Vardy The Thorn In Arsenal’s Side Once Again

Arsenal 0 Leicester 1
Premier League
Sunday 25th October 2020  7.15pm

£14.99 or not (for those that elected to watch this game on a stream), this made for painful viewing. Arsenal created just enough chances to have won this match, but their players lacked the clinical abilities of Jamie Vardy (Aubameyang has lost form a bit of his edge since ‘signing da ting’, and Lacazette has never convinced as the main striker). How different it might have been. Had Arsene Wenger persuaded the Leicester number 9 to make the move to the Emirates in 2016, Lacazette would probably not have been signed two years later. Instead, Vardy has become the modern day version of Didier Drogba where Arsenal are concerned. A goal from him almost inevitable, whilst exposing defensive issues.

No question that Arsenal dominated the first half, even if Maddison’s early attempt to chip an out of his goal Leno was a little too close for comfort. They were a little unfortunate with the offside early on when Lacazette’s header did creep into the goal, as Schemichel in the Leicester goal was nowhere near it, Xhaka’s presence between him and the ball making zero difference. Still, the fact that he was where he was as the attempt went across the goal was enough to see that the offside decision was not overruled. Subsequent to that, both Aubameyang and Lacazette had very presentable opportunities to score with their heads, but it wasn’t to be. It was a case of not taking advantage of being on top, with most efforts going wide, and Leicester doing enough to make life difficult. 

It was difficult to figure out exactly what the formation would be when the teams were announced, given Xhaka, Ceballos and Partey were all named. However, Xhaka’s role at the third centre back meant that Kieran Tierney played at left-wing back, with Bukayo Saka moved to the right side of attack. Thomas Partey and Dani Ceballos were paired in the centre of the pitch, although Ceballos had a disappointing game, failing to influence things as he sometimes does. Partey himself continued from his Europa League display in that he was generally tidy and sprayed the ball around with efficiency. However, he is cog in the system, no Bryan Robson, not as yet as influential as Patrick Vieira. Early days though. 

It was inevitable that Vardy would be brought on if Leicester were in need, and by the time he did, David Luiz had hobbled off to be replaced by Mustafi. Arsenal already had three centre backs they could not call on due to injury, and another ineligible as not included in the 25 man Premier League squad. William Saliba is eligible due to his age, but evidently not yet rated by the manager. So we had the excellent Gabriel flanked by Mustafi and Xhaka. It was asking a lot and no huge surprise that, buoyed by the entrance of Vardy, Leicester slowly turned the screw. 

You could see the goal coming. Xhaka was left for dead as a through ball saw him well outpaced. Gabriel tried to cover for his colleague, leaving Vardy in acres of space with Mustafi unable to get anywhere near him. Vardy could have scored a second later on. Arsenal had a very quiet second half, a Bellerin volley straight at Schmeichel their only meaningful attempt. Ultimately, they lacked the wit to break down a stubborn and well-organised Leicester team, with only Saka providing any real problems. In such circumstances, the reputation of an absent player such as Ozil can only be enhanced, but his stats in the couple of seasons before he disappeared suggest he probably isn’t the answer, although that is academic for the time being due to ineligibility.

It was a well below-par display in a game that Arsenal needed to win to really establish themselves as a credible contender. Granted, in a topsy turvy season, they are still only four points off the leaders, but winning home matches, or at the very least not losing them, is something that will need to happen if Arteta’s men are to remain in the mix. Victory at Old Trafford next weekend might change the feeling that was the outcome of this match – still a lot of work to do, still personnel changes to be made (not least someone to compensate for Aubameyang when he goes off the boil – is it too much to hope that Martinelli might be that player?). Looking at the more immediate picture, the Gunners haven’t won at Old Trafford – at least in the league - for a long, long time. Still, the law of averages has to kick in sometime. Leicester had not won at Arsenal for almost fifty years.

With hindsight, Arteta might have been better to have Tierney in his back three, leave out one of Xhaka or Ceballos and play someone like Ainsley Maitland-Niles at left wing-back. What was obvious is that, creatively, the team will sometimes struggle against an organized defence. Brendan Rodgers came with a gameplan, and outwitted his less experienced opposite number. Leicester finished fifth in the league last season, and should probably have qualified for the Champions League but for a drop in form after matches resumed post-lockdown. Arsenal were eighth. With the funds the two clubs have outlaid, this game merely demonstrated the quality of the Foxes’ scouting operation. Most of their title winning squad of four years ago have moved on, but they have rebuilt and can now be legitimately seen as top four contenders. That is something it feels like Arsenal currently aspire to. They have beaten Fulham, West Ham and Sheffield United so far in the league this season, losing to the teams they are trying to overhaul. 

A disappointing evening. It’s too early to draw conclusions about how this season will pan out at this stage, but it was hardly encouraging. Dundalk at home on Thursday evening should prove less of an obstacle, even with the inevitable mix and match side that could sell see some youths given a run out. However, we’ll need a response to this next Sunday against Manchester United. It should, at least, be a far more open game. 

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