Good morning from Bilbao.
That is my second weblog of the day. To clarify, I awoke, dozed again off, then dreamed I’d written a complete weblog about Jurrien Timber, which was very pleasing as a result of it seems like it is a quiet information day on the Arsenal entrance. It was like once you had been a child and also you dream you’ve acquired away from bed to go to high school, however you’re nonetheless below the covers and somebody is shouting at your from downstairs to stand up, dress and get out the door.
I forgot it will get brighter right here a bit later. It’s simply after 7.30 after I began scripting this and the solar isn’t actually up but. It provides to that slight sense of discombobulation once you get up in a lodge and also you don’t fairly know the place you’re for a couple of seconds. Clearly I’m right here for the sport tomorrow (in addition to all of the pintxos anybody can eat), and I’m actually wanting ahead to that.
The primary time I got here to this metropolis, I walked to the San Mames stadium simply to take a look, and going to a sport there was on my want listing ever since. Arsenal arrive later right now, Mikel Arteta will maintain his pre-game press convention this night, and whereas stuff in regards to the workforce can wait till tomorrow’s preview, I’m curious to see what approach he mixes issues up.
As we maintain saying, he has all these gamers to maintain completely happy, or as completely happy as attainable, and there will likely be some itching to play tomorrow. With Man Metropolis on the horizon subsequent weekend, we must always see him shuffle his pack a bit, however as I stated dialogue of that may wait till tomorrow’s weblog.
I didn’t get to see any of the soccer yesterday as a result of I used to be travelling, however Liverpool are again on prime after a late penalty gave them a win at Burnley, whereas Metropolis gained the Manchester derby simply. I noticed a headline within the Guardian which learn: Manchester United appear to have accepted their mediocrity, however how lengthy can it go on?
My first thought was: Perpetually, please? Anyway, we’ll speak extra in regards to the weekend’s Premier League video games over on Patreon later in The 30, our common round-up podcast.
Going again to Saturday, and the win over Nottingham Forest, I gave a short point out to David Raya, however not more than that as others impressed extra throughout the 90 minutes. I assume it’s price stating he did maintain a clear sheet on his a hundredth Arsenal look, which appears form of becoming for a participant who has been a cornerstone of this workforce since his arrival. He didn’t have quite a bit to do on the day, Forest barely threatened, however the one second he was wanted he pulled off a superb fingertip save to disclaim Chris Wooden a purpose.
I feel there’s a danger/reward component with Raya that doesn’t all the time really feel prefer it stacks up with what Arteta is perceived to need (complete management). Typically, when he has the ball at his ft, I feel he delays a bit too lengthy, which appears at odds together with his capacity to get the sport going once more shortly. Which, in flip, can typically result in stray go right here and there. I realise it’s what he’s requested to do, however I feel he may do it earlier at occasions.
It’s a small criticism although, as a result of we ask him to do a giant job. Keeper and sweeper, primarily. He comes a good distance out of his space and that’s laborious work, and his degree of involvement reveals up within the stats. On Saturday he tried 28 passes (89% accuracy) in comparison with simply 10 for Viktor Gyokeres (70% accuracy). Which isn’t tacit criticism of our new striker, he has his personal function that we’re attempting to get used to, however it demonstrates how a lot Raya does on the different finish. Inevitably, there will likely be some danger with that, gamers misplace passes on a regular basis however when it’s a keeper it stands out.
What you’d say about Raya although is that he doesn’t get flustered. I feel we’ve all seen gamers who, after they make a mistake, go right into a darkish place of their thoughts and it will probably affect their efficiency for the remainder of the sport. Not him, and once you ask your goalkeeper to play the best way we do, you want that psychological energy together with the technical capacity.
100 video games, 42 clear sheets. ‘Fairly good’, stated Arteta. Fairly, fairly, fairly good. Proper. I’m gonna depart it there. Discover espresso someplace. Drink espresso. See what Bilbao has to supply. I’d go see some fashionable artwork.
Until tomorrow.
