Get in fellas! I’ll have to admit, it is weird not having to complain about this team in recent weeks and the better part of this season. It means that I’ll have to develop a personality that doesn’t revolve around Arsenal being shit but I’ll take that trade if it means Arsenal keep playing like this. An early goal from Thomas Partey and a converted penalty from Laca gave us the comfortable 2-0 win at home against Leicester. As straight-forward a win that you’d like to see from the boys especially given the tough tasks ahead against Liverpool midweek and Villa away next Saturday. This game takes us a point above United with 3 games in hand but those games in hand don’t mean a thing if we aren’t able to take points away from those games.
PREMATCH/FIRST HALF – Mikel went with the same team that has gone on this 4 games unbeaten run with Tomiyasu being replaced by Cédric with Emile Smith Rowe nursing an injury on the bench. Leicester went with a somewhat rotated lineup from their Europa Conference League clash on Thursday against Rennes with Daka, Tielemans, Ndidi and Justin stepping aside for Iheanacho, Maddison, Mendy, and Pereira. The match started and we were out guns blazing. Xhaka was stepping into that advanced role in possession with Ødegaard taking up the half spaces to receive the ball. Arsenal won a corner in the 11th minute which subsequently led to Martinelli playing a delicious ball into the near post that Thomas Partey nodded in for the 1-0 lead. One of the biggest breakthroughs this season is Martinelli’s set piece delivery as you would think you’d want him attacking these crosses. Leicester let in another set piece goal which is the 14th time they allowed a goal from a set piece this season according to Statman Dave.
After the opening goal, we kept coming at the Leicester defense with Thomas Partey hitting the crossbar and a multitude of chances that we could not get on target. Leicester were then able to work themselves into a game with the ball falling kindly for James Maddison in the box but Ben White put a well timed last ditch tackle to to knock the ball away from Maddison.
SECOND HALF – The second half started better than the first half ended with Arsenal now back on the front foot. Martinelli made a great run down the right flank and down the right byline before not being able to connect with Lacazette on the cutback. Arsenal then won a free-kick on the left-wing, with Ødegaard crossing the ball, with Ben White hitting a loose ball towards goal that was saved by Schmeichel. The save by Schmeichel was rebounded into Thomas Partey who was able to head it back on goal before it was saved on the line by Luke Thomas. HOWEVER, the ball slightly grazed Çağlar Söyüncü’s hand which slightly changed the direction of the ball, it was slight but still a clear penalty. The PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), the Premier League and Anthony Taylor did their best not to give us the penalty but nonetheless, we were awarded a fortunate penalty, unfortunate for the Foxes.
Laca then stutters the pen’s run-up before lashing it to the top corner. After that, the game was fully under control. Martin Ødegaard was able to do whatever he wanted on the afternoon. One of his most influential games in an Arsenal shirt, very much so reminded me of Mesut Özil on his best days for us back in the day. Thomas Partey was immense in the middle of the pitch. I don’t want to take credit because of the blog I wrote about him, but he didn’t skip a beat today. Just absolutely immense.
CONCLUSION: 3 points was the only option for us today, especially with the game being at home against a mid-table side. Given, our games against Liverpool and Villa away, having these 3 points today given Spurs losing makes it to where Top 4 might be out of reach for Spurs. Regardless, a massive performance by the boys heading into this important week which means I’ll have to save my complaining for later. 🙂
Superlatives
MOTM:Thomas Partey – This is so tough, Martin Ødegaard was special today, creating chance after chance for us today. However, the MOTM has to go to Thomas Partey for his performance today. He was scoring goals, winning duels, making tackles, doing everything you want from your “6”. You’ll best know that I am retweeting the fuck out of the first Thomas Partey comp I see from today’s game. You could also say that the penalty was caused from Thomas Partey being in the right area to head the ball back towards goal.
Best Effort: The PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) – The PGMOL doing their absolute best to not give us the penalty for Söyüncü’s handball. They were showing every angle you can imagine making it not look like a handball but justice prevailed. Good effort by them and the Premier League though.
Most Grateful: The World – the World definitely gets the award for most grateful for not having to hear me complain for the next few days.
Match Ratings:
Ramsdale: 7/10 – Made the saves he was supposed, stopped the crosses he was supposed to, celebrated the Arsenal goals the way he was supposed to.
Cédric: 7/10 – Leicester focused on attacking his flank in the first half but did his best to fight back.
Ben White: 7.5/10 – Made an all-important tackle on James Maddison to stop a goal scoring opportunity.
Gabriel: 7/10 – Solid, did Gabriel things, dominant.
Kieran Tierney: 7/10 – You can tell he took the initiative and effort to be dangerous on the left but never came off.
Thomas Partey: 9/10 – Immense, have waxed lyrical about him many times in the past few weeks. Read this amazing blog about this player: http://goonerkent.com/2022/03/05/thomas-partey-remontada/
Granit Xhaka: 7/10 – played in the same advanced role, found some dangerous areas, just not sure if he is the right person we need in that role.
Saka: 6/10 – not at his absolute best but is dangerous by just being himself going at players. Luke Thomas definitely had his work cut out for him today.
Martin Ødegaard: 8.5/10 – Just absolutely mesmerizing today.
Martinelli: 7/10 – Put in the corner for the first goal. Needs to be a bit more unpredictable on the wing as he gets himself into great positions but seems to lack a bit in decision making in the final third at times.
Lacazette: 7.5/10 – Such a cool pen, did the hard work. My Captain.
Subs:
ESR, Pepe, Eddie: Not on long enough to rate
Check out my recent blog on Renato Sanches and other content surrounding Arsenal: