Arsenal Patience Finally Pays Off Against Stubborn Blades

Arsenal 2 Sheffield United 1
Premier League
Sunday 4th October 2020  2pm

We’ve seen a lot of matches like yesterday afternoon’s at the Emirates over the years, although usually with a crowd present. On that point, it is interesting that there do seem to be more away wins since the behind closed doors matches came in during the lockdown. It can only point to the influence of the crowd on both players and officials. Whilst discussing spectators, and the reality that currently mascot Gunnersaurus does not have a raison d’etre, does anyone actually believe the mascot will not return once crowds are allowed back? There is a separate debate to be had over whether those not being required to work should remain on the payroll, but I refuse to believe the retirement is permanent, at least for the mascot itself. Whether or not Jerry Quy, the employee behind the costume finds alternative work and decides against wearing it again himself only time will tell, and it is of course sad that anyone has lost their opportunity to make a living as a consequence of the virus.

Still, football itself continues, albeit as a TV spectacle, and there was certainly greater drama at Old Trafford and Villa Park after Arsenal had played yesterday. The defeat of Leciester at home to West Ham was another shock, and it does give the hope that this could be a far more open season than we have seen for a while, perhaps similar to 2015-16, when Leicester famously triumphed. 

Back to matters in north London though, and few would have been surprised with Sheffield United’s approach to the match. Pointless after three matches, they would have gladly taken a draw from the visit to Arsenal, and for the most part played that way. Mikel Arteta mixed things up a bit in his team selection, with Nketiah preferred to Lacazette, Saka and Tierney coming in for Kolasinac and Holding, with Granit Xhaka presumably rested, as Elneny made a start alongside Ceballos. 

Let’s not pretend here, David Luiz should have been sent off in the third minute for his tug on a United forward after he lost control of a pass from Gabriel. The question that comes to mind about Luiz is whether he is a liability the team can afford, because for all his attributes, the errors keep coming. He got away with one yesterday, and the game might have been very different were he less fortunate. 

I had about four WhatsApp chats going during the game and there was a consensus that Willian’s contribution is tailing off. Certainly, Arsenal lacked spark generally. Things were evened up regarding non-sending offs later in the first half when a very questionable challenge on Aubameyang left the striker in a heap on the floor and there was a case for the yellow card awarded to be a different colour. 

Generally though, it was dull fare as we waited for a breakthrough to open things up. Arsenal created a few half chances, but little that suggested a breakthrough would come. I regretted the disappearance of the mid-half drinks breaks, as an opportunity for Mikel Arteta to give players some focused tactical instruction had been lost.

Pepe came on early in the second half, after 55 minutes, replacing Eddie Nketiah, who had struggled to justify his selection. Around this time, I made a note to the effect of wondering whether Sky had ever considered launching a channel charging people to watch paint dry…

Fortunately the change worked well, as Willian dropped deeper and became far more influential in a number 10 role, and the team effectively switched to four at the back, as Saka moved further forward and Aubameyang went central. A goal followed, involving Pepe, Willian, Elneny, Aubameyang and Bellerin in the build-up, before the latter put a great cross in for Saka to head home decisively. It was a good overload on the right side of United’s defence, with some tight pacey passing. We didn’t have to wait long for a second, Bellerin giving the ball to Pepe who carried it to within range and finished it nicely. 

There is no doubt that most Gooners are unhappy with the record signing’s contribution so far, and the fact he is not a first choice starter indicates the manager is yet to be convinced, but he’s scored some good goals and contributed in the build-ups to others. His inconsistency is what pains, his decision making at times a little reminiscent of a certain Theo Walcott. But this was a fine goal, and pretty much guaranteed a win against a side that rarely score more than one. 

After 80 minutes Xhaka came on for Ceballos. The visitors’ greater threat afterwards probably had as much to do with the clock as the removal of the tenacious and creative Spaniard, but what we can say with certainty is that their consolation goal was a decent strike, and made the final minutes of the game nervier than they needed to be. Arsenal held firm though, more confident in their defensive capabilities than in the not so recent past. Gabriel in particular looks like an excellent addition to the team.

It was another three valuable points that the team were not picking up too often last season from these kind of matches, and after the day concluded it saw Arsenal in fourth place behind Everton, Villa and Leicester. Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea sit behind. Very early days, but nine points you would ordinarily expect an Arsenal team to secure have been won, and getting anything from the visit to Anfield was always going to be a bonus. 

So room for some hope. Granted, the transfer deadline day could turn out to be a damp squib, and that may hurt further down the line. There is still a lot of overhauling to do with the squad, and in a couple of seasons’ time, things will look very different. Man City, Leicester, Man Utd and Villa next up in the league. After eight matches we will have a much better idea of what we can expect from the remainder of an already strange season. 

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