Sometimes, we all can become so very wedded to a particular narrative about how the world is supposed to be, and how we expect it to be, that even when our actual experience of the reality continues to prove our expectations unfounded, we hold on dearly to the belief system that we have already built for ourselves, and invested so much of our selves in it.
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta is not going to play high-risk, intrinsically exciting, swashbuckling football. Rather, Mikel’s Arsenal is meant to play controlled, efficient, methodical game founded as much on off-the-ball discipline and tactical understanding as much as on skills and creativity on the ball. The focus is to become the very best in winning matches and competitions, and sustain that excellence for many years based on a cultural template of efficient football, played by skillful players with discipline and high workrate, and without having to rely on finding technical geniuses all over the pitch. A foundation that can withstand the inevitable injuries, the injudicious officiating, and the randomness and chaos inherent in nature of all things, with a high degree of solidity and consistency.
When seen under this light, many of Arsenal’s performances lately that have been found otherwise unpleasing, make perfect sense. I realize that I just have to become used to the idea that Mikel is not bothered about the aesthetics dimensions of his team’s performance at all. And neither does he believe that spontaneity and inspiration at the cost of his much-cherished fundamentals are sustainable ways to build a winning footballing culture. Whether everyone agrees with that footballing philosophy is quite beside the point, it is the steady upward curve of the Arsenal team’s consistency and results over the last few seasons that proves Arteta incontrovertibly right in insisting on his methodology. Mikel might have learned under Arsène Wenger and Pep Guardiola, but to me he is a throwback to the great Arrigo Sacchi, or, if the history books and sepia tinted reminiscences are to be believed, one Herbert Chapman.
Having a footballing philosophy and insisting on it is one thing, but getting a group of talented and ambitious players – arriving from footballing cultures as different as Saint-Étienne youth system to Arsenal academy to a very successful Atletico Madrid first team – to believe in it, commit to it, and live it on every training session and every matchday is a different kettle of fish altogether.
Arsenal came into the new format Champions League matchday 7th with the possibility of more or less ensuring a direct qualification to the second round. A home victory against the Croatian champions – see the match preview – was thus very much a highly desired outcome.
This has been anything but a smooth season for Arsenal – a challenging schedule in the league in the early months, a series of once-in-a-lifetime decisions going against the team, a spate of injuries decimating the squad especially in the area where we were least equipped to handle key absences – and yet at the midpoint of the season we are second in Premier League, and towards the top end of the Champions League table. While the experience of some of the recent performances has been understandably frustrating, looking at the season until now in a dispassionate manner. We still have every reason to be optimistic that the team is on the right track.
No Croatian football team would be tactically native, and the one that is now being managed by one of the greatest defenders of all time, a key figure in a world cup winning Italian team, Arteta must have expected this to be a tight and cagey affair with the opposition willing to concede possession in favor of their defensive shape. Arteta’s team selection hinted that he expects patience and experience to play a defining role:
Raya
Timber – Kiwior – Gabriel – Zinchenko
Jorginho
Ødegaard- Rice
Sterling – Havertz – Martinelli
Even though our results lately have been less than ideal, we have still dominated possession in those matches and have for the most part created enough chances that this current forward line in their more efficient days would have found enough to turn into victories. The profligacy in front of the goal as well as the lack of quality in the final ball have been the areas of most concern. It was important that we make our early dominance count.
And Declan Rice duly obliged. Martinelli – who has recently started to come back, step by step, towards his best self – went on one of his direct runs, beat his defender, and sent in a well-aimed cross that Kai cleverly cushioned for a late arriving Rice who drilled in a perfect low volley past the goalkeeper.
Arsenal 1 (Rice 2’ ) – Dinamo Zagreb 0
As expected, we focused on dominating possession and space. The high press was excellently coordinated by Kai and Ødegaard, with both Martinelli and Sterling tucking in to cut off the angles. It was good to see Zinchenko playing one of his more serene versions, ensuring recirculation, overloading central midfield, and allowing Rice to assert himself in a freer attack minded role. Jorginho started deeper, but as the game progressed he started to move closer to the attacking third, trusting the two central defenders to handle all long balls. Gabriel found it all too easy, and while Kiwior had one nervous moment in an one-on-one situation from which he recovered adeptly, he deputized for the irreplaceable Saliba adequately enough. A few uncharacteristically heavy touches from Timber was a signal that he is not at his physical best, but his technical abilities and game reading compensated for it.
Sterling, evidently, is struggling for confidence. I think I saw a player who is trying his very best, is not particularly riddled with any ego about his standing in the game, has a good work ethic and is defensively switched on, but also a player who had relied a lot on his pacy dribbling abilities in his successful career, and is now searching for a spark to reignite that specific combination of speed, confidence and technical skill which is the secret of players like him. I really hope that he finds some of that ability back soon, and leaves Arsenal with some memorable moments of telling contributions as we end our season strongly.
After the early goal we controlled the match with consummate ease, even though there was no great urgency in forcing through a second goal. Zagreb players looked rusty – unsurprisingly so given that this match comes in their mid-season break – but nonetheless defensively robust and disciplined. Rice was playing a noticeably more attacking role, and one more of his goalbound shot was blocked by two defenders.
At the beginning of the second half, Dinamo players looked more composed and confident on the ball, but lacked any incisiveness to trouble Arsenal defense. Much of the game was being played out in the middle of the pitch, and a sense of ennui creeping into the game with Jorginho and Zinchenko recycling the ball forward only to receive them back. Kai’s movements were good, and Martinelli was full of intent and verve, but the combination play was lacking greatly, and Ødegaard was failing to find any of his signature through balls. Rice was impressively covering a very large amount of ground and some of his striding forward with the ball was an indicator of a player who is becoming more and more versatile in his role in this team.
Timber and Sterling had both seen yellow cards, and both were looking tired. Around the sixty minute mark, they were replaced by Partey and Nwaneri. Ethan immediately injected some pace and urgency on the right wing, and it was great to see him not losing any of his form or confidence over the injury enforced absence.
Kai’s movements and workrate deserved a goal, and he headed in a delightfully accurate cross from Martinelli for the second of the evening. The construction of the goal was based on a signature Arsenal move from one side to the other: Partey to Ødegaard to Jorginho to Gabriel to Zinchenko to Martinelli, who then made a clever horizontal run before delivering the cross.
Arsenal 2 (Rice 2’, Havertz 66’ ) – Dinamo Zagreb 0
A little later Nwaneri delivered an even better cross from the right. The precision, flight and spin on the delivery would have made Saka proud. Rice did the hard part of ghosting past the defense with aplomb, only to skew the header wide. He is not a natural goalscorer, but more and more he is getting into these positions and once he has improved his finishing a bit, he will take the next step forward to become one of the most complete central midfielders of current times.
Zinchenko and Havertz were replaced by Tierney and Trossard. Zagreb enjoyed their first sustained possession in the game with a few corners that we defended well enough. Our own corner deliveries from both sides were of high quality this evening, but it was evident that Zagreb had prepared well, and except for earlier in the first half when Gabriel had evaded his marker and failed to keep his downward header on target, they defended the corners well enough.
A third goal did indeed arrive, and thankfully it was our captain who added his name to the scoreboard. Martin hasn’t scored a goal since November and in between some of his tentativeness and misses in front of the goal have been a bit alarming for a creative midfielder of his quality. Hopefully this goal will help him find back a bit more of that clarity in front of the goal which was one of our strengths last couple of seasons. The goal came from a move started by Gabriel, who released Trossard on the left wing with a lofted pass, Leo ignored Martinelli’s diagonal run and delivered a teasing cross that Rice missed on the front post, but Ødegaard bundled in from a close range.
Arsenal 3 (Rice 2’, Havertz 66’, Ødegaard 91’ ) – Dinamo Zagreb 0
In the remaining two minutes, Arsenal youngster and one more academy product Nathan Butler-Oyedeji enjoyed his first team debut.
So, with one more match to go, Arsenal sits on the third position in the Champions league table, on 16 points from seven matches, with a goal difference of +12. The defensive record has been impressive – only two goals conceded, none from open play, one from corner and one from a penalty. For an injury ravaged team, first missing their creative hub and captain, and then their most potent attacker and talisman, this is no mean achievement.
Mathematically speaking, top eight is not quite secured, and even a loss on the final day away at Girona should leave Arsenal safe given the goal difference. However, strange things can happen, and the team should take no risk on the final day and play with a goal to win.
The new format CL has been surprisingly exciting, and fascinatingly unpredictable. It feels like there can be a lot more such surprises in the knock-out rounds, and I retain my optimism that as the injured players return back, and we bolster our attacking options in the January transfer market, this team has the potential of making this European campaign a joyfully memorable one.
From North Bank Ned in the previous drinks
“CL-formatting the PL for next season using an 18-week league season plus four weeks for play-offs, four weeks for interlulls, if we must, two weeks for a winter break and four weeks for FA Cup games, all played at weekends with UEFA, league cup and any postponed/overspill games played midweek, would allow for the season to start on the last weekend of September and end with the FA Cup final on its traditional date of the first Saturday in May. That all seems so eminently sensible that there isn’t a chance in a million it will happen.”
An insightful prologue, Dr F, followed by a fair and accurate reflection of the game. If one were to generate a word cloud from Arteta’s pre- and post-match comments, ‘consistency’ would be most prominent by far.
Pangloss@1: Thank you for retrieving my previous drink from beneath the chevrons.
For anyone baffled by @1, TTG, OM, C100 and I were discussing ways to reduce the number of games being played.
A great read, Dr F, and a convincing analysis of the current playing style and the widespread frustrations in the Goonerverse.
A very well-written and insightful report Dr F. You summarise the game excellently .
It was an enjoyable evening in that I didn’t feel tge jeopardy one often dies in Europe. We made defensive mistakes but they weren’t sharp enough to exploit them
I was very impressed with Rice as I so often am . Martinelli worked very hard and was effective in most of what he did and the team controlled the game easily .
They’ve adapted well to a format that I disparaged in the previous drinks .
Hopefully Girona will be a pleasant away trip for players and fans next week,
Thanks Dr F for a good review of a pleasing end to our home games in the new format. I think we haven’t conceded a goal at home so far and only two away, we look more aware of the needs of European football this season and I am hopeful of a decent run.
Hey all. I was hoping to see the replay on Arsenal.com, but the site is saying I’m in an unauthorized country (I’m in the US) and can’t watch the video. I’ve only had this happen once, for the Sporting Lisbon match. Is anyone else outside of England having this problem? Thanks!
hey ecg – I’m also in the US and ran into the same problem. However I have a VPN that allows me to connect through a server in the UK and that fixed it.
ECG @ 7
Same thing in Australia – very annoying.
DrF, thanks for a measured match report. Hard to disagree.
UTA.
Your reports put many of the professional press and talk box pundits deeply into the shade Dr F.
I didn’t see the game other than highlights. Having read your report, I no longer need to. Great work.
Excellent news on MLS and big Willy injuries – nothing serious and both back shortly (within a week).
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6083031/2025/01/24/myles-lewis-skelly-injury-update/
Oh and congratulations on the seldom done double of preview and match report Dr F. As always a scholarly job on both.
And for those who wonder about the neighbours
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6084607/2025/01/24/tottenham-youngsters-injuries-transfer-window/
I was able to attend the game thanks to SIL. I was reminded of a couple of things:
Raheem Striling is not Bukayo Saka.
I wasn’t terribly surprised to learn this although it seems to be a constant surprise to many. Stirling is good at what he does, which to my mind is running at players and taking them on. he had one superb mazy run in the first half which happened to be straight towards me so I was able to appreciate what he was doing. He isn’t so good at receiving the ball in tight spaces. Perhaps he shouldn’t be asked to do that. Perhaps he should produce more than one mazy run per game; maybe he isn’t given the opportunities by his team mates, maybe that style doesn’t suit the team.
Jorghinho is superb at making short, safe, quick passes.
He must have done it dozens of times during the game. Someone is under pressure, they play a 5-10 metre pass to JG. JG passes it immediately to a third player another 10-15 metres away. The opponents have to run around a bit more to pressure a guy 20-odd meters from where the ball was only seconds before. Time and again. He may not be as good at providing killer passes further forward. That may be because such passes are more difficult or he may simply not be as good at spotting the opportunities.
In both cases, it’s the fan’s choce whether they laud the player for what he’s good at or lambast them about the other things. I know which way I decide.
COYG
Thanks everyone for the kind words.
Arsenal’s total revenue grew by 35% last season purely on the strength of match day and broadcasting components, which grew because of our continuously improving performances. Imagine if we actually win the league or CL! Our matchday revenue was highest in PL, and in Europe only RM and PSG more.
On the other hand, our commercial revenue remains the weakest of top 10 European clubs. It has been that way for a very long time. Maybe the experts can explain why. 🙂
About transfers — if the rumor about letting Zinchenko leave in this window on a loan is true, it’s absolutely bonkers. Tierney has only six months left with us, doesn’t fit Mikel’s system, and very fragile. Calafiori has been an excellent signing, but he is only 21, has no PL experience, and this season has been mostly disrupted by injury. MLS is the first choice now but he is only 18, and just started playing in the first eleven. Tomi is still injured. Given then depleted forward line we will need more focus on freshness and option in defense. Letting any defender leave this window, except for maybe Tierney, will be a complete mistake. Especially someone who has the experience of winning the PL, and who if needed can play the left sided 8.
If Reiss has recovered from injury in Fulham, we should bring him back if we cannot find any attacking options in the market. Most days our bench is now filled half with academy players.
Blimey, it’s the preview/report Doctor Double.
Cheers Doc! A fair review of a fairly comfortable match where we did what we needed to do. Great to see Gabi M coming back into form, Rice confirming his return to tip-top shape too, and Martin finally scoring a goal.
Onwards and Upwards!
Pangloss @ 14
Glad you were able to go to the game
Your descriptions of Sterling and Jorginho’s attributes are spot on . I used to play ( at a lower level – much lower!) with someone who fulfilled the JG function- they were invaluable and fundamental to how the team played . He is an underrated player . I had no great appreciation of him when he joined us but he has been a very useful acquisition. Sterling is a frustrating player . He was another I failed to appreciate from afar and having seen more of him now I still don’t rate him very highly . His end- product is pretty minimal
I didn’t notice any vocal crowd displeasure with him but I think most Gooners would be astonished if Arteta tried to buy him permanently. But criticising a player in a forum like this where supporters express constructive opinions is one thing . Booing a player publicly is another .
( Other than that Xhaka moment) I’ve not heard an Arsenal crowd boo anyone since Eboue when he was subbed off after being subbed on. But Jon Sammels was forced to leave in 1971 because of the ‘ boo-boys’ and that still saddens me. He was a terrific player- and he helped us to win three trophies !
TTG@17: Sterling is getting better with each game but he is still far short of what he was in his pomp. I doubt if the plan was ever to make him a long-term signing, just to be cover for Saka until and if Nelson kicked on or some talented youngsters came through.
Jorginho is one of those players every team needs, the one who does the essential but often unnoticed fetching and carrying for the rest of the team and whose value lies in what he prevents happening as much as in what he creates. I, too, once played in a team with a similar player. Never a star but the only two games we lost all season were the two he missed.
>>>>>>>