Arsenal already find themselves in the first international break of the season and at the moment they can be satisfied with the performances they have put in.
The Gunners have managed to accumulate seven points from a possible nine on offer against a less than straightforward opposition. Mikel Arteta will point towards the victory over Aston Villa as the standout performance of the season so far.
Heading to Villa Park with anticipation high among the home fans due to a return to the Champions League this year, coupled with the fact it was their first home match of the season made it a tricky test. And yet, Arsenal eventually looked comfortable in victory as substitute Leandro Trossard helped turn the game in his team’s favour.
Unfortunately, the last match before the international break ended on a sour note for the North London club. A draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion is less than ideal albeit many clubs will drop points to them this season.
It was rather the manner of the result which proved to be difficult for Arsenal to stomach. Key man Declan Rice was sent off for a controversial second yellow card and his absence from the team cost them an equaliser.
Perhaps more importantly though, Rice will now be missing from the clash with Tottenham Hotspur after the international break. Arteta will be thinking hard about how to replace the midfielder for the big game.
Raheem Sterling verdict
You would not believe that Sterling had been cast aside by Chelsea and not played a competitive match all season with his performance in training. The winger looks like he has not missed a beat training with the Blues’ U23s and you feel he will offer Arsenal a different option this season. Sterling looks like a player who is ready to prove a certain someone wrong.
Young duo get chance to impress
With a host of senior players away, a couple of 16-year-olds were given the chance to play with the first team. Ife Ibrahim is a defensive midfielder who could make his way onto the bench for the North London derby with Rice suspended. Andre Harriman-Annous is an attacking midfielder who has looked bright for the Arsenal U18s after bagging a goal and two assists so far in the league. Both men will hope they have given Arteta something to think about for the next few weeks.
Leandro Trossard in the group
There was a speculative bid from Saudi Arabia for Trossard which was rejected and there seems to be no signs of him being unhappy by having to stay at the Emirates Stadium. Trossard looked sharp in training and will be attempting to make a strong claim for a start against Spurs.
Spurs tactic
While it is hard to judge on a few clips what the plan is for Spurs, especially with a host of senior players unavailable, it appears Arteta may have spotted something he feels needs to be worked on before the match. The Gunners were playing an intense attack against defensive game with roles being switch quickly. It looked as though the focus was mainly on the attackers to ensure they could finish in one-v-one situations. Sterling was particularly impressive in these clips and perhaps this drill is a hint at the type of game Arsenal are expecting against Tottenham i.e. quick counter attacks and ensuring they move from defence into attack seamlessly.
Arsenal defender William Saliba has reportedly been the subject of regular scouting missions by Real Madrid, including on an impressive performance against Aston Villa earlier this season. Saliba has grown into one of Mikel Arteta’s most important assets during his two full seasons. In his first term, he was hugely impressive, and while he was…
Arsenal had to settle for a goalless draw against Atalanta in their first Champions League fixture of the new season. Their focus now shifts towards the big challenge that lies against Manchester City in an away template this Sunday. The Gunners are second on the domestic points table with 10 points in four outings. Should they manage…
Pundit Chris Sutton has pinpointed one area of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal success as the Gunners beat Tottenham. For the third season in a row, Arsenal emerged victorious at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, getting the better of their North London rivals away from home. A 64th minute goal courtesy of Gabriel Magalhaes was enough to steer Arteta’s side to the…
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice will be prepared for a hostile environment on Saturday evening when he represents England in the Nations League against the Republic of Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Rice is one of the more popular players for the Gunners and England thanks to his elite performances in the centre of midfield. However, the former West Ham United man is…
A shock academy graduate is reportedly in line to make his first Premier League start for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur next weekend. Arsenal have won two of their opening three games with the third game of the Premier League campaign being a 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion with Declan Rice dismissed after being given a second…
Riccardo Calafiori has been an injury concern in more games than he has started for Arsenal since his summer move from Bologna, yet when he lined up at centre-back against Bolton he was one of the more established members of the team. That is the scale of what Mikel Arteta was working with. Although on…
