Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: Zubimendi shines as Rice and Saka ship Gunners prime

Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video

Arsenal go into the Interlull prime of the Premier League after a 2-0 win over West Ham at house yesterday. Very similar to the win over Olympiacos in midweek, it felt routine, nearly an inevitability which, whereas not essentially thrilling, does display the power of this crew.

I used to be excited when the beginning XI dropped with each Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze in it. It was the primary time the 2 had began a recreation collectively, and I feel I used to be nonetheless attempting to work out how precisely it was functioning when it floor to an early halt. Earlier than that, the captain had performed an excellent cross to Jurrien Timber who noticed his shot saved within the field, whereas Eze may have had a stressed evening replaying a detailed vary probability he ought to have scored however one way or the other put over the bar.

However on 20 minutes Odegaard’s harm curse continued. He clashed knees with a West Ham performed, required remedy, received remedy, instantly went down within the subsequent part of play, and will in all probability have come off there after which. I do know there’s participant steering in terms of selections like this, he was clearly determined to remain on however even on TV you possibly can see his race was run, and on the half hour mark he was changed by Martin Zubimendi.

He set an unlucky report yesterday, the primary participant to ever be subbed off earlier than half-time in three consecutive house appearances. It’s so unlucky for him, not least as a result of he produced an distinctive midweek efficiency within the Champions League. Arteta mentioned afterwards his knee was in a brace and it didn’t look optimistic, so let’s simply maintain all the things crossed that no matter has occurred is extra painful than damaging.

In earlier video games, when Odegaard went off Arteta turned to Ethan Nwaneri, however this time it was Zubimendi, and I feel he received it completely proper. The Spanish worldwide was distinctive in my view. We noticed him deliver management, passing vary, and defensive prowess too. He’s a quick tackler, solely Jurrien Timber made extra profitable tackles yesterday, and we’ve got to take a look at Zubimendi’s half in each objectives.

For the primary, he performed a stunning cross to Eze within the field, and when his shot was saved Declan Rice was there to use a well-taken end on the half-volley. He didn’t have a good time towards his previous membership, however you possibly can see he was given a few of them the eyes after receiving some stick when he was taking corners. And it was from a Zubimendi cross that Timber was fouled, resulting in the second half penalty.

I’ve seen some dialogue of whether or not this must be a penalty or not as a result of the offence started exterior the field, however the legal guidelines of the sport say ‘If a defender begins holding an attacker exterior the penalty space and continues holding contained in the penalty space, the referee should award a penalty kick‘, and this appears pretty clear reduce to me.

I’ve additionally seen dialogue of whether or not or not Bukayo Saka ought to have let Viktor Gyokeres take it. The Swede has now gone six video games with no objective, however I’m completely nice with Saka stepping up. He has been the designated no 1 penalty taker for a while, even when he does the previous switcheroo with Odegaard every now and then. This was his two hundredth Premier League look, and he was going to mark it with a objective. He made no mistake from the spot, that roughly made the sport protected, and whereas I don’t assume there was something pointed in any respect in direction of the summer time signing, it’s a bit of reminder for Gyokeres that at this degree you’ve gotta ship.

This was nothing just like the Kai Havertz second when a participant below huge scrutiny, and actually low on confidence, had but to attain, and the crew gave him that probability in a recreation we have been already profitable comfortably. This penalty might have been decisive, Saka had the mentality that he was the person, he was going to attain, and I’m all for that. Gyokeres did one other hard-working job for the crew, Arteta actually sounded happy afterwards with how he performed, and I’m positive the objectives will come.

The remainder of the sport performed out as you’d count on. West Ham had little risk, we made extra modifications, together with one which noticed Rice ask to be taken off due to a again drawback, and I think about each he and Odegaard will probably be assessed with regards their worldwide commitments for England and Norway.

Afterwards, having gained his three hundredth recreation in cost, Arteta mentioned:

The final two video games have been very particular. Newcastle, as a result of we had a historical past there, a whole lot of scars and a whole lot of lesson to take, we put that proper. Then we had West Ham, dropping two video games at house within the earlier two seasons. I informed them it was a giant alternative, we’ve had very tough fixtures for the reason that begin of the season, and a few very unhealthy accidents as properly not serving to. Nonetheless, the crew is performing, enjoying properly, profitable immediately with absolute dominance and with out conceding a objective. So, good to get to the worldwide break on this spirit.

I feel the final two video games have proven Arsenal’s skill to win video games with out having to actually stretch ourselves, and whereas there’s in all probability some dialogue available about how that leaves you nearer to the margins than you would possibly like, I additionally assume you possibly can see there’s in all probability extra within the tank if we would have liked it. Going into the Interlull on prime of the desk is good, albeit there’s an extended option to go this season.

That mentioned, it was barely a few weeks in the past that after the Man Metropolis recreation this crew was being torn asunder by among the most vociferous, and to my thoughts verging on disingenuous, exterior criticism, and but right here we’re. Humorous, eh? It does display how shortly issues can change in soccer. Final weekend there was a believable situation the place we might have ended up eight factors behind Liverpool, and per week later we’re a degree forward. Like I mentioned, an extended option to go, however let’s recognise the hassle and character that has gone into the final seven days. Three video games, three wins, a single objective conceded, and we’re in a pleasant place the place we are able to go into this worldwide break in a comparatively calm method. There’s loads to be mentioned for that.

Proper, I’ll go away it there. We’ll have an Arsecast Additional for you tomorrow, however we’re not recording till the afternoon. For now although, have an excellent Sunday people.