Never mind the Invincibles, Arteta’s Arsenal are the Unbreachables as Eze’s stunner makes it One Nil To The Arsenal as solid Gunners keep another clean sheet
Three Takeaways after Arsenal beat Palace to move four points clear
Never mind the Invincibles, Arteta’s Arsenal are the Unbreachables as Eze’s stunner makes it One Nil To The Arsenal as solid Gunners keep another clean sheet
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1 - Never mind the Invincibles, Arteta’s Arsenal are the Unbreachables
The satisfying stats just keep on coming after Eberechie Eze’s superb winner sealed another three points for Arsenal on Sunday.
The weekend win made it a measly three goals conceded in 12 games so far this season, with 10 clean sheets in all competitions since August.
The victory also meant it was the first time such a vibrant Palace side have failed to score this season, with the Gunners last nine goals scored by nine different players.
With Liverpool losing 3-2 to a lively Brentford side on Saturday night (I covered the game, you can read my match report**here -and my Arsenal reporthere**), and Manchester City losing to Villa at the same time as Arsenal were beating Palace, the weekend could already prove to be a pivotal one in the race the for title, as the Gunners powered six points clear of City, and a whopping seven ahead of the misfiring Liverpool.
No wonder it was a triumph that a relieved Mikel Arteta spoke about in such reverential terms after the match, saying:“I’m really happy with this one,” adding.“I just said to the boys that it was probably the biggest victory that we had this season - the way I was feeling it was about making another step.”
One more stat. According to the peerless Orbinho, Arsenal are now on a run of 69 games since conceding three goals in a match (the 4-3 win at Luton in December 2023), a run that is already the second longest in Premier League history.
Three goals? The way this unbreachable Arsenal side are playing right now, it’s hard to see them conceding a single goal, let alone a trio…
[source for all stats Opta/Orbinho].
Gabriel underlines what it means to win (and keep another clean sheet…)
2 - Maverick Eze adds different dimension to Set Piece FC
*“Chaotic moments are very important,*” said a delighted Mikel Arteta on Match of the Day after the win.
He was speaking after Eberechie Eze became the 152nd player to score a goal for Arsenal in the Premier League, as the Gunners registered their 700th Premier League win - and more importantly in the context of this season - to seal the club’s sixth win on the bounce.
Yes Arsenal lead the way for goals from corners (seven) and goals from set pieces (10) - finding the net with a set piece in six of their eight games - and yes, it was from another dead ball that led to the winner.
It was also instructive to note that Declan Rice - for he it was who took the free-kick for Eze’s goal following Yéremy Pino’s needless foul on Bukayo Saka - has more assists from dead-ball situations across all competitions than any player in Europe’s top five leagues bar Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu. (I know he didn’t claim an assist for Eze’s goal, but it was most definitely his set-piece into the box, that created the opening.)
However, the fact remains, it was the impish Eze’s superb technical ability that was the real basis for the goal.
It’s one thing to wish to score with a scissors-kick in a crowded box - it’s quite another having the technical ability and composure to do so.
Because to have a player who has the instinctive creativity to envisage scoring through such an impudent and instantaneous scissors-kick, is so vitally important during a tight match, where small margins, as well as intuitively impulsive creativity, can define the result.
So when Eze successfully executed the intelligent plan that immediately arose in his mind a micro-moment before such a beautifully efficient goal - as well as simply a beautiful goal - it was a moment of pure, unscripted joy.
No wonder Arsenal are nine points up on this stage last term (for comparison Liverpool are -3 down) with the Gunners also seven points better off, versus the equivalent fixtures from last year’s campaign - because it really does help having a player who can conjure up a goal from nothing
Now, if Arteta can only get Eze to work on his defensive positioning when out of possession…
[source for all stats Opta/Orbinho].
Eze’s superb touch, technique, creativity and composure, allowed such an audacious goal to be scored. Long Live A Talented Maverick
3 - Steve Ashford RIP
A massive thanks to each and every single loyal Gooner who came up to me before the game while I was flogging copies of our new issue (on a surprisingly cold N5 afternoon) to offer their condolences to Steve Ashford’s family, and share their warm memories of the Gooner Fanzine’s much-loved Highbury Spy.
I must admit it’s been a tough week for many of us who knew Steve, and for once, I wasn’t looking forward to a home game, as I wasn’t sure I had the emotional energy to cope with seeing people.
However, the love and affection shown to Steve’s memory - that was shared with me through our wonderful readers’ conversations, and kind words for the family - from 10am to just before kick-off were so very moving, humbling and heartening.
It certainly gave me a boost - as much as far, far more importantly I know it will give his family a boost when I share our loyal readers messages with them.
On behalf of everyone associated with the Gooner Fanzine, a massive thank you to everyone who took the time to pay their respects to Steve. It really does mean a lot, to so many people, on so many levels.
Layth’s Take is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.