Can go a long way for Arsenal

Of: Frida fagerlund

Published: September 12, 2020 kl. 16.30

Willian, Gabriel, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Rob Holding …

It wasn’t just Arsenal players with South American roots who delivered bronze football in the premiere against Fulham.

Anyone who has had a chance to watch the first half between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage probably doesn’t understand what is meant in the preface.

The premiere was initially very much a premiere. The fantastic September weather has taken hold of London, which provided optimal conditions, even without an audience in the stands. Scott Parker, elegantly dressed in a suit, certainly seemed to belong to the western areas. Of course, the manager has managed to steer Fulham in a new direction since the club left the Premier League in 2019. The fact that his pressure and passing game looked “promising” in the first 45 probably had more to do with him. slow pace of the Arsenal ball.

Mikel Arteta chose to give Mohamed Elneny renewed confidence in midfield alongside Granit Xhaka. The returnee made a solid effort throughout, such as in the Community Shield final against Liverpool. However, he’s not really the creative player that Arsenal sometimes lacked on Saturday. It got a lot better when Xhaka dared to hit deep lead balls against the front trio.

Two Brazilian debutants

Gabriel, 22, was certainly a little more nervous than Willian, the second rookie of the starting eleven. After all, it differs ex number of years and Premier League matches between compatriots. The midfielder was off to a terrible start when he misjudged a situation already after a few minutes with which Aboubakar Kamara came close to putting Fulham 1-0. Fortunately, on Gabriel’s part, Bernd Leno doesn’t seem to have lost quality during his injury period.

It soon turned out that both metals would work out comfortably. Especially Willian. The fact that there was a bit of whining when the 32-year-old signed last summer had something to do with the length of his contract (three years) and the club he came from. Those who saw Chelsea last season knew very well that Willian is still in the upper class.

Already in the eighth minute, Arsenal’s first attack, Alexandre Lacazette pushed Willian’s return behind Marek Rodak (who from now on will face stiff competition with the new acquisition Alphonse Areola). It was just a taste of what awaited Fulham.

If the first half was too tough, too sloppy, Arteta’s men came out after the break as an FA Cup winning team. First, the 190-centimeter-long Gabriel reached the top of Willian’s corner and nodded in the extension, which again exposed the enormous shortcomings of the Fulham defense (Michael Hector had no fun the afternoon). The pace picked up, more passes began to settle.

Rob-hinho

When Rob Holding made a Thierry Henry, or perhaps rather a Ronaldinho, and spectacularly dragged the ball over the knee into the penalty area, Lacazette couldn’t help but laugh (and Holding). All of a sudden everything was fine for Arsenal and we saw more glimpses of what Arteta is trying to implement.

The 3-0 goal was a real treat. Maybe he shouldn’t go as far as Martin Keown, who exclaimed “We won’t see a nicer goal this season!” in the broadcast in English. After 57 minutes. But surely Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s shot was further proof of why he is worthy of becoming the club’s highest paid player.

Assistants Represented Willian. When he resigned in the 76th minute, he had been behind all of Arsenal’s goals. It’s not a bad debut for a player who was easily questioned a few hours earlier. Nicolas Pépé entered, another stranger where the savings capital is still high. When Dani Ceballos replaced Xhaka and Eddie Nketiah then stepped in for Lacazette, the Arsenal team became even clearer.

Can go a long way

The triple was, of course, necessary for an Arsenal that will again contest the Champions League places. No, it wasn’t a perfect effort, Arteta probably agrees. However, what he has managed to do in a short time is raise the minimum level of the team in a worrying way. Right now it’s hard to see Arsenal suffer as many unnecessary lost points as they did last season.

The most important key regarding the latter is, of course, on defense. For a few hesitant minutes, the task seemed to become overwhelming for the newcomer Gabriel, who quickly got rid of the mistakes. Especially one by one and in the air it is extra strong, mainly due to its height. With another Brazilian foot, David Luizs, next to him, can be really interesting and go a long way for Arsenal.

Loading Match summary

Loading Graphic

Published: September 12, 2020 kl. 16.30

READ ON