Playing Thursday and Sunday is one of the downfalls of this new Champions League system. Previously, clubs would play either Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday (or Sunday), or Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday. You would almost always have a 3 day break between your Champions League fixture and the return of the Premier League.
Europa League teams were always at a disadvantage, with a two day break. Although this was often offset by top sides putting at second XIs in the early stages of the competition. Something you can not afford to do in the Champions League.
So we sit here on Saturday on Mikel Arteta’s sole day to prepare for our toughest fixture of the season – Manchester City away.
Looking back at the Atalanta result, it is interesting to see the differing response between our game and the Manchester City v Inter Milan game.
The City v Inter game has been labelled a “masterclass in tactics” by some and “two geniuses cancelling each other out in a game of chess”. Meanwhile, we have come in for some criticism for also drawing 0-0.
I am seeing comparisons of Arteta to Sean Dyche, with claims that the Englishman would have Everton in the same position as Arsenal if “Dyche had £800m to spend.” A bit of over inflation on what Arteta has spent there!
Pundits have also said “this is what happens when you restrict Arsenal to two corners. they just can not create”. It is almost like they have forgotten that last season we scored a club record 91 league goals, beating the previous record of 88 league goals set the season before. We must have had a lot of corners in the last 2 seasons.
In this new group stage, you only need 9 points from the 8 games to finish in the top 24 and qualify for the 1st Champions League knock out round (yes, I know this has bene rebranded the “play offs”). That is the same as what you needed in the previous 6 game group stage.
Previously, you would think “win your 3 home games, draw 1 away, 10 in the bag and that guarantees qualification”. You should never be upset about getting an away point in Europe.
Ultimately, we return from Italy with our first point on the table, and the exact same result as City are being praised for. And they were at home!
As for those saying stuff like “Gabriel Martinelli’s miss shows we are crying out for a clinical striker” – A clinical striker would not have been playing left wing. This sort of comment really is moronic and shows that some Arsenal fans only comment when they have something to moan about.
Looking forward to Manchester City, I expect us to look to replicate what we did last season – defend deep and hit them on the break. We got a 0-0 draw in 2023/24, and I would be delighted with that result again considering our Thursday night exploits.
I would not be surprised if we go with Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Jorginho as a midfield 3 and try to suffocate their midfield. It is the way Jurgen Klopp used to set up against them. It will then be a front 3 of Kai Havertz flanked by Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.
This will lead to more comparisons to Dyche, but ultimately Arteta is happy going more defensive in big games and if you do not concede, you do not lose.
I have never known someone to be criticized after 4 clean sheets in the opening 5 games. and the 1 goal conceded was after one of the most questionable red cards in the history of the game.
By being able to play more defensive, Arteta is showing that he is learning tactically and realizes you can not be attacking all the time. What sums it up is Arteta gets criticized for winning games whilst playing defensively, whilst Fat Ange is praised for losing games whilst his teams fail to defend.
A final thought on this is George Graham.
If you often dream of those great days of the 80s and 90s under George Graham, then you should recognise Arteta-Ball. He plays in a very similar way to our success of 89 and 91, and suffers the same criticism.
Graham is often labelled as “defensive and boring”. Yet in 1989 we top scored with 73 goals, conceded just 36 in 38 games. In 1991 we were the 2nd highest scorers with 74 goals in 38 games, conceding just 18.
I am not sure how some nostalgic older fans who bash on about Graham all day long are then criticizing Arteta for putting together a very similar set of goals scored and conceded! Arteta now just needs to add to his trophy haul.
Enjoy your Saturday.
Keenos