And so Arsenal rolled into the home of Napoli, the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, named after their most famous player and favoured son in December 2020, although it has been their home since 1959.
Mikel Arteta made four changes from the XI that started against Chelsea, bearing in mind a difficult trip to Sunderland to come on Saturday evening: Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Hincapié; Rice, Ødegaard, Merino; Saka, Gyökeres, Eze.
I was surprised to see Rice and Saka in again but Mikel knows. Come on you Reds became Come on you All Reds as the Gunners were unusually in red shorts teamed with the home shirts and all red socks.
First half
Napoli finished 30th in last season’s Champions League league phase and were on a possible third consecutive loss having been beaten by Cesc Fabregas’ Como and Inter Milan. Napoli had some early possession it it wasn’t long before it gave way to some nice intricate Arsenal moves around the edge of the Napoli box. Our first corner from a deflected Eze shot. Napoli broke from it with their four-on-the-halfway-line tactic but blazed a cross well out of danger.
We Love You Arsenal rang out round the Maradona as Gyökeres and Saka combined acrobatically to get a shot away. Kevin of Brown produced Napoli’s first effort as the game began to open up. He and several of his mates then ran to the referee demanding a yellow card for a foul by Eze. Unlike Tzolis at the weekend they did not get similarly punished for their trouble. A terrific effort from Saka-Eze-Merino ended with a header which was parried over the bar for another corner.
Arsenal were dominating possession but had to beware the pacy Napoli counter attacks. A word for Mikel Merino. Good in possession and at making space, he’s a very smart, versatile player with the ability to arrive late in the box and score goals as well. Hincapié nearly scored one with a curling cross on the half hour mark which was scrambled clear by the Napoli keeper who appeared to injure himself in the process. The players nicked an unscheduled hydration break as he had the magic spray applied to his groin.
Politano, the abbreviated version of the famous ice cream, drove in a shot comfortably saved by Raya before Saka made a great run for the byline, only to pull the ball back for Gyökeres to get himself rooted to the spot and lose the ball. Ødegaard played Saka in with a brilliant pass but he was, like his teammates from several other decent opportunities, unable to hit the target.
As the half drew to a close Arsenal had had the lion’s share of possession but found it hard to convert any of the thirteen chances they had created in a very crowded Napoli area.
Half time: Napoli 0 – 0 Arsenal
I was left to reflect on an Italian friend of mine, Roberto, at half time. He was a pasta chef in Naples but eventually lost his job after he made a fusilli mistakes. Being a pasta chef he always had to pay a fortune for motor insurance because his car constantly ended up all denty. Like most Italian men he always wears a gold chain around his neck so he knows where to stop shaving. He generally has a tough life and to cap it all the poor chap has a prosthetic foot. His mates all call him Rubbertoe.
Second half
Napoli had to change their keeper at half time. There were no changes for the Arsenal.
Some terrific interplay orchestrated by Ødegaard resulted in Hincapié blasting over the bar from a yard out. I guess that what he usually trains to do. The Napoli crowd whistled as Arsenal continued to weave patterns around their penalty area but still failed to make the breakthrough.
Napoli made two further changes on 57 minutes as they tried to find a way out of their lowest of low blocks. I’m not picking on Gyökeres but this game did not suit him at all. He needs space to run at. There was none, and intricate, short passing patterns are not part of his skill set.
The Arsenal had had 17 goal attempts and 74% possession by the hour mark. On 64 minutes Arteta sent on Tzolis and Guimaraes for Eze and Merino. Personally I would have removed Gyökeres and moved Merino forward.
Havertz and Madueke came on for Gyökeres and Saka on 72 minutes. More intricate passing led to Ødegaard getting sight of the goal and rifling in off the post on 75 minutes. On this form it’s impossible to disagree with Mikel Arteta that Ødegaard is in the most confident form he has ever seen. Tzolis now has four assists in his first five games.
Napoli 0 – 1 Arsenal
Arsenal looked very assured as they continued to contain and mesmerise Napoli with some very slick football. Kevin Brown looked hot, bothered and a bit fed up with it all.
Havertz broke with Madueke and put him clear through against the keeper. Somehow Madueke managed to miss the chance of the night and Tzolis blasted the follow up into a recovering defender.
Kevin Brown crossed to safety with our goal at his mercy – thank goodness, as there would have been a mere one minute of normal time left to recover the lead. Havertz put the ball in the Napoli net on 93 minutes but it was ruled out for offside.
The final whistle blew to confirm another One Nil To The Arsenal – a close result that didn’t reflect our superiority but did reflect our profligacy in front of goal. We played some excellent football against a Napoli side that were, above all, desperate not to lose – which they did.
Final result: Napoli 0 – 1 Arsenal
A successful start to another Champions League campaign. We were, in fact, the only side to win away from home in tonight’s matches. Winning away from home in this competition is really difficult. The trick now will be for the manager to pick a side that is fresh and ready for another very tough challenge – an away game at Sunderland in the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening. That will be the second of four consecutive away games before an international break. Tough times.
Come on you Reds !
A very amusing and accurate report Trev although I would have liked a penne for your thoughts . I am feeling very virtuous tonight . I have a friend Natalie although I call her Talie . Her Tv packed up tonight so I drove around to her place and gave Talie a telly .
This was an absolutely terrific performance in every respect other than finding the back of the net . It will start the clamour that we need a striker when you compare Haaland’s performance last night in a game where he had few touches and Gyokeres who couldn’t affect the game at all.Madueke also drives me to distraction with some of his fannying around and lack of end product. He was perfectly set up at the end .
We played some seriously good football and totally controlled the game but missed some sitters until Martin took the bull by the horns .
Konsah looks a great acquisition and Hincapie gives us a more solid defensive shape than Calafiori but isn’t near him as a finisher ( an odd comparison point for left backs!) . Three important points banked and some intelligent rotation . Gone are the days when we would have to Rig a Tony Adams header to win
Most enjoyable report, Trev, but we’ll have to call out the pasta police if all these puns continue. Anyone got a number for the Carbonara?
Thanks Trev for a quick and enjoyable report.
We played very well and are looking set fair
for the season though it’s early days.
One down, three to go on our four match away run.
Cheers Trev!
Top punning guys! Got me chuckling before a 0900 fucking TEAMS call.
Read the title, thought it had to be Trev. 😀
Great half-time entertainment too!
Cheers!
I see there was more pasta punning in store, good work all.
A fun and enjoyable morning after the match read, Trev. A very dominant performance by the team in red and red and much to admire in the patient effort required to create multiple chances, resulting in a record number for us of shots on goals. Ben White had me worried it one stage when he passed the ball across the front of our box to Mr Politano but otherwise our defence looked very solid, with Konsa at the fore. Disappointing that our striker didn’t take one of the 26 shots and hopefully there will be times when the first choice behind Bukayo is Max Dowman.
An excellent win away from home and a continuing perfect start to the season with five wins in a row.
For those who missed it in the previous drinks, TTG posted a delightful thank-you letter from Willow for the Predictathon donations. It lists some of the things the money will pay for, which gives a sense of the tangible impact Predictathon players will have for some youngsters and their families. Well worth going back to the previous post to read it. The letter is at TTG@30.
TTG also says it would be lovely to top up the £867 raised to a round £1,000. That would need just under £6 a head. If you can find a few bob down the back of the sofa, the donate button is on the right-hand side under the Guv’nor’s portrait at the top of this page.
The punning police have been gnocching on my door this morning
I just said Pasta la vista Napoli, you’ve been tortellini lesson
Fine and funny review Trev. This team just keeps finding a way to get the job done. When Odegaard is on this form he is such a joy to watch.
That’s 10 goals this season, all from open play. Word reaches me that Nicolas Jover has been given a first official verbal warning for under achieving so far this season.
This is great and describes my feelings watching our team so far this season very well.
https://likeanewsletter.substack.com/p/the-serenity-now?r=17skr0&utm_medium=ios
Cheers for the link, C100 @ 11. Top write-up, I feel the same too.
@11, 12. Wot they said,
Interesting story on the BBC about Poch saying the Chavs should be striped of their 2016-17 PL title because of their admitted aecret payments to secure transfers, but concluding it won’t happen as it is all water under the bridge (so to speak). Are we being softened up for the slighest of alaps on the wrist for Man City?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0re0n84yz7o
I think Pochettino is just trying to endear himself to Spu*s fans, in the eventuality that De Zerbi gets rapidly sacked :-p.
We all know that if Spu*s had been in a position to win the title…they wouldn’t have won it.
Thanks for a fine report and rib-tickling puns, Trev. That was a great result and will be recognised as such in due course. The sustained energy and determination with which the team attacked was very impressive and was reflected by the xG of over 4 rather than the final score. Ødegaard was just amazing. More of this and better finishing please.
Poch’s argument about the Chav’s trophies during the period in question all being fruit of the poisoned tree is fair enough I think but as Ollie says it is a desperate stretch to suggest the spuds should be awarded the trophy instead – my first thought was Poch must have a book coming out 😂😂
Poch signed a second term with the US men’s national team last month, though he has also talked about returning to club management in Europe. My advice to him about going back to the neighbours would be to think about it like an enjoyable holiday — never go back, as it never lives up to how you think you remember it. Of course, with the neighbours, my advice would be: don’t go there in the first place.
Cheers Chaps – chuffed if it provided a chuckle.
Good news on the injury front as Benny Blanco is ok apparently
and Timber / Mosquera are close. This one might be too early
but a run-out against Ipswich would be good.
My son and I are going to be putting in the miles in the next week as we make a 400 mile round trip to Sunderland tomorrow and a much shorter jaunt to Ipswich on Tuesday. Then I’m off on holiday on Friday and he’s off to Brighton on Saturday.
It’s all go, but it’s such a privilege to follow this team on the road.
C100@21: Looking forward to your reports from the away end. Travel safely.
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