The Ferrari just came out of the garage – AFC 2 EFC 0

‘The Ferrari just came out of the garage’

An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective

When I get to heaven I wonder if there is a time where you get to sit down with your guardian angel and ask them about the pivotal moments in your life. The moments where your life could’ve been very different. Sometimes I think there will be and sometimes I think that we won’t care because it won’t matter. Given the choice, I’d love to know. If there is I wonder if I can be cheeky and ask about the sliding doors moments where my club could’ve fulfilled their potential but didn’t or where a moment turned us from potential to winners and dominance.

One of those moments just happened today.

Max Dowman’s goal will be the memory and he is the story but it was his substitution and his cross that won Arsenal the game. Without the goal we surely win anyway. Mikel gets huge credit for sending him on when Gabby Jesus was sitting there. Also, giving him some proper time to make an impact. It’s easy for me to say that Dowman should at least be on the bench for every Arsenal game this season. Or that he should’ve started today because the home crowd seems to need the feeling of hope that Dowman brings when not a single Arsenal attacker is anywhere near their best. For Mikel to do it in that moment seems to me to  be the right decision but I’m a keyboard fan and Mikel has to make the actual decisions. This decision may have won Arsenal the Premier League.

His goal is an example of what makes a sporting superstar. It seemed easy because their was no keeper and that was the story in the moment but that’s not what happened. The fact that he is as quick as Mbappe may be a gift from God rather than a round of applause, but he still  has it and 99% of others don’t. The dribble around the sliding Everton defender looked easy as the defender over committed but look again. He made it look easy because he has such composure and balance. But that’s it. The best sportsman make it look easier. It’s the identifying mark of greatness. That goal wasn’t easy. If Trossard is chasing it he likely doesn’t get there and he isn’t blessed with the ability to change direction with such balance and ease.

Max Dowman feels like the most memorable birthday. You get all the things you wished for and then your parents pull a rather big surprise. You’ve been wondering why your parents wouldn’t let you in the garage for the last few days. They unlock the door into the garage and they lift the garage door. You walk out there to see that your parents have bought you a new car that you didn’t necessarily need and definitely didn’t expect. You know it’s a car even though it’s covered in a big drape but what you don’t expect is that it is a Ferrari. A bright red Ferrari.

You don’t use it initially because it doesn’t seem smart to drive it around a town of Ford Fiestas. Much like how Arsenal’s first team players are probably pushing Arteta to use Dowman, your friends are telling you to put your Ford Fiesta in the garage and enjoy the gift that you have been given.

Arsenal have been blessed with a rare gift. A true gem that nobody else has. I can only speak through my eyes and they tell me that for most of his very few appearances for the first team he has looked like the best player on the pitch. He has also looked untroubled by the pressure that the others look like they are experiencing. I know there has to be a level of protection when you have a bright red Ferrari, but I’m not sure that this 16 year old feels the way the others feel. Perhaps because he knows that it’s not really his time. He’s not expected to be the difference in a squad of top players even if he’s capable. If he does, like he did today, then it’s a bonus not an expectation. So, his shoulders need no lotion.

He won’t start on Tuesday, but I’d take the risk and start him. Why? For the sake of the Emirates atmosphere. The crowd will be very edgy and need hope to relax their shoulders and be the supportive bunch that we’d hope they can be. I’d play Rice, Eze and Saka with Dowman on the right and go for it. If it isn’t working then change it at half time.

Either way, today is a memory that can’t be wiped away. An ‘I remember where I was when’ moment. Trophies are the best but moments like today aren’t far behind.

If this City result holds then Max Dowman’s contribution will legitimately be seen as title winning.

POSITIVES:

Eze:

Finally, he is showing some consistency. I like him deeper. He has elite long distance passing ability and can only pull that off in deeper areas. He is starting to prove a difference maker in all areas of the game. Much better defensive awareness, creativity and unpredictability in the final third, most accurate shooting technique and the delightful ability to be able to show up in big moments. He will be playing himself back into England contention and that motivation cannot be underestimated in a player who may not see himself having the chance again.

Raya:

I wouldn’t swap him for anyone. His foot save before we scored will get lost in the teenagers headlines, but it was as crucial.

Saliba:

I’ve noticed that he has become aerially dominant. This was his weakness when he arrived and now it’s a strength. He pocketed both strikers and even moved his Rolls Royce into 6th gear when he needed to.

Calafiori:

His scorpion block will not be forgotten. It is an example of the standards at Arsenal. Our players are instructed to not flinch. That a situation isn’t hopeless if you are willing to get back up and throw whatever body part you can at the ball. When it happened I went on a 15 second praise of Raya’s instincts as who else could’ve got there, right?

Gyokeres:

Never forget that regardless of how good you think VG is and how well he is playing, he solves a problem that Arsenal have needed solved for a very long time. He will and has scored many from inside the 6 yard box. Too often our striker wants to always contest the first ball when we need our striker to be available for the second ball, the scraps.

Hincapie:

God bless you for having the willingness to thrust your goolies to assist our most important goal of the season.

Everton:

I was in shock. I’ve watched Everton for so long and laughed at how unwilling they are to play high percentage football. They have always been the epitome of tossing the ball forward or tossing ball after ball into the box. They were genuinely very good today and a real problem for us. Actually, that was one of the best performances against us this season. Chelsea should’ve played the posh chap, Dewsbury-Hall. N’diaye is a real threat and one that Arsenal should consider if we sell both of our wingers. If Pickford is in the mood he is a game winner and Gueye has been reminded that PSG chose him.

NEEDS:

Doesn’t seem like a day to be picky but I do have one concern…

Arteta’s ears:

His left ear is normal. His right ear has been nicked from the make up department on the set of Avatar. Take a look….

How concerned should we be? He has never played rugby to my knowledge. I’ve always thought that he would be a great James Bond bad guy. Maybe he will be ‘Elf Ear’ in the next Bond movie, ‘The man with two totally different ears.’ Catchy title too!

I’m such a tremendous artist.

HOPES:

Tuesday:

Leverkusen have had a few big disappointments today. They should’ve beaten a 9-man Bayern Munich but couldn’t and more importantly they lost Terrier and Alex Garcia, who I believe had his ankle broken by Nicholas Jackson.

I just hope that Arsenal start fast and play without fear.

Matheus Fernandes:

It’s not really the day for transfer talk but I have interest in a player who is playing on the TV in front of me. Matheus Fernandes is a super all round midfielder and if 100M is what Newcastle want for Tonali then I’d say Fernandes will be 60% cheaper.

TWEETS and THOUGHTS:

And this is evidence that he will play much more this season. It is also why he should sit on England’s bench this summer. If he is good enough for Arsenal, who are better than England, then he can make the difference for England.

I want this on a T-shirt.

Hugely suspicious.

The difference between what the British media think of Arsenal and people in the game think is cavernous.

Nothing to do with Arsenal, but I thought you’d appreciate meeting Jacob Wanker. An Austrian player at LASK who needs to never ever play football in the UK. If LASK play in the Conference League against lets say, Fulham, then he needs to be advised to stay home. If he insists onboard with this then for his own benefit he needs to have his passport thrown in the river. If a British club is tempted to sign Jacob, then someone please tell the air stewardess to push him out of the plane. It will be for the best.

It doesn’t feel like this can be true, but fair play to anyone that can do this.

FINAL THOUGHT:

Thank you, Mavropanos and in case you missed it, thank you Marc Guehi for missing an absolute last minute sitter.

Mike McDonald

Former Highbury regular. Moved to TN, USA in ’99. Married with 3 kids. Coached in UK and US for 27 years.
Mike McDonald Soccer Academy in Morristown TN, Olympic Development coach, Regional Premier League Champion.