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From Arsenal.com
I often watch Arsenal Bench Cam on YouTube which shows Mikel Arteta and his coaching staffs reactions during games. In recent seasons it’s been like watching someone close to breaking point, but last season I detected a change from Mikel in his attitude and posture, particularly towards the 4th official and the other officials in general, where as he became less adversarial and more agreeable, joking and chatting instead of complaining constantly. This obviously comes from experience and confidence, it may also come from introspection, maybe he could see how his anxiety was affecting the team.
But at Cardiff I didn’t see any pyrotechnics from Mikel or his staff as we scored against City, instead he simply held his arms aloft and celebrated quite cordially almost with a calmness, a calmness which I saw in the way Arsenal were playing. They continued in the same vein against the Sky Blues of Coventry yesterday evening, a calmness borne out of finally getting it over the line and this Arsenal team didn’t cook the books to get there. A weight seems to have been lifted from the players’ shoulders, their confidence is brimming over and I just hope the fans stay as balanced when we do occasionally drop points.
Coventry came out and had a go. They were enthusiastic, maybe just a little too enthusiastic, with some of their challenges bordering on yellow cards but the Gunners rode out the opening 5 minutes with a few bruises but nothing worse. Then Tzolis gave us a glimpse by receiving the ball, feinting then cutting inside to shoot over and the crowd responded positively.
After 7 minutes, some intensive Arsenal passing ended when Odegaard found Tzolis on the ‘right’ wing where he spun and hit a dangerous cross into the heart of the City box but it was scrambled clear. Then on 10 minutes Coventry piled forward, their confidence growing because their centre forward was causing Gabriel some issues but it was dealt with and it suited us because 5 minutes later a long ball to Tzolis was won then mis-controlled by the City right back who presented the ball to Calafiori. Quick as flash he sent a low driven cross into the box and Havertz calmly side footed home.
On reflection this game as a contest was pretty much over after that. Coventry still attacked of course but you could see that their belief had ebbed away after our goal. It was simple and deadly, welcome to the Premier League chaps.
On 22 Declan Rice picked up the ball in our half and surged into the City half causing consternation all around him in the City ranks, they’d seen this before on Match of the Day and it doesn’t end well for the defending team. Rice exchanged passes with Odegaard, their confidence growing, the ball then finding its way to Brian Marwood, er sorry, Tzolis and his driven cross into the box eventually found its way to Saka and despite the goalkeeper’s despairing attempts to stop it Bakayo just stabbed it home. If anyone had had any doubts after 1-0 there was none after 2-0. This Arsenal team, these champions were playing like a well-oiled machine.
On 33 Saka and Odegaard created a great chance for Ben White but his composure deserted him with just the keeper to beat and the chance was gone, Ben really should have scored. On 46 a short corner, we used a lot of short corners, found it’s way to Declan Rice but his carefully constructed banana shot drifted just wide, Fyffes would not be happy! H/T 2-0
No changes by either side at half-time and away we went again. After some sparring we put the game to bed on 49 minutes. Saka and Odegaard linked up and as Ben White, a rejuvenated Ben White, surged past, they played him in, City were in chaos, the ball eventually reached Odegaard whose miss kicked shot apologetically sailed past the helpless City keeper.
3-0, now do we go for it or do we play sensibly, manage the game, keep a clean sheet and maybe nick another and it was the latter. We have an enormous amount of games ahead of us and regardless of the strength of our squad, our resources are finite and need to be used intelligently and that is exactly what I feel they did.
On 65 minutes a corner was partly clear to Tzolis who blasted his shot on target, but it was saved and pushed for another corner, he is going to be a revelation this season. On 68 Arteta took off Rice and Saka for Zubimendi and Madueke, Zubi looked really good, Noni looked like Noni.
On 76 the excellent Odegaard and Tzolis were replaced by Eze and Merino, Merino looked really good, Eze tried hard but it wasn’t happening on this occasion. On 81 the outstanding Calafiori came off for Hincapie. During this period Arsenal just ticked over, a Rolls Royce of a football team.
Finally on 86 Coventry had an effort on target and it should have been a goal but the City forward headed limply straight at Raya after an excellent cross. Were we getting sloppy? I’m sure that Mikel will have words with his players over that. On 91 we almost got the 4th, Noni won the ball and laid it off to Merino who quick as a flash, no touch, took the shot – a strikers instinct – it was creeping in but the keeper saved it and that was that pretty much.
3 points, no injuries, clean sheet, job done.
We March On!
**By Kev**