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.
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