Match report – – – Video
Like many of you, I’m sure, I was worried in the 80th minute. In my head I was half formulating my reaction to dropped points, because it really didn’t look like we were going to find a way through a pretty resolute Leicester performance.
What had been a fairly pedestrian game overall started to come to life with around 20 minutes to go. Arsenal brought on Mikel Merino for Raheem Sterling, shifted Leandro Trossard out to the left, and told the Spanish international to do what he could in the centre-forward position. Almost immediately, he gave us some presence – which had been missing – in the opposition box.
Jurrien Timber whipped in a dangerous cross from the right, Merino was there at the back post but just couldn’t get a touch on the ball. But, it was something after quite a lot of nothing. Then, Thomas Partey gave the ball away carelessly and Leicester broke down their left hand side. A low ball across the box beat everyone, Bobby De Cordova-Reid was just waiting for a tap-in but somehow Myles Lewis-Skelly got a touch on the ball to nick it behind for a corner.
I’m no fan of Ruud van Nistelrooy, obviously, but when he spoke afterwards about ‘fine margins’, this was the moment, because I think if Leicester score there the game is probably done from our perspective. It was a sensational piece of defending from the 18 year old who, I’m happy to report, wasn’t even the most impressive youngster on the pitch.
That accolade fell to Ethan Nwaneri. The first half of this game happened. That’s all I can say about it. It was a half of football that took place in the universe in which we all exist. I don’t think any more needs to be said about it. No more should be said about it. We all experienced it, and that’s enough. However, if there was a bright spark in that first 45 minutes, it was Nwaneri. We didn’t really look like making the breakthrough, but it felt obvious that if it came, he’d be involved.
A couple of minutes after Lewis-Skelly’s fantastic intervention, Martin Odegaard fed Nwaneri on the break and he drove towards the Leicester penalty area. I’ve talked more than once about his trademark move – shifting the ball onto his left foot to have a pop – and despite the fact defenders know what he’s going to do, they can’t stop it. Which is probably why the Leicester defender showed the 17 year old onto his right foot. Sensible. Except he cannoned a fizzing shot off the post with said right foot, keeper beaten all ends up, and the ball rebounded away to safety. I did not know he had that in his locker, but I love learning.
Don’t close your mind to possibility, to the idea that you know all there is to know. Not just in football. In life. Be open-minded. Accept what the evidence tells you. Nwaneri, who has a gifted left foot that is going to excite us for years to come, also has right foot that can do that. I love it. Premier League defenders won’t but I, for one, relish the idea that this lad will give them nightmares on the pitch, and in their sleep, after he’s twisted them inside out over 90 minutes.
Premier League wife: ‘Darling, why are you screaming in your sleep?! Is it Dracula? A werewolf? The idea of a Maroon 5/Phil Collins World Tour?’
Premier League defender: ‘Nwaneri’.
Premier League wife: ‘You poor thing’.
Just moments later the referee, who had left a few too many fouls go for my liking, played on when Timber was taken out, and from there the opener came. Nwaneri had tried this cross a few times in the first half, but with a collection of pint-sized targets to aim at, it hadn’t been successful. This time, with a 6’2 Spaniard in the mixer, it paid off. The delivery was excellent, and Merino is an accomplished header of the ball who nodded home to make it 1-0.
Phew.
We needed that. And not long after the lead was doubled. Leicester came forward to find an equaliser, which meant the game was stretched. Odegaard did brilliantly deep in our half to spark a move which involved substitute Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard. The Belgian had been pretty quiet, but from the left hand side he delivered a great ball to the back post where Merino was waiting. He made the finish look simple but it was a very smartly taken goal, and that was always gonna be that.
Phew again.
We saw what life is like without Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, and it’s going to be a challenge. But, within the squad there’s some quality and character and we had to dig deep yesterday to uncover that. Nwaneri’s precocious talent is obvious, and while questions have been asked about the Merino signing, yesterday was a great way to repay some of that fee and ensure we took all three points back to North London.
Afterwards, the former Real Sociedad man said:
It was just big news for me when this morning one of the assistants just told me that it was an option. It is the first time in my career, well, practically ever, that I play this position. But the good thing is that the way this team plays, I think everybody knows what everybody has to do. So, yeah, I just try to do my best. Mikel told me to just try to use my strengths, be in the box, win duels, try to hold the ball. I was in the right place at the right moment and my teammates put some amazing balls. So, two goals and, most important, three points for the team.
It’s an interesting one to consider, and perhaps we might see it from the start in our next game with a full week to work on things in training. Despite the fact we only have three attackers, Raheem Sterling basically played himself out of the starting XI yesterday. I’ve said it before, it’s sad to see a player who has done so much at this level struggle to the extent that he does, but you can’t ignore the reality of it either. He tried, but not a single thing came off for him, and we were better when he went off.
So that gives Mikel Arteta some thinking to do ahead of the West Ham game. He talked before this one about keeping an attacking option on the bench in case it was needed, and while I don’t hold out much hope that Sterling can be a difference maker as a substitute, it’s impossible to make any case for him as a starter.
But this morning, let’s give props to the team for digging it out, to Nwaneri for stepping up and filling a very necessary void despite his tender age, and to Merino for grabbing goals which are absolutely vital because we are – despite all the angst – still well and truly in a title race. I feel like he kinda needed a moment like this, and I hope there’s more to come in the weeks ahead, because it feels like we’ll need him.
Right, I’ll leave it there for this morning. We’ll keep an eye on what Liverpool do against Wolves having applied just a little pressure, and you can join me and James tomorrow for an Arsecast Extra.
Until then, have a great Sunday.
