Three clean sheets in a row, although a mixed bag going forward

Arsenal 2 Newcastle 0  (aet) 

FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 9th January 2021 – 5.30pm   

Arsenal 0 Crystal Palace 0  
Premier League   
Thursday 14th January 2021 - 8pm   

Arsenal 3 Newcastle 0  
Premier League   
Monday 18th January 2021 - 8pm   

So, firstly thanks to those that have emailed to express concern that I have come down with the virus, due to the lack of activity on the blog. I am healthy and well, but as I will explain very busy on the work front. Most people know that I have passed on the baton of Gooner editor to Layth Yousif, but less are aware that my new gig is holistic therapy. I do a lot of work on the connection between emotions and physical illness, although I am spending two weeks in South Africa to work with a fellow therapist exchanging ideas and developing programs for a home use microcurrent frequency device called a Healy. It was launched in the summer of 2017, but in May of last year, released in the United States and there is a hunger for therapist created programs to run from the device. So a good time of year to come to South Africa, and no complaints about a bit of Vitamin D – but I have been too busy keeping up with my normal work (given the frustrations of internet connection in this part of the world) as well as working with my colleague. Ironically, given the concern for my health from regular readers, one of the programs we are developing is one to support people who have had the vaccine against any subsequent ill effects. 

I was actually airborne during much of the FA Cup match against Newcastle, flying to Frankfurt to catch a connecting flight to Johannesburg. When I took off from Heathrow it was 0-0 and as I landed in Germany the score was the same. WhatsApp chat informed me that the first hour was pretty dire, although things perked up with the introduction of youth. It is interesting to consider that without VAR, Emile Smith Rowe would not only have been unable to score the winning goal, he would likely be out of the following three matches, were his red card not rescinded. I have as yet to see even the highlights of this game, although I am told that the benefit of watching the whole thing would simply be a familiar reminder about how the more experienced players are letting the club down. It was a shame that Martinelli was injured in the warm-up, but at least the reason for his removal did not prove to be long term, thankfully after so long out of action.

I was at least able to watch the Palace and Newcastle Premier League games in SA. I think at this point it is interesting to relay that, in spite of the variant strain of the virus here, the rate of infection is dropping. The total ban on alcohol sales of any form may be an influence here. In the UK the pubs are shut, but you can still buy alcohol for home consumption. Aside from illegal sales and those with a decent stock of the stuff, the country is dry. It’s summer here, people like to enjoy a brai (barbecue) and I suspect there are a lot less of these as a consequence of no readily available beer. Certainly those that normally watch games in pubs have no joy. Most of the beaches here are also out of bounds too, which is an interesting policy. God, it feels like the days when I wrote my World Cup Diaries for the Gooner website.

Anyway, onto Palace at home and 90 minutes of my life I won’t get back. When Granit Xhaka is your best player, it tells you a lot. This game also outlined the importance of Kieran Tierney to the side, as if we didn’t already know. The young hopefuls Smith Rowe and Saka both started, but we can’t expect them to produce in every single game, and the number of times that the ball was played sideways and backwards was a frustration, when runs were either not picked up or simply not made. This has to be down to Arteta’s tactics, valuing possession against percentage. But if you do not buy a ticket, your chances of winning the lottery are pretty slim. There was no sense of urgency about the Gunners’ play, and this has been a facet of performances for what feels like several seasons now. It’s why, when they play and are on form, players such as Saka and Tierney excite – they take people on, show a bit of pace. There is even a suggestion that it is the younger players that tend to ignore the coach’s orders more and just play from instinct.

I watched the two league games on the Premier League channel – and there was some interesting analysis of Dani Ceballos’ contribution in the Palace game. Apparently he was not fit for the following Monday night game against Newcastle, but watching the selected moments, you could understand if he had been dropped for being just too cautious. I always pictured Ceballos as a player that drove the team forward but in the Palace game he was pointing for the ball to be played backwards instead of running into a position to play an incisive one-two.

Arsenal’s players gave the ball a way a lot against Roy Hodgson’s team and the visitors had the best chances. On the left side of the team, Luiz, Maitland-Niles and Aubameyang were all right-footers, invariably cutting inside. It demonstrated why Tierney gives the side more threat on that flank. Arteta started four English players against Palace. God alone knows how long ago that last happened in a Premier League match, but I suspect we might have to go back to the earlier days of Arsene Wenger’s reign for the last such occasion. 

At least the Newcastle cup game saw progress in the competition, even if the momentum built up over the previous three matches stalled a bit. But the Palace match felt like the post-Xms run was a bit of a flash in the pan. Fortunately, things picked up when Newcastle returned, even if it took until the second half for the team to turn it on. 

We awaited Aubameyang re-finding more of his scoring touch after a relative drought was ended in the Cup game against the same opposition, and he scored twice this time around against a poor Newcastle side which had nine changes. This was more like it. Thomas Partey had got some minutes under his belt against Palace, without having much impact, but in the hour plus he played of this game, his influence was greater, playing a part in the first two goals by bringing the ball out from deep. It was a great pass that set his captain away for the opening goal. His getting a run of games under his belt will be a key factor in what remains of this surreal season. The return of Tierney to the starting eleven also assisted the shape of the team and the creative threat. 

It must be hoped that Aubameyang can pick up on his form after three two goals in three games. Arsenal need him to, as the next few opponents in the league are trickier than the likes of Brighton, West Brom, Palace and Newcastle. He has looked shorn of confidence for three months, a shadow of the player that he was, not least at the conclusion of last season in the FA Cup games at Wembley. Arsenal have the makings of a decent first eleven if they can keep everyone fit, good enough to climb into the top six and perhaps go some way in Europe. It’s taken a while to realise that Smith Rowe is good enough to justify a first team start, Tierney is confirming the hopes that came with his signing now he is consistently fit. Saka is a first team fixture, capable of playing on either flank, whilst Partey has done enough in his limited gametime so far to create belief that he can lift the team to a higher level. In central defence, there seem to be quality options with Gabriel, Mari and Holding available. 

Palace though, reminded us that momentum can easily stall. Sometimes the team need to be braver, to risk loss of possession in areas where they should not be hurt too much if they are organized. It feels like the solution might be finding the right blend and sticking with it – and then using a little more thrust and pace instead of placing possession above risk. In a sense Arteta’s Arsenal are still finding  their identity, and when they click it looks good. When they don’t it is often simply dull. Controlling a game does not have to be boring as long as there is a hint that danger could strike at any minute. If Arteta can field the right players, then things do not have to be dull, but he has been unfortunate with injuries, and created problems for himself in selecting below par performers. 

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