With Martin Ødegaard back, the Arsenal look more fluid and better than ever. However, what could prove just as important is retaining the health of Riccardo Calafiori and Jurriën Timber
In the best sense of a word possible, Timber is a freak.
His performance away in Portugal was just another example in his short Arsenal career that proved every ounce of his quality. It’s no exaggeration to say that in Timber, Arsenal have the perfect modern-day fullback. The footballing definition of a Swiss army knife.
So far this season, the Dutchman has played 9 matches at left back, and 6 matches at right back.
You’ll rarely find a defensive player capable of playing both sides, and Timber is also a more than capable CB if needed too.
Timber’s defending style is incredibly robust and old fashioned. Rarely does Timber overcommit to a challenge, and when an opponent has a burst of pace to them, Timber has such a unique way of wrapping his right foot around the opponent’s dribbling path to cleanly win the ball. And when starting at right back and fully allowed to roam and create havoc with Ødegaard and Saka, that right-hand side has some of the most natural combination play and rotations in the league.
Calafiori’s health will be just as important. The Italian clearly has a level of aggression that is yet to be fully refined, but it also helps make him such a menace too. He takes up such natural positions in build up, and gives our left side a balance that is hard to replicate otherwise. Riccardo’s return could also be pivotal to the likes of Gabriel Martinelli being able to be as offensively potent as possible.
With these two fit, Arsenal’s level of dynamism and naturally fluidity in buildup goes up a level. So far these two have started together against PSG, Leicester, Manchester City Nottingham Forest and Sporting Lisbon, and not only have Arsenal looked much more fluid on the eye in these matches, they’ve also registered some ridiculous numbers statistically too.
In the 5 matches Arsenal have had Timber and Calafiori available, the Gunners have registered 12.28xG, with an xG against of 4.36 – with well over half of that total being artificially inflated down to 10 men away at the Etihad.
Arsenal look at their natural fluid best again, and let’s hope for a period with no injuries of note to really pull us back into contention domestically, because with these two in our defence, and Martin back too, this Gunners lineup has some frightening potential.
Match officials: Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long. Fourth official: Dean Whitestone. VAR: Darren England. Assistant VAR: Marc Perry
Premier League Emirates Stadium 23rd November 2024 KO: 15:00 (UK)
As we look to return to Premier League action after a long international break, we face an inform Nottingham Forest side. However, they are missing Chris Wood in their starting XI for today’s game.
For us, we have the return of Odegaard in the starting XI, with Arteta also picking a rotated squad with Jesus and Jorginho coming in the team.
With Forest picking up points against the big sides, today’s game will be tough and our boys will have to graft and also control the game to grab the three points.
We kicked off the game, and started on the front foot with Saka’s effort blocked, the ball then rebounded to Trossard who forced a smart save from Sels. Forest then burst into our half as Aina almost found Hudson-Odoi in the box, however, the ball couldn’t quite reach him. We then won a freekick, which was swung in by Odegaard, headed down by Merino and cleared off the line by Dominguez to Timber who was there to tap in however, the offside flag was put up. After a long wait, VAR finally agreed with the assistant’s decision and the goal was ruled offside.
As we retained the ball, Jorginho went down in the box, but the referee waved away any penalty shouts. We then broke the deadlock as Odegaard flicked to Saka on the right side of the box , as Saka drove past the Forest players across the box before firing a shot past Sels into the roof of the net.
Again some nice link up play from Odegaard and Saka before the Norwegian’s shot was blocked. Elanga then sprinted down the pitch before being taken down by Jorginho for a free kick, as the Italian was shown a yellow card. Ward-Prowse stepped up to take and whipped the ball in as Yates headed over. Jesus then was the second player in Simon Hooper’s book as he received a yellow for his late challenge on Dominguez.
Forest then began to get a foothold in the game as they battled well in the middle of the park stopping us from linking the play. Jorginho then gave away another free kick and simultaneously Elanga went down needing to receive treatment following his earlier clash with Jorginho. Ward-Prowse swung in again, however, Dominguez headed over.
Saka then had his effort blocked as the ball came to Trossard who fired a shot towards the top corner however, Sels was there to tip the ball away. Saka then unleashed another shot down low which was saved by Sels.
Moments later, Saka became the third Arsenal player to be booked as he received a yellow for a high boot on Yates. 5 minutes were added as Timber fired into the stands. Forest then had their first booking on the brink of half time as Aina was booked for a late challenge on Trossard. The referee then blew the half-time whistle.
Half time views:
A very strong display, with Saka and Odegaard at the heart of all our attacks.
Arteta will be looking for the players to stay disciplined as Forest have looked dangerous when they have attacked in the wide areas.
Maybe Arteta could make the change of Partey with Jorginho as he is on a yellow card and has made a few challenges after the card.
Before the start of the second half, both sides made changes with Elanga being replaced by Jota Silva due to a collar bone issue and for us, Partey replaced Jorginho. Jota Silva avoided an early booking for throwing the ball away as a few moments later, Raya stood tall and claimed the ball despite the wind. We then grabbed our second a few minutes later, through Partey who struck from range into the inside left netting and past Sels after Saka set him up nicely.
Raya then again claimed from Moreno’s cross. As we looked for a third, we kept the ball trying to exploit areas in between the Forest attackers. Forest then made changes with Wood and Sosa replacing, Awoniyi and Dominguez. Sosa made an immediate impact with his cross being headed wide by Milenkovic. We then made our own change with Zinchenko replacing Calafiori who had just come back from injury.
Again, a penalty shout on Saka was waved away by the referee as Moreno ushered Saka away at the back post. Yates then was booked for a late challenge on Merino. As the game lost its intensity, Raya was then called into action as he swept up a loose ball ,with Jota Silva’s strike then hitting the back of Wood.
Forest then made a single change with Neco Williams replacing Moreno. Forest then began to get back into the game with Yates heading just over with Raya troubled. Odegaard and Saka then surged forward as the ball was cut back to Partey who fired over. Odegaard and Saka were then both replaced by Nwaneri and Sterling, as they received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Nwaneri then grabbed his first Premier League goal to make it 3-0 to the Gunners as Sterling cut back and Nwaneri slid in to slot home into the bottom right. Forest then had the ball in the net through Jota Silva however, he was ruled offside. 5 minutes were then added and Forest had their last chance with Murillo blazing over from 45 yards as the referee blew the final whistle.
Full time views:
A very dominant performance with Nwaneri getting his first Premier League goal for the club.
For periods in the second half, we allowed Forest to get into the game however, their attacking threat on goal was minimal.
Anyhow, onwards and upwards, as we look to face Sporting away in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
A week of instability both on and off the pitch. At least that’s what it can be seen as, that is.
While results for the Arsenal have been anything but ideal in recent weeks, off the pitch the news of Edu’s departure from his sporting director role has also been a main headline.
A change of the hierachy that is cause for concern to some people, and a natural turnover to others. The reality painted, is that Edu wants a project where he has more of a hands on approach, but with how shaky things have been on the pitch at times, it’s easy to think of the worst behind the scenes.
Still, with Edu departing, that is now an invincible out of the building. A lot of clubs take pride in having a modern-day connection to their strongest achievements of yesteryear. Arsenal are no strangers to that ourselves, with players as recent as Jack Wilshere and Per Mertesacker taking on roles at the club, while the likes of Steve Bould, Pat Rice and of course our current manager also having hundreds of Arsenal games under their belt.
What I ask is, is there any former Gunners you’d like to see involved at the club again? Anybody who you think could have a positive influence, whether in the structure of the club and the mood, or simply coaching in general.
Back to the present, and Stamford Bridge awaits for a war-weary Arsenal side. A blunt display in our last Premier League outing, followed by a much-improved, though-still-goalless display against Inter leaves Arsenal in a position of needing something to click to force home a notable result before the international break.
Mikel Arteta isn’t a stranger to facing Chelsea after a tough run of form. Many saw the 3-1 win at home in December 2020 as a major moment in Arteta retaining his job, while a 4-2 win at the Bridge in 2022 halted a three-match losing streak (ahem), and a 3-1 win in May 2023 ended a four-match winless run. Arteta will be hoping that the recent months’ combination of injuries, notable match-turning decisions and a tough fixture list can start to wean away on Sunday. With Martin Ødegaard back, and a kinder schedule as we enter the busy festive period, a win away at Chelsea without anymore noteworthy disciplinary moments or cheap penalty giveaways would be a nice change of pace and something to regain some momentum with.
Will Arsenal be able to channel recent results against the blues into more good fortune on Sunday? With memories at the Bridge as recent as Nketiah and Gabriel and as timeless as Kanu and Winterburn and many more, let’s hope so. Maybe a first goal for the club for Timber? A memorable Ethan moment off the bench? Either way, let’s hope those three points are in the hands of those in red come 6:30pm Sunday.
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 