It’s at all times a very good morning after Arsenal have overwhelmed Manchester United, proper?
I’m not going to fake I watched the sport stay — sleep is treasured with a nine-month previous child within the image — however I’ve caught up with as a lot as doable this morning. Greater than something, I believe pre-season wins do exactly set a tone, they create a very good temper with them. You possibly can write off the defeats however you may’t ignore the thrill of beating an previous rival with some actually promising performances.
The United workforce appeared barely extra like a primary alternative XI to me however each groups had been simply two, three, possibly 4 gamers faraway from a facet that might realistically begin a Premier League sport within the close to future.
A number of pre-season over-indexing at all times goes on, and understandably. All of us need to determine as a lot as humanly doable concerning the workforce and determine how the brand new season goes to go forward of time. The success price on predictions made off the again of video games like these is at all times going to be extremely variable! However that doesn’t imply all the pieces ought to be ignored both.
I believe people, you recognize which of them want a very good pre-season. If Martin Odegaard or Bukayo Saka wrestle, no one goes to fret about them. If a younger participant and a participant who gave the impression to be combating health or confidence final season shines, then possibly they open a door for themselves.
Enter Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus.
The pair mixed for our equaliser after Rasmus Hojlund however United a objective up and it appears they had been the standout gamers of the primary half, if not the whole night time. Emile Smith Rowe’s impending exit might open a door for Nwaneri in midfield and it feels important that he has lined up by the center of the pitch to date within the US with Fabio Vieira taking part in out extensive.
Between his physique, utility, instincts and apparent technical capacity, he does seem like a participant who belongs within the coronary heart of the motion, receiving the ball on the flip, at all times wanting ahead.
He made a pleasant run down the proper early on, taking part in the ball inside and going outdoors down the proper to obtain it once more (albeit in an offside place) earlier than forcing Andre Onana right into a save.
The help for Jesus’ equaliser confirmed apparent high quality to select the Brazilian out. Typically, Nwaneri’s contact, his readability in his selections, his dedication to get on the ball at each alternative, and total apparent high quality are all actually thrilling and Mikel Arteta urged there’ll proceed to be alternatives so long as he’s delivering in coaching:
It’s at all times within the arms of the gamers, so present what you are able to do. Present that ambition, that dedication, that high quality and issues will occur naturally. Tomorrow he’s going to coach with us once more and if he continues to play like that he’s going to play some minutes on Wednesday for certain.
I don’t know the way a lot we’ll see Nwaneri this season — he’s nonetheless simply 17 and doesn’t flip 18 till March subsequent yr — however I do assume he’ll have the chance to combat for minutes and will likely be a daily fixture on the bench. That is virtually the precise age Cesc Fabregas broke into the Arsenal workforce and we shouldn’t overlook what a spectacular anomaly it’s for a participant that younger to play common soccer. Even Saka needed to wait one other yr to have an effect at first workforce degree.
Right here is that Gabriel Jesus objective, by the way in which:
GABRIEL JESUS BRINGS ARSENAL LEVEL AGAINST UNITED ‼️ pic.twitter.com/Mr7VEuqbzl
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 28, 2024
The Brazilian appeared actually sharp once more and I can’t assist however really feel, so long as he’s on the membership, he might have an enormous function to play this season. We clearly haven’t added a ahead as issues stand and the concept of Jesus totally match once more it’s tempting to get carried away with the concept of Jesus being totally match once more. His first half season on the membership, earlier than the 2022 World Cup, had been electrical. There was flashes of that Jesus final season, largely within the Champions League, and I’m not fairly prepared but to surrender on that model of the participant being rediscovered.
Absolutely match and stuffed with confidence, he’s an unbelievable participant and an extremely well-rounded ahead. The jinking runs had been again final night time — Lenny Yoro prodded the ball away after one, one other turned Harry Maguire inside out and practically left Leandro Trossard with one other — and the objective was extra of the kind of objective he must search for. Jesus missed 16 large possibilities missed within the Premier League in 2022/23 (the sixth most within the league) however simply seven in 2023/24 (thirty first). Lacking large possibilities means you’re getting large possibilities and people tables are led by the likes of Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Ollie Watkins. And Darwin Nunez. Alexander Isak, Ivan Toney, Nicolas Jackson additionally pop up on them. And the entire above hit double figures within the marketing campaign(s) the place they lead the league on that entrance. Jesus didn’t even get large possibilities to overlook final season and that’s a way more actual concern. Arteta — or no matter his phrase is value — sounded inspired too:
He appears actually good, he appears actually sharp. He’s modified a variety of issues over the summer time and he’s come again in high situation once more. When you might have that baseline, different issues might be constructed however with out that basis we don’t have a participant and he must be in that situation to get the most effective out of him. He’s realised that and I’m actually pleased with what he’s proven as we speak once more. You possibly can see by the way in which he appears, the way in which he’s shifting and you’ll see in his eyes that there’s a spark there.
Gabriel Martinelli is one other participant who didn’t fairly ship as a lot final season because the season earlier than. He got here on and appeared raring to go, driving fown the left and practically discovering fellow sub Kai Havertz for a header in entrance of objective. Martinelli’s subsequent probability to get in behind was lower brief by the offside flag.
When he did get one other alternative, he delivered the winner. I actually love a large participant going through as much as their defender, one-on-one, and taking contact after contact after contact in fast succession, simply edging the ball ahead. The defender is left on the again foot guessing which contact would be the decisive one, the one which flicks the ball both outdoors or inside and sees the winger burst within the chosen route. Martinelli went inside and delivered that burst with excellent timing. Then delivered a very sensible, misleading end into the hole at Onana’s close to submit.
MARTINELLI GIVES ARSENAL THE LATE LEAD OVER UNITED 🍿 pic.twitter.com/4LJTTG2XJq
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 28, 2024
Once more, right here’s Arteta on him:
That’s the mentality of the workforce and people – one coaching session and he is available in and performs at that degree. That implies that he’s not coming right here to get ready, he’s come ready to indicate the place he’s and that’s a really completely different method and I cherished it.
One different fascinating soundbite from the supervisor was his clarification for taking part in Ben White at right-back and Jurrien Timber at centre-back slightly than the opposite manner spherical, saying it was a matter of “making one change and never two” and never eager to mess with the “chemistry” on the right-hand facet. Now we’ve extra defensive depth, it is perhaps value remembering this and considering in partnerships slightly than people. Total there’s simply extra more likely to be extra rotation than ever going ahead however, given White’s relationship down that flank with Odegaard and Saka, right-back won’t be Timber’s greatest guess in his bid for normal soccer.
For the sake of completion, I’ll share United’s objective as nicely. Ayden Heaven has made a mark at centre-back this summer time, 17 is extremely younger to be taking part in towards Premier League strikers in that place, the place a mistake might be expensive, however he impressed towards Dominic Solanke and easily misplaced the larger, quicker participant in Rasmus Hojlund because the Dane gave United the lead.
RASMUS HOJLUND STRIKES FIRST FOR MAN UNITED 😤 pic.twitter.com/p5CaTMqMXr
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 28, 2024
Once more, Arteta was glowing in his reward for the defender and his response.
Very spectacular. At 17, I don’t know what number of gamers are ready to do this on a stage like this. He’s misplaced a duel towards one of many strongest and quickest gamers on this planet, it may well occur, however the response afterwards, the composure, the standard, the physique language that he had had been all outstanding. I’m actually pleased with him.
I’m undecided we’ll see a lot, if something, of the defender this season, given the depth on the again now, however I don’t assume Arteta’s option to preserve beginning a 17-year-old on the again in these video games ought to be ignored and he’s seemingly being earmarked as a participant with the flexibility to interrupt into the facet.
That looks like a subject for an additional day, presumably a few years from now.
That’s me for the day. It’s pretty to get up to an Arsenal win and I hope that units the tone for everybody’s Sundays. Andrew A and Tim will likely be on obligation to get you thru the subsequent few days and I’m wanting ahead to studying another person’s ideas on these pages once more. Till later within the week!
