA).
    But truth is we’ might not be at PSG technical level yet. On a good day Vitinha-Neves-Ruiz-Dembelé-Doué-Kvaratskhelia would have made them chase the ball like puppies. I say “we might“ because, while we know what Enrique’s best XI looks like, we’re yet to see what Mick’s is. What the boys did yesterday in the absence of both Bill and BigGab, and with the returned-from-injury players obviously out of form, is not to be sniffed at. The only thing I can’t get my head around on is precisely why play so many of them (Marti, Madueke, Gyö, Øde, plus Eze who looked uner the weather after his heroics against Spuds/Bayern) and not give at least a few minutes to Ethan, who has been unharmed since the start of the season, was good when called upon, is excellent in tight spaces, and deadly accurate in front of goal … but hey! what do I know?
    Bring on the Bees, COYG

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *