‘Five years later’
An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective
August 13, 2021…
… Where were you?
I was in a hotel room in Chattanooga, Tennessee and sort of looking forward to the first game of the season. Another Friday night, but against Brentford at their Community Stadium.
I can go into the details of the game, but I’m sure you remember it. Let’s not sit there too long. We lost 0–2 and we were essentially rubbish.
Lacking belief, lacking fight, lacking aggression, and sadly lacking quality.
The lack of energy and fight was particularly troubling as you go into the season with hope. Squashed after one game and if I remember, it didn’t get a whole lot better in the next game, either. Bottom of the league and shortly about to get smacked up 5–0 at the Etihad.
Well, that’s enough of that.
I don’t need Mikel Arteta to get more credit than he does because he will get it one day. People will realize that they were manipulated by the media who picked Arsenal as their club to go after. Whether it was red cards, style of play, the fanbase or whatever else, many will feel foolish when it’s all said and done because Arteta has been primarily responsible for changing EVERYTHING at Arsenal Football Club. Those above him have been smart enough to let him do it, also.
If I stay on Mikel, I’m not going to end up talking about the game, but my main takeaway from the game was the illuminating contrast from the last Friday night opening game of the season in 2021 and what I’ve just seen.
EVERYTHING is better now, not just a reliance on the fantastic transfer of Billy McGoalmachine strapping the team on his back and lifting our fortunes.
Mikel has written the unwritten textbook of how you take a team heading south and make them the star on the Christmas tree.
Just to think, Arsenal played that game in second gear against a side that will upset other big teams this season.
Made it look very straightforward and more than anything else, gave us an extremely enjoyable evening as our boys strolled through the park.
Apart from predicting that Arsenal will win the Premier League, my other prediction is that there will be many, many more games like this. Games that are wrapped up nice and early and become inevitable by halftime. Games where the score will be far north of 3–0 and more days and nights of relaxation and happiness.
Arsenal Football Club are now a team who have done it, know that they are very good, but yet have the humility and fight to go again the right way. There has been much talk about Arsenal playing more expansive football this season. I would say that, even if that isn’t what is intended, then this is what will happen, anyway. The shoulders are so much more relaxed, and the trust in each other is so strong that the best of many of these players will be seen on a regular basis.
When you de-stress an elite athlete, then joy and happiness becomes the product.
It’s hard not to think that we are just at the beginning of a long period of greatness. A team and club that will be compared to the Liverpool team when I was young, the long period of United dominance and even though they’ve cheated to get there, the City side of the last few years.
I will now take a break from writing to go outside and make a daisy chain whilst intermittently sipping a long glass of Pimms and lemonade whilst simultaneously singing ‘Beautiful Day’ by U2.
POSITIVES:
WHITE
It did seem a little odd to me that so many people wanted Arsenal to move on from Ben White. His career could quite possibly continue to be riddled with injury. His career could also step up a level or two. Defenders don’t normally prime until their early 30’s anyway. It would be hard to find a right back who not only understands our system and has such incredibly good timing of runs on the outside of Saka. I am more than willing to believe that he will stay largely injury free mainly because he will be managed better with the introduction of Konsa. I don’t think Arteta will play White or Timber in back to back games every 3 days. Once a week giving their bodies time to recover.
Also, that he will grow as a player and become even more appreciated as he plays through his prime years.
CORNERS
Our short corners in the past have been largely pants.
Every corner today led to an opportunity. That cheeky split pass to Ben White has been seen before and is hard to defend. Glad that Jover has spent his summer wisely
TZOLIS
Well, well, well! What do we have here? The phrase that Mikel used in his interview was a ‘total player.’
I suppose that means a player that can do everything. Right foot, left foot, assists, goals with both feet, elite decision-making, directness, and very good dribbling skills.
These have been my observations so far and he’s just shown up.
Even though he has just shown up, he already makes me feel like he’s going to pick out the right pass every time he gets it. I suppose that’s what top quality does. All players take a different route to the summit of their career and even though being a substitute at a crap Norwich team and then go and play in Holland then onto Belgium and Arsenal doesn’t give you the confidence that he is good enough. He is proof however that if you look below the radar there are hidden gems. Players who have such dedication to their craft and believe in themselves and if you take off the ugly yellow and green jersey and just look at the player without biased eyes you might see something shiny and bright.
MLS
Bossed the midfield. Again. What a compliment it is to say that, regardless of the stature and ability of Zubimendi and Bruno, Lewis–Skelly is gonna be extremely difficult to move out of the first team.
Did you see he yet again played a cheeky through ball to Calafiori ?
KAI’S FINISH
The first goal was obviously a huge relief, but it was more than that for me personally.
Kai‘s finishing can be scattered and if he wants to become the total striker, then this has to change. He is one of the best strikers in Europe as far as being a total footballer is concerned, but his end product must become reliable.
Anyone that’s played the game will tell you that hitting the first time ball that’s coming across your body with your 1st foot is not easy. Not easy to keep under the crossbar. Not easy to connect with the right part of your foot. Not easy to put in the bottom corner. Here is hoping that this will give him a great confidence.
KONSA
A very intelligent signing. ‘Plug and play’ is the phrase, I believe.
If we didn’t have Salmon, then it might be different, but the age difference is perfect to encourage Salmon to believe that he will get to be an Arsenal player.
It is also perfect that he can help the rotation and rest of Timber and White as well as compete with Mosquera
NEEDS:
SHOT TAKING
No complaint really, but just an observation that there were multiple times when players refused to hit first time shots when it was their best option. Also, passes hit too hard or to the wrong foot in order for the player to have the opportunity to do so.
You can’t judge much on the first game of the season so I’m not concerned, but just noticed a theme of slight reluctance. The quality of the pass will improve, but the receiving player cannot be reluctant to try their luck when it’s only 18 yards out.
HOPES:
LEFT WING
Has this run across your mind?
Do Arsenal need to purchase a first choice left winger now? I kind of doubt that Tzolis was supposed to be this. I think that he was the rotational option as I suppose is proven by the pursuit of Vini Junior.
I would be perfectly happy with him now being first choice and Arsenal purchasing a player to back him up.
All of the wingers on the market that everybody wants are all fast and shiny, but I’m not seeing anybody that looks like they will have the same end product as Christos.
ALVAREZ
My understanding of this situation is that he is reluctant to come back to England because his extended family cannot get visas. His immediate family are allowed to come with him, but he likes a large and tight community around him and that might not be possible.
Not sure if this is a dealbreaker, but everybody is different and none of us really know his personality.
If he’s going to come and not be particularly happy and want to have a clause in his contract, which allows him to go to Barcelona in two years then I’m really not in favor. I don’t care how good he is. I’m perfectly content with VG.
I think that Mikel might be a little lovestruck because Alvarez is almost the perfect striker in a rotational system. He loves to pop up on the left-hand side of the penalty area and this will make picking up our players more elusive.
After building such an impressive squad of players that seem to absolutely love being at Arsenal, it would be really odd to bring somebody in that isn’t sure about it.
RAPHINHA
Just got a lovely feeling 😎
TWEETS and THOUGHTS :
Martinelli:
maybe Gabi isn’t being communicated with. That would not be cool if he’s being ignored. It could however be a story as straightforward as what Femi suggests.
Tzolis:
Makes you proud that we chose him and proud of having such a good character.
Nobody really mentioned his insane end product when he signed.
New top:
I hope this isn’t AI. I can’t find it anywhere.
FINAL THOUGHT:
Does Konsa come in alongside Gabriel now? Does it happen against Villa, which could prove to be quite the hostile atmosphere. I suppose it depends on his personality and whether he would thrive in this environment or be intimidated.
The joy in all of this is that I really don’t care. I trust the club, I trust the coach and I trust Mosquera.
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.
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