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A Healthy Habit

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That was remarkable. Excruciatingly painful to watch for long periods of the game, yes, and not a little fortuitous for the Arsenal to be able to continue the positive run of results. And yet, remarkable for many other reasons. As the winning goal scorer aptly summarized after the match, this was an “extra nice” win.

There was a suspicion even before the match started that after the arctic circle adventures on Thursday evening against a spirited team in unfamiliar conditions and pitch, and only returning on Friday afternoon, an away trip to Leeds – irrespective of their recent run of results – may prove a difficult challenge, physically and psychologically, for a young Arsenal side learning to negotiate an intense and hectic schedule, made all the more unreasonable by the demands of a winter world cup. The inimitable Marcelo Bielsa may no longer be gravely scrutinizing the proceedings from the Leeds bench, but the spirit of the Argentinian apparently lives on in this Leeds team and they, even though now managed by an Ivy League American, still try to play the type of manic football at hyper speed — especially at Elland Road egged on by the vociferous home crowd – that has been the hallmark of all Bielsa teams.

Arsenal started with the same line-up as the one that had triumphed against Liverpool last weekend, the versatile Tomiyasu retaining his left back role after the flawless performance in keeping Salah quiet, and Gabriel Jesus shaking off the bruises from that match.

Ramsdale
White – Saliba – Gabriel – Tomiyasu
Ødegaard – Partey – Xhaka
Saka – Jesus – Martinelli

The first remarkable action of the match came from the officials as they were forced — by a power outage that disabled their communication system — to postpone the proceedings in the very first minute. In the current league season Arsenal has made a well-rehearsed habit of starting with conviction and purpose and then using those first period as a template for the rest of the game. That prolonged disruption – as players went back to the dressing room and then needed to warm up again – could not have helped, and even though same must be said for the Leeds players once the match has resumed it was Leeds who looked more energetic and purposeful.

In this first period of the game, Leeds allowed Arsenal possession in their own half, and not pressing very high up – which will change dramatically later in the second half – but meticulously cutting off passing lanes in the midfield and releasing runners from deep trying to exploit Arsenal’s usual high defensive line. Leeds front three of Sinisterra, Rodrigo and Aaronson all looked highly capable with the ball at their feet. They earned a few corners, and from one such corner Ramsdale made an excellent reflex save, first of many in a manic evening.

Around 30th minute Arsenal created the best chance of the game until then, the ever-energetic Martinelli skipping past defenders and crossed from the left, Xhaka’s dummy took a defender or two out but Ødegaard couldn’t create enough space for a shot and he fed it to Jesus on his right. The Brazillian was justifiably disappointed with himself to see his chip missing the goal and landing on top of the net.

That bit of play inspired Arsenal to improve their tempo on and off the ball, and to become sharper with their passing. Tomiyasu was playing much more centrally, in the Zinchenko role but understandably not with as much conviction, and that created a midfield overload which allowed quick switches of play from which both Saka and Martinelli benefitted. After a period of sustained pressure by Arsenal on the Leeds final third one such quick switch led to the goal.

But it was not an Arsenal player that instigated the switch of attack. Rodrigo, their center forward, dropped back to help out in defending Arsenal attacks and when he received a pass from his teammate he sent a wild cross-field ball back towards his own goal, Saka own the header for Ødegaard who retained possession, and anticipating Saka’s run sent a delightful through ball on the inside of the Leeds left back in charge of marking Saka, who from a tight angle finished the move with an unstoppable angled shot on to the roof of the net. A rare right footed finish from Saka, but carrying the signature qualities of ingenuity and enterprise that, along with a quiet but unshakeable self-belief, defines this extraordinary young talent.

Leeds 0 – Arsenal 1 (Saka 35’)

There were a few other half chances after the goal, Ødegaard took a few shots on goal but they all lacked enough power to trouble the keeper. Arsenal retained possession well, the defenders anticipated and intercepted Leeds moves, played out expertly from the back to bring the midfield and forward line into play, and at that stage it felt that it is Arsenal who would get the next goal. Arsenal has won every single match this season when they have scored the first goal.

If any of us Arsenal supporters felt any complacency at the half time, first few minutes of the second half must have been a shock. It was definitely a jolt to the Arsenal players who were definitely not showing any signs of complacency but were simply physically unprepared for the waves of fast and relentless attacks that came from Leeds. At the start of the second half Leeds brought in their more established center forward Patrick Bamford for Rodrigo, and he was instrumental in triggering a very high press on Arsenal half. Suddenly Arsenal midfield lost complete control of the proceedings and as balls started to fly into the penalty box it felt like a Leeds goal is only a matter of time.

From one such delivery in the box Saliba found himself in an uncharacteristically contorted body position and the ball bounced off his hand. Even though the referee didn’t spot it himself VAR intervened, and it was rightly given a penalty. Bamford stepped up for his 100 th goal for Leeds, but his low shot went wide. Ramsdale, who guessed the trajectory of the ball accurately and dived in the right direction, might even claim that if the ball were goalbound he would have saved it.

Ramsdale did need to be at his best and make a few more crucial saves as Leeds completely dominated the possession as by now a visibly exhausted Arsenal was simply hanging on. All eleven Arsenal players were behind the ball and busy defending, and unlike the season until now even when the defenders have thwarted a move and a counter-attack was on the passing and ball retention in midfield no longer had the sharpness to release such a counter attack.

In addition to Ramsdale saves, and clearance and interceptions by the defense, the Leeds players too failed to shoot on target a few times from relatively close range. Even though the score remained in favor of Arsenal going into the final ten minutes of the match, it felt Leeds can equalize any time.

Arteta brought in Vieira for a completely exhausted Ødegaard, took White – who for the first time this season looked sub-par in his new right back role – out and switched to three in the defense, with Holding joining in and flanked by Saliba and Gabriel. Tierney replaced White to play as the left wing back and Tomiyasu reverted to his more typical right sided role. Eddie replaced Jesus, and I felt that this substitution probably could have been made a bit earlier.

This tactical and personnel tweak helped Arsenal to assert more control over the game, better nullify the Leeds attack, and start retaining more possession to be able to see out the match. Just when the match seemed more secure from the Arsenal perspective a wild sequence of events led to the final bit of …excitement. Bamford chased a ball into Arsenal penalty box, Gabriel stood his ground, the Leeds forward barged into him, Gabriel fell and seemed to have lashed at Bamford with his legs as he was falling on the ground. The referee consulted with the assistant referee to award Leeds a penalty and give Gabriel his matching orders. However, VAR intervened once more, and after seeing the replay of the action himself on the screen the referee rightly rescinded his earlier decision and awarded Arsenal a free-kick for Bamford’s foul on Gabriel, reducing Gabriel’s red to yellow for the trailing leg offense.

Beyond the obvious relief and the satisfaction of the three points at the final whistle, I felt that there were indeed a few positives. One is a refreshingly consistent use of VAR: at two key moments in the match VAR intervened and on both occasions the decisions were rightly changed. That is how it is meant to be used. From Arsenal perspective, despite being mostly outplayed and physically outperformed in the second half, I thought the young Arsenal players showed a remarkable degree of maturity in staying cool headed and resilient and give in to neither hubris nor panic nor petulance. This has not always been the case in recent years, and I think one of the Arteta mantra of “ready to suffer in difficult games” now has a successful example of a template. There will be more matches like it this season, and every season, when things would simply not work for one reason or another – whether schedule congestion, or opposition’s superiority on that day, or Arsenal players physical state, likely a combination of multiple such factors – but there can still be ways to come out victorious. Success can be, and often is, a self-perpetuating habit.

28 Drinks to “A Healthy Habit”

  1. 1
    Countryman100 says:

    A superb review Dr Faustus. I do sometimes wonder how a man who was brought up in a cricket loving country and who now resides in a baseball loving country, “gets” English football culture and tactics as well as you do. Chapeau.

    Some reflections on my day at Ellend Road to follow later.

  2. 2
    Ollie says:

    Cheers Dr Faustus.
    Looking forward to your account from your day at Bellend Road C100 ;-D
    Hope you had a great time, I was wondering yesterday if you had any voice left.

  3. 3
    Countryman100 says:

    Our day out in Leeds began with an easy motorway drive in bright sunshine from Cambs. We drove past the stadium and turned into our parking space. Booked on JustPark (other parking apps are available), this was the best spot I have ever found (see picture, taken just outside the space). Literally just outside the stadium and directly opposite the away fans entrance. Into the concourse and time for some light refreshment. They always say footy scran is better up north and far better than in London. Well I beg to differ. I went for a meat and potato pie, traditional fare. Absolutely disgusting. My son, wisely, stuck to lager.

    To our seats. The whole Arsenal contingent was at the side of the pitch, from just one side of the half way line to the corner flag. It became apparent that we were right on the edge of “the front line” with just a barrier and some stewards between us and the Leeds fans. Given the fearsome reputation of the Ellend Road regulars, this caused me some consternation as I forced down my pie (I was hungry).

    Kick off. Then the game stopped. Ref came over to the sidelines, talked to his linos and the 4th official and both managers. It was well over 10 minutes before we got some explanation and the players were led off the field. It eventually appeared that the problem was the loss of the link to VAR in Stockley Park. My neighbours, all good Londoners with forthright views, opined that “We spent decades without facking VAR, why don’t we just get on with the game?”. Given the way the game ended this was ironic. Eventually, with folk audibly fretting about trains back to London, the players came back and, having had a 40+ minute delay, off we went.

    Dr Faustus has done a fantastic job of describing the game above. It was a game of two halves, Brian, as they say. First half wasn’t bad, with a fantastic goal from Saka, aided by MO but assisted by a suicidal cross field pass by Rodrigo which looked awful from the moment it left his boot. Second half we stank. That was our worst performance in a half this season. We couldn’t keep the ball. Our passing was non existent. MO, responsible for another defence splitting assist in the first half, kept trying to nutmeg opponents on the half way line and failing every time. Bamford made a huge difference in a forward press. Although I saw photos later that suggested a Leeds player was clearly offside in the buildup, it was a clear penalty against Saliba. You can imagine the hilarity on the terraces when Bamford missed.

    I thought Arteta made excellent subs. Three at the back, dig in and what we have we hold. Several great saves from Rambo and Gabriel doing a fine job helping out an unusually unsure Saliba. It looked like we were seeing it out safely when the strange events of added time happened, overturned penalty and more hilarity on the terraces. Finally final whistle. I thought Rambo was outstanding and Martinelli very very good. Gabriel (centre half) had a good game. Everybody else, not so much. But they never gave up. We won this game through a 50/50 split of luck and grit. For the first time this season we were not the best team on the pitch. Never mind the quality feel the points.

    The away fans were magnificent. Never stopped singing and supporting. The Leeds fans were curiously quiet (where’s your famous atmosphere?). The front line proved a very quiet place. It may have been some sort of family enclosure (I don’t want to over excite TTG but their seemed to be a lot of ladies of a certain age than teenage nutjobs).

    Fish and chips on the way home and TA6 through in Strictly. Excellent. Off to Southampton next Sunday.

  4. 4
    Countryman100 says:

    My parking spot

  5. 5
    Ollie says:

    Cheers C100, great report too.
    Were you parked in the middle of the street? Oh. I see.

  6. 6
    Countryman100 says:

    Ollie, heh. No Walked five yards from our spot in a side street.

  7. 7
    TTG says:

    Superb report Dr. F. I echo C100’s comments re the depth of your understanding and your insight into the tactical nuances .
    As for C100 he was in communication more effectively than the officials initially . Great account and what a parking place! Leeds looked a very decent side with a murderous press . We were shaken but not fractured and I think we’ve got peak performance Ramsdale back. Every successful side scrapes results from time to time and we lived very dangerously yesterday . We’ve not had much fixture pressure so far but it will be tough up to the World Cup starts when we need a bit of squad strengthening .
    We march on but how to tackle PSV and Saints away in three days will tax Arteta’s mind over the next few days. I’d certainly pick Tierney as a starter .

  8. 8
    Countryman100 says:

  9. 9
    North Bank Ned says:

    What C100 said @1, Dr F., and as elegantly written as ever. I would hazard that growing up watching or playing cricket would nurture a deep understanding of the tactical side of any sport. Your final sentence is spot on.

    C100@3: Food, football and parking reviews. Bravo. I agree with your selection of our better players. Ramsdale was the standout. They say a good keeper is worth 10 points a season. Ramsdale certainly secured three of those on Sunday.

  10. 10
    21st century gooner says:

    I watched the game on a horrific stream about 2 minutes behind so that was excruciating. But we won yet again. Thought bamford was pretty disgraceful, quite why he barged into Gabriel I don’t know and his reaction to Gabriel’s “kick out” was reminiscent of a certain Dutchman with a balance disorder at old Trafford all those years ago. Why the pen was given initially I have no idea. Surely as soon as bamford shoves Gabriel the play stops thus rendering Gabriel’s reaction irrelevant. The initial red card was also a joke but although it was rescinded to a yellow as well as the pen, I don’t understand why bamford went unpunished for the unprovoked foul. His one England cap obviously came in handy and judging by his performance yesterday he won’t be getting another one. I have to say I fancied him to miss the pen and I think Ramsdale would’ve saved it anyway. Who was excellent by the way. His goading of the Leeds fans every time we go to Elland Road is brilliant. I thought Gabriel was also excellent after his recent criticism. Saka and ødegaard were both excellent in the first half with the former taking his goal on his weak foot brilliantly. The second 45 was a struggle but I think thursday took a lot out of us. But all in all we got the job done. That’s 9 wins in 10 which is apparently our best start in over a century. Liverpool did us a favour beating citeh which was nice of them after we battered them last week. 4 points clear at the top and invincibles safe for another year. Onto PSV Eindhoven.

  11. 11
    North Bank Ned says:

    Congrats to Beth Mead for being runner-up in this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or. Vivianne Miedema came 11th in the voting. Bukayo Saka came eighth in the Kopa Trophy vote, the Ballon d’Or for under-21s. Well done to both of them.

  12. 12
    bt8 says:

    Thanks Dr F for your excellent report on our excellent absconding with the points. I was among those urging the refs to play sans VARbut whwt a mistake that would have been in light of the shambolic performance of Kavanagh and the homie lino on the far side.

  13. 13
    Bathgooner says:

    Great report, Dr F. The match I saw. We owe it all to Rambo, Saka, Rodrigo and Lady Luck.

    Thanks also to C100 for the on the spot atmosphere supplement.

    Those legs are getting heavy.

  14. 14
  15. 15
    Trev says:

    Great write up, Dr F.

    A game that ended, for different reasons, as bizarrely as it began. Dirty Leeds clearly haven’t quite got to grips with electricity yet, just as some Premier League referees and linesmen are still not taking advantage of regular eye tests.

    VAR came to our rescue yesterday, but it should never have gotten that far.

    We are still top of the Leagues and our invincibility is safe for at least one more season.

  16. 16
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Thanks everyone for the kind words. Our best start to a premier league season ever!!

    Countryman, I greatly admire and respect all of you regular away fans. Thanks for the enjoyable atmospheric report, as always.

    Countryman & Ned, I may have grown up in a cricket loving country but in a city which is also football mad. 🙂 Stories to be shared one of these days …

    Let me also join Ned and others in congratulating Beth Mead!

  17. 17
    OsakaMatt says:

    Thanks Dr F, a very fair summary of a tough afternoon.
    As Mikel has asked, I suffered a lot!
    As for the team, we soaked it up well and
    can now roll on to the PSV game.
    I hope MA will trust Cedric with a start.

  18. 18
    OsakaMatt says:

    Thanks C100 for @3 and @8
    It’s like celebrating three goals with the missed penalty and the penalty that never was!

  19. 19
    bathgooner says:

    OsakaMatt @18, exactly that, sir. I still haven’t recovered.

    TTG @14, as ever a good read and an enlightening analysis. Thanks for the link.

  20. 20
    North Bank Ned says:

    TTG@14: Thanks for the link. McDonald makes a good point about the need to get the balance right between intricate play and over-elaboration. When the quick-fire flicks and tricks come off, they are so easy on the eye but belie the narrowness of the margins of error.

  21. 21
    bt8 says:

    The pictures of Kavanagh watching the incontrovertible evidence on the touchline VARcam gave me no confidence that he would overturn his decision but seeing as he did, credit to him for that bare minimum but how in the world could he have missed Bamford’s foul on Gabriel in the first place? That is a foul 100% of the time and must be whistled up immediately as such.

  22. 22
    Ollie says:

    What bt8 said at 21. Well apart from some of the first bit, as I was ‘relatively’ confident that would be overturned, because of that last bit: it was so blatant only serious corruption or brain damage would have allowed the penalty to stand.
    However, I must admit I didn’t expect the red card to be downgraded.

  23. 23
    bathgooner says:

    Ollie @22, me too on the red card though I did not share your confidence on the foul. The overreaction from Bamford to the exagerated extension og Gabriel’s leg brought an immediate flashback to van Nistlehorse’s reaction to Vieira’s fall all those years ago. I expected the red to stand. Bamford should have seen yellow too in truth.

  24. 24
    Ollie says:

    Good point about yellow for Bamford and the RvNHorse similarity, bath.

  25. 25
    bt8 says:

    6 more months on the Holic Clock come and gone. Happy 61 and a half everybody.

  26. 26
    Ollie says:

    Cheers bt8.
    ’61, never again, 61, never again’. Or in this particular case, here’s to another 61. :-p (should have posted that six months ago, but never mind, I didn’t realise then).

  27. 27
    Noosa Gooner says:

    Thanks Doc for a fine report.
    I see that the Leeds manager is reported as saying that “tactically and performance wise we (Leeds) were the better team.”
    Well done. Shame that you lost. Ha ha.
    UTA.

  28. 28
    Pangloss says:

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>