There were some decisions to make in the eleven with Eddie Nketiah returning to fitness and Ben White’s total absence from the side. However, the team looked solid and had a number of impressive performances.
It was not all perfect though and as such football.london take a look at the successes and areas of development from the clash. Ranging from the goal scorers to a dreaded follow-up chat about some of those aforementioned decisions.
Successes
Leandro Trossard
A very brave Leandro Trossard got the performance underway with the opening goal of the match, leaping to win a header in front of James Trafford. The Burnley keeper collided with the Belgian who subsequently struck the post and looked to have seriously hurt his arm.
Thankfully, he was able to recover and continued into the second half. Two goals in two games is yet another showing of just how adept at playing the central role he is.
Should he continue after the break, bearing in mind Gabriel Jesus’ potential return, he has a strong chance of locking it down if he is indeed capable of continuing this impressive streak. The dynamic creativity he adds which someone like Nketiah cannot match certainly gives him an edge.
This was perhaps what opened the door for Zinchenko to come back into the team after being a substitute last weekend. His progression was certainly a thorn in Kompany’s side and in particular the full-back was noticeably crossing more so than usual.
If this has been a directive from his coach then he certainly followed it. The question is now, after the international break, if Ben White comes back who is the player that will miss out?
This might seem late but considering how late Saka has been left on before getting too many kicks and coming off, I prefer to see this as progress. The red card meant that a defensive change was necessary and Jakub Kiwior did indeed come on.
Areas of concern
Fabio Vieira
Speaking of red cards, Fabio Vieira was shown a red for a situation which few could argue with. The Portuguese midfielder went studs down in his challenge, late, and caught the player’s leg leaving Michael Oliver with no choice but to send him off.He struck an understandably frustrated figure, not with the officials, but clearly with himself. Mikel Arteta remained seated and did not greet him 2022 summer signing who he had brought on early in the second half to replace Kai Havertz.
Refereeing inconsistencies
Arsenal have been perpetually embroiled in a number of questionable decisions. It is no longer a case of using the word ‘lately’ in this context because the issues with decisions and Arsenal stretch back into a period of time you cannot put a timeframe on.
Then later as he rose for a header, Jay Rodriguez appeared to make a push in his back like Saka earlier but nothing was given by Michael Oliver. Two incidents, the same motion and different outcomes from the same referee… baffling and yet these days very normal.
Ben White
The England international was missing the matchday squad. It was the first Premier League match that he has missed in quite some time having built something of a reputation of playing through considerable pain in the past.
Arteta explained it as he: “finished the game against Sevilla with some issues and hasn’t had enough time to recover.” The hope is that this sounds like a minor issue and the international break will allow time for recovery
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