Keeping things short and sweet… A new regular feature on Gunners Town, using the framework started during lockdown on the Gunners Town Pub podcasts… Our writers each offer a highlight and lowlight for the previous Matchday, and then shine a headlight on what lies ahead for the Gunners.
What do you think? Give us your highlight, lowlight and headlight in the comments below.
#UTA!
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Credit: Arsenal.com
HIGHLIGHT
Paul Hepker: Seeing how Arteta-off-the-ball makes Arteta-ball tick. Always options for out-balls, and hunting back possession in packs. Continual movement like a Swiss watch. Beautiful.
John Bordones: Raya. What a change of distribution and ambiance at the back.
Dwayne Bingham: The performance, what a performance. You expect this against relegation threatened teams but we really put on an exhibition against the supposed hardest team in our group.
Steve Wellman: ESR getting some minutes under his belt and showing MA that he still has a place in the squad.
Gary Lawrence: Four brilliant goals. PSV aren’t a bad side but they just couldn’t cope with the pace, movement and intensity of our attacking players.
Mike McDonald: Seeing the unpredictability that Jesus brings. If Arsenal have any medium term problems it is teams figuring out repeated patterns. When you have a striker like Jesus, then the mix gives more hope.
Harry Scott:Jesus. He is majestic. As football is slowly becoming quite sterile at points he is a breath of fresh air. His touch, control and dribbling is out of this world. Hoping he is back to full fitness again.
Credit: Arsenal.com
LOWLIGHT
Paul Hepker: Kai Havertz not getting the goal he deserved. Anyone who doesn’t appreciate his performance last night should re-consider their sport preference.
John Bordones: Havertz. Solid performance and a step forward. Whereas Saka followed up and took a chance not directly created, he still looks on the back foot.
Dwayne Bingham: The rain, hard to find any lowlights from yesterday but getting soaked was a small sacrifice after that performance.
Steve Wellman: The press stirring the Raya/Ramsdale saga. 2 keepers, new thought process. Oh I forgot, that’s not allowed. How dare we try something different?
Gary Lawrence: I felt sorry for Aaron Ramsdale last night. He did so much last season making some wonderful saves to help get us into the Champions League and it’s a shame he didn’t get the chance last night to play in it. But I must say Raya looks so composed when he has the ball at his feet.
Mike McDonald: Would’ve liked for Nwaneri to take Cedric’s spot on the bench. There was a possibility at 3 or 4–0 up that he could’ve participated and we could’ve seen again if he is close to the level. A little bit of a missed opportunity perhaps.
Harry Scott: Ramsdale analysis. Boring. Lets not all start pretending that Ramsdale has been holding us back. He is a big part of where we are today but Raya is marginally better.
Credit: Arsenal.com
HEADLIGHT
Paul Hepker: Raya was fantastic last night, but was he that much better than Ramdsdale? Positioning was fantastic, and PSV were toothless I’m curious to see who is between the sticks in the NLD. My theory is that it will be Aaron, and that Everton was just an opportunity for Raya to get some match-time under his belt before last night’s game.
John Bordones: Our depth… what was looked upon as surplus only a few weeks ago will serve us so well going forward across all competitions.
Dwayne Bingham: Now we focus on Spurs, the team seems to have come through the game injury free. Confidence is up and we approach the NLD with belief.
Steve Wellman: eeping the shadow in place over Middlesex.
Gary Lawrence: That was our best performance of the season by far the timing of it couldn’t be better and it bodes well with the NLD coming up next.
Mike McDonald: Arsenal have had success against teams playing a low block, and now teams with attacking talent coming at us. I think Tottenham will come at us and so it was important that we got a workout in the basketball style of football.
Harry Scott: Smith Rowe getting some minutes. I was getting increasingly worried about his lack of gametime. Hopefully between the Carabao/CL and the end of PL games the manager can show him some faith and get him back pushing the starting XI.
Credit: Arsenal.com
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