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Eddie Nketiah’s late goal gave Arsenal a 2-1 victory over West Ham on Saturday Night Football. Mikel Arteta has transformed his mentality but there is still much to improve …
Last Updated: 09/20/20 12:28 am
Eddie Nketiah celebrates with Dani Ceballos after scoring the goal of Arsenal’s goal
There were moments during the second half at the Emirates Stadium when what was to come next seemed inevitable.
Alexandre Lacazette’s first goal felt like a distant memory as West Ham, buoyed by Michail Antonio’s well-deserved draw moments before half-time, subjected the hosts to wave after wave of pressure. Crosses rained down on the Arsenal area. The shots kept coming.
An Arthur Masuaku delivery nearly slipped over the line through a detour. Antonio then hit the crossbar with a massive header. Moments after that, Bernd Leno allowed a high ball to slip from his arms, only to be rescued by Gabriel Magalhaes, who managed one last block behind him.
2:59 FREE TO SEE: Highlights from Arsenal’s win over West Ham
It seemed a matter of time until the net finally bulged and West Ham, unrecognizable since the team defeated by Newcastle on the opening weekend, asserted their superiority. As the match approached the final stages, Arsenal had not fired since the 47th minute. The visitors, meanwhile, had tried 10 in the same time frame.
It was a position that Arsenal would not have recovered from in years past, but it is a measure of their progress with Mikel Arteta that even on a day off like this they were still able to loot a victory.
Having ridden their luck, they regained their composure. Then when their opportunity arose, they were clinicians, Bukayo Saka feeding Dani Ceballos, who squared in for backup Eddie Nketiah to do the rest.
At the end of it all, West Ham had fired 14 shots to Arsenal’s seven, but it was the hosts who had the points, a win to add to their opening day win over Fulham and ensure that early-season optimism around the club is not pricked. Arteta screamed with delight at the final whistle, her fists clenched and a broad smile on her face.
Alexandre Lacazette celebrates his goal with his teammates
“What I liked was the approach that the boys had in the last 25 minutes, when it could seem that they were going down a little bit, and getting up,” he said. Sky sports after.
“Probably a few months ago, we would have tied or lost that game and today we won it. In the end, you have to find a way because you are going to have games like this throughout the season.”
Arteta’s delight was obvious. Arsenal’s next five Premier League matches include encounters with Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United, so getting the most points from their first two matches was imperative. But at the same time, he had no illusions about his flaws.
“I am very happy with the three points, but we have a lot to analyze because there were many problems that we created in many moments,” he added. “We have to improve a lot of things.”
The biggest problems were family. Arsenal dominated the ball at Emirates Stadium for long stretches, enjoying 63% possession, but failed to convert that possession into scoring chances and it wasn’t the first time. Since Arteta’s appointment, they rank 15th in shots on goal, between Crystal Palace and Burnley.
It’s an alarming statistic that comes down to a lack of creativity in midfield.
Ceballos eventually provided the assist to win the match, but that was the only chance he and Granit Xhaka created all night. For the most part, they stroked the ball harmlessly from the base of midfield, unable to undo West Ham’s low block as Arsenal worked in front of massive rows of claret and blue jerseys.
Performances like this are sure to make some fans sigh for Mesut Ozil.
The German, frozen by Arteta last season, was once again out of the Arsenal squad on Saturday night. His contract has another nine months to run, but the prospect of a return to favor weakens every week.
2:17 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reflects on 2-1 win over West Ham
Without him, Arsenal lack a creative spark in midfield and this performance underscored the need to change that. The club’s finances are such that they must sell before they can buy, but a midfielder in that mold must be a priority. Houssem Aouar, the Lyon midfielder supposedly wanted by Arteta, could be a suitable candidate.
Of course, it has already been a busy summer for Arsenal. Aubameyang’s new contract, finally confirmed this week, ensures that they maintain a world-class presence in advance. At the other end of the field, Gabriel is looking for an immediate improvement in his other central defense options.
But something more in between is still needed. Arsenal is already a different beast under Arteta. Stronger, both mentally and physically, and smarter too. But until they can summon the creativity to match their newly discovered character, progress will only come so far.
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