‘Juice Boost’
An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective
The guillotines were being ordered. If we didn’t get a decent result then they were going to be wheeled towards N5 for ‘bottling another season.’ Not only did that not happen but the literal opposite happened. An utter spanking.
It’s a reminder of how quickly great players look vanilla because Arsenal’s chance of winning anything was falling under ‘no chance,’ due to our lack of firepower. I’d imagine that Arteta has continued his philosophy of no excuses. Intentionally poking the bear by telling them that ‘everybody thinks we are done.’
That was a performance of a team that felt insulted.
It could’ve been a team that simply regained confidence but I rate Arteta higher than that and so I assume he challenged their pride. Perhaps injecting a sprinkle of belief by reminding them that nobody thrashes Sporting away, but they did. What has come out the other side is that we have re-juiced. The juice boost will have reenergized the team as a whole but also some individuals that needed it. Odegaard in particular. He was 6/10 before he scored and thereafter he bossed it. A reminder to those that want him on the bench next season that when he’s bossing it, he is in a league of his own. Perhaps he was reminded that for the largest part of the last two years, the tactic has been ‘stop Odegaard, stop Arsenal.’ His first chance worried me as he tried to hit the net as if the net was his sisters ex-boyfriend who had just dumped her last night. His first goal was a gift from above. A reward for his leadership, perhaps. A ball that dropped like an angelic pillow of blessing for a simple finish. By the end of the game, he’s swerving through balls to our roaming Samson.
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Merino needed a goal to remind us that we have a true threat not just in the air but on the ground. I mentioned after the Leicester game that we might start to notice how he is posture, elegance, and composure would be an asset in front of goal. Even the majority of strikers who are in the position that he found himself in for his goal would’ve snatched at the chance that he had. What was so impressive is that he made it look as easy as it actually was where most wouldn’t.
Timber is another one who needed to start seeing success come from his attacking positioning. He is often the spare man as others are being marked and it’s important to note that if he is being marked in the box, that it is often by a shorter, less aggressive winger as proved by his goal.
Declan Rice needed a boost in his final third chance creation and goal threat. Even though his goal did not stand it was yet again another finish of perfection to the back post which he is starting to make look like a trademark finish. His crossed to Timber was likely a training ground thought. Arteta rightly considers the back post as a primary option on crossing. Flat crosses to the back post that the goalkeeper can’t risk coming for or short floated crosses beyond his reach. Very clever.
Beyond all of these positives, we have clearly challenged others to become a threat in the final third. The most interesting one is the use of our left back. City have found many goals from Gvardiol this season. A player who pops up in a variety of positions in the box and is hard to plan for and mark. He is also a player with determination and underrated technique. We seem to have one of those now in Calafiori who seems to come alive in the final third. He was a striker in his youth and you could see that in his finish. So instinctual and confident. We might find that he may win us games in the run-in because of these abilities.
POSITIVES:
Calafiori:
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There is something very unique about him. Probably unique because it’s unexpected. Unexpected because you look at him and remind yourself that he is a centre back that looks like a centre back. Who does warrior type actions. You wait for the game where he has a bleeding head wound, partially ripped jersey and we win with a Calafiori last-minute tackle to stop a last-minute equalizer. Then you watch him play and realize that due to his lack of pace, this is actually less likely than seeing him either score the winning goal or create one with a finesse that a player with hair like Samson shouldn’t really have.
He has such great interception and anticipation skills. Such impressive decision-making especially when he releases the ball when moving forward. Now he is showing us his skill and composure in an around the penalty area.
He has been a bit in pieces play this season mainly due to injury, but I would not be surprised if he elbows his way into the team somehow just because of his impact in games. Not everybody has to be solid and consistent. Haaland probably touches the ball less than every player in the Premier League yet is arguably the most efficient. Coaches want efficiency and the thought that you can be trusted to make the difference.
I remember Alex Iwobi at Arsenal. He was one of the most frustrating players I’ve watched at the club. Such a happy soul and so great to see an Academy player out there, but he had only half of the abilities needed to be successful at the biggest clubs yet he played way too much and potentially stopped Reiss Nelson from having an Arsenal career. Iwobi reminded me of a player that had read seven out of ten chapters of the book on football and then lost the book. So very good at penetrating through the midfield, but as close to rubbish in both boxes as I’ve seen at Arsenal. I say this because when I look at Calafiori, I do wonder whether the Samson like visual is distracting me from thinking that he would be a quite deadly ball carrying number eight. The issue with this though is that our number eight stands in the pockets rather than drives from the halfway line as we are a possession team playing with intricacy and rarely in transition. Anyway, there are games that are different, and I think about the quarterfinal of the Champions League and the fact that Arsenal may not be quite as dominant in this game. There may be opportunities for transition and having a player like this carrying from deeper positions and in Califiori we have the final product.
Nwaneri:
I almost forgot about him. His ability to make the difference and take the initiative is becoming normal even though he’s really only just started. His finish was really important for the team because it was a simple cross and a simple finish. Absolutely not our specialty and equally the most important improvement needed at the club. A player running from back post to front post proactively in order to get the first opportunity to get their foot on the ball.
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NEGATIVES:
Lewis Skelly:
I’m really not sure if his moment midway through the first half was something that we need to be concerned about or just a moment in time. Considering his recent red card, you’d think that he would be more aware of getting a second yellow. He certainly doesn’t seem to be a hothead but part of the skill of defending is knowing when to defend and when you have to forego the challenge and allow one of your colleagues to help you out. It’s no exaggeration to say that the referee did us a favour in a moment that could’ve completely changed the course of our season and the fallout from disappointed fans.
Sterling:
I understand why he came on. A no pressure game to potentially boost his confidence. It didn’t work, but that’s not the coaches fault. What is a big fat shame is that there will not be a better chance to give NBO and Kabia their debut. I’m really not sure what Sterling‘s mindset is now. He tried to beat Perisic soon after coming on the field, and when that fail miserably, he just quit pressing, chasing and attempting anything moderately individualistic. It’s almost like he doesn’t care anymore. Not even trying to break into a team that needs him to try to break into it. A team begging for substitutes and even attackers that will start. Very odd mentality.
HOPES:
Arteta:
There has been talked that the players only got one day off in Dubai. Over training and therefore exhausted for the last few league games that we’ve seen. There was also talk of Arteta dialing back on the training for the last week. I don’t know exactly what the truth is, but I’m really hoping that the story about this week is true. I always thought that Arteta was humble and willing to learn. He certainly comes across that way. Most certainly talks that way. More important than those two thoughts is that he actually is that way.
SCOUT MAX:
JJ Gabriel
I’ve been hearing about this 14-year-old from my 15-year-old. We are now in talks with him.
Labeled as the ‘Mini Messi’ when he was growing up with Cristiano Ronaldo’s son at Manchester United. Actually, he’s only 14 isn’t he. I’d say he’s still growing up. Plays at striker but can also play on the wing and most certainly looks and plays more like a winger. Dribbling is most certainly his strength. Apparently, this would be a real coupe if we were to get him and it would really bother Manchester United which is always good, especially after nicking two of ours.
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TWEETS and THOUGHTS:
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Nothing to do with Arsenal, but Michael Oliver is rapidly losing his good reputation. It’s not just Arsenal fans, either. If Mateta doesn’t move his head, he could break his neck. This was the equal of Harold Schumacher’s challenge in 1982.
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Where on earth did this come from?
More plaudits and more to come.