Arsenal pick up where they left off 50 days ago

Arsenal 3 West Ham 1 
Premier League 
Monday 26th December 2022 8pm   

Firstly, just to say that there was a policy during the World Cup on The Gooner Twitter account of not mentioning the tournament due to the current editor’s decision that it should be completely ignored on political grounds. This means that some people who read this blog thanks to an agreement whereby I can retweet once daily on the Gooner Twitter account (by seeing tweets there about fresh blog entries) may not have even been aware that I was blogging throughout the finals – including a nine night stay in Qatar. So if you have any interest in my experience of the tournament and Qatar itself, having attended eight matches during the group phase – one in every stadium – they can be found from this page. Just scroll down and then hit ‘More posts’ at the bottom to work your way back to the first of 14 entries written during the tournament.

Back to domestic matters though, and with Arsenal’s next four League matches being against Brighton, Newcastle, Spurs and Manchester United, the importance of a win on their return to Premier League action could not be understated. And after 45 minutes, against West Ham last night, the situation was a little concerning. It felt like David Moyes’ side had worked out their opponents, creating a blueprint of how to deny Arsenal.

It was ironic that Arsene Wenger was back at the Emirates for the first time since he was relieved of managerial duties back in May 2018, because at times, it felt like Arsenal were trying to score the perfect goal by passing the ball into the net rather than just trying the odd shot. Such tactics against a packed defence can see ricochets, deflections and rebounds. Certainly a playing the percentages approach, but it’s a reason why Frank Lampard is Chelsea’s record goalscorer. There were also a number of crosses from wide that would have made sense if Mikel Arteta had a target man on his books. Manchester City have Erling Halaand, so the attempt to reproduce Pepball now requires an extra dimension. And much as Arsenal are being talked up as title contenders, the bookies still have the league holders as favourites.

Eddie Nketiah was the central striker, with Jesus out for three months, and although he can head a ball, he wasn’t able to get on the end of any crosses. City’s options in the position include a World Cup winner in reserve, which gives you some notion of the task ahead. Kieran Tierney was the other change from the Gunners’ last Premier League game way back on 12th November – the win at Wolves. He replaced a presumably not fully fit Zinchenko. Arsenal had a torrid time on the left side of their defence. Nominally playing a back four, Tierney was so advanced most of the time that it allowed too much space on his flank, and Gabriel was a little exposed. There were warnings before West Ham won the penalty for a touch on Bowen by Saliba that unbalanced the former. The spot kick was dispatched and the home side were up against it.

In mitigation, they were unfortunate to have had a goal by Saka chalked off for offside before that, evidence that it was possible to break down the East London side. And although Arsenal certainly dominated and looked easy on the eye, it felt like possession without penetration for the most part. After the game Declan Rice admitted his colleagues could not have kept up the level of defensive intensity throughout the 90 minutes, and that was what proved the key after the interval.

It was a wayward shot from Odegaard that created a chance for Saka to level. The Arsenal skipper took a potshot from distance that was not even on target or particularly strong. As stated earlier, sometimes surprising things can happen if you just enter the lottery. The Hammers’ offside line went awry and Saka was able to take the pace off of the ball and finish off the chance with his second touch. Martinelli then put his side ahead with a low shot from wide that beat the hapless Fabianski at his near post. The former Gunner’s star seems to have fallen a bit as I noted he was not selected for Poland’s World Cup squad. He was certainly caught out on this occasion, but the scoreline was more than a fair reflection of the balance of play. 

All the same, a goal lead is precarious, so it was good to see Eddie Nketiah score later. He’d had a couple of promising situations that didn’t come off, but kept plugging away and got his reward with a sweet turn and finish after nice build up work from White and Odegaard. The latter was pulling the strings by this time, and the entrance of Zinchenko for Tierney helped them control the remainder of the game. West Ham did have a late chance to pull one back, but Ramsdale pulled off a top drawer save to ensure no last minute nerves.

Credit to Arsenal for getting back in the groove after the long interruption to the campaign, and especially remaining calm after going behind. It took time to break down a dogged and hardworking opponent, but they kept doing the right things and when space started to appear, took advantage. The tough run of matches to follow look slightly less intimidating now, but the level will need to remain high. Arteta’s men simply have to continue with the tunnel vision of focusing on the next match and garnering as many points as they can. Newcastle look like they may also have some involvement in the title race, and without the distraction of European football in midweeks, they can’t be written off. Eddie Howe has done a great job in getting the best out of his players, and their sporting director used to work for Brighton, being responsible for their securing a number of players that went on to greater things, not least their Argentinian World Cup winner Mac Allister, as well as a certain Ben White. With the owner’s money behind them, they look set to become serious contenders in the future. Arsenal’s match against them on Tuesday next week will certainly be interesting.

And although the Gunners are top after Boxing Day, normally more matches have been played by this time, and it feels earlier in the season when you look at the table. There are four teams they still have not even faced, which in unheard of by late December in a normal campaign. With assumed aspirations in Europe, you imagine that Arteta is well aware of the need to bolster the depth of his squad, and a winger in the form of Mykhailo Mudryk looks like he will give Alex Zinchenko a fellow Ukrainian to chat with in the dressing room. If there is no holding midfield signing, Thomas Partey needs to remain fit and available, as the quality of the cover there is debatable. And a forward may be required unless there are plans to move Martinelli central to share the burden with Nketiah once the European matches return, although if Jesus is out for three months, he was injured on 2nd December, so technically, he could return by early March. Given goals are coming from around the team, Arteta might feel he can risk not buying a central striker.

There is an understandable feel good atmosphere at the Emirates these days. The crowd – younger than they used to be since Covid – are more vocal and more supportive. This was the case last season, so it’s not simply reliant on a title challenge. There will be bumps in the road before the season’s out, and for this observer, it’s too early to start thinking about a first league title since 2004. Let’s face it, another key player being injured would seriously disrupt the balance of the team. I am simply delighted that the team is playing well, that Arteta is proving me wrong after what felt like an underwhelming two and a half seasons with just too many poor performances and results. But the owners kept faith in the ‘project’ and we are now seeing the fruits of that patience. Critically, they seem to be supporting the club financially, even if it may be in the form of long-term loans. Only time will tell on that one. The team is playing exciting football and getting results. Other sides now talk about them with genuine respect for what they are seeing. Tickets are getting much harder to secure at games for non-season ticket holders. Arsenal are on an upward trajectory. Football moves in cycles, and – in terms of the Premier League – it feels like a long time since things looked as promising as they do now. Long may it continue.

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