MATCH REPORT: Leicester City 0 – 2 Arsenal

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Leicester City (0) 0 Arsenal (2) 2

Premier League

King Power Stadium, Filbert Way, Leicester LE2 7FL

Saturday, 30th October 2021. Kick-off time: 12.30pm

(4-4-1-1) Aaron Ramsdale; Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhães, Nuno Tavares; Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Emile Smith-Rowe; Alexandre Lacazette; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Substitutes: Bernd Leno, Martin Ødegaard, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Rob Holding, Cédric Soares, Nicolas Pépé, Mohamed Elneny, Sead Kolašinac, Gabriel Martinelli.

Scorers: Gabriel (5 mins), Emile Smith-Rowe (18 mins)

Arsenal Possession Percentage: 38%

Referee: Michael Oliver

Assistant Referees: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan

Fourth Official: Robert Jones

VAR Team at Stockley Park: VAR Jarred Gillett; AVAR Sian Massey-Ellis

Attendance: 32,209

We all recognise that today’s match at the King Power Stadium will be a difficult one, hence the change in formation. Again, we have both of our main strikers on show right from the start, so it will be interesting to see if we can punch a hole through the Foxes’ defence, utilising this attack-minded formation, and along with a powerful four-man midfield, it should all make for an interesting Saturday lunchtime clash.

After a moving Remembrance Day ceremony involving both managers laying wreaths in the centre circle on behalf of the fallen of both world wars, we kicked the match off in earnest, showing intent by taking the game to the home side in the early stages. After just five minutes, we scored the opening goal, courtesy of Gabriel. Shortly after a first Arsenal corner was kicked out for a second, Gabriel rose to meet the high delivery to flick his header past Kasper Schmeichel and into the net. This early goal fired our boys up, and both Thomas Partey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were desperately unlucky in not scoring a second goal for us shortly afterwards. The home side looked a little all at sea, almost nonplussed after our early strike, and they seemed to be having issues in getting themselves together against a very confident Arsenal side. Our confidence paid dividends, when after eighteen minutes, we grabbed a second goal when Alexandre Lacazette looked like he wass going to shoot in the penalty area but the ball ran away from him. Jonny Evans’ clerance was poor and Emile Smith-Rowe was on hand on the edge of the eighteen-yard box to neatly slot the ball into the back of the Foxes’ net. We were completely dominating the match at this point of the game, with every man playing their part and confidently knowing their role within the system. Aaron Ramsdale was called into action after twenty-six minutes, when he dived at the feet of Youri Tielemens to deny the home side a scoring opportunity; and again a minute or so later, he pushed a dificult shot from Kelechi Iheanacho past the right-hand post to show everyone what a fine goalkeeper this young man truly is. Leicester City’s game plan appears to be one-dimensional, in as much that they are attacking us straight down the middle of the pitch, a move which our defenders are finding it a comfortable process in dealing with this particular simple tactic. The match started to level out, and although both sides had their chances, it mostly came to nothing in the midfield areas. Incredibly, three minutes from the break, a James Maddison free-kick was superbly saved by Aaron Ramsdale, and although Jonny Evans followed in, Thomas Partey managed to kick the ball away to save the day. Incredible drama. The two minutes injury time brought no more action, and so we went into half-time deservedly two goals ahead.

The home side kicked off the second half, and suddenly the match became more intense and quick with both teams challenging with gusto and vigour. Ben White and Nuno Tavares at the back were excellent in their positioning and tackling, and it was their quick thinking on several occasions that prevented the Foxes from scoring, as the home side started to assert themselves in the first quarter of an hour of the second half. Alexandre Lacazette was replaced by Martin Ødegaard after fifty-seven minutes, but the substitution was not enough to stop the home side from increasing the pressure on our goal; Aaron Ramsdale was abolutely immense today, throwing his body in front of each and every shot from the Leicester City forwards. A sterling performance by the young man between the sticks. Time after time our defence was placed under intense pressure at the mid-way point of the match, and every time they stood up to be counted in order to deny the home side the oxygen of a goal. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nearly scored a valuable third goal when Kasper Schmeichel saved from him from close range, and shortly afterwards Bukayo Saka was also very unlucky not to score when his mid-range shot went skywards. The match started to get rather scrappy now, with one or two unsavoury incidents here and there, which saw free-kicks being given liberally by referee Michael Oliver, followed by entries in his book with the yellow card being shown on a couple of occasions. After Martin Ødegaard went to ground following a bad tackle, Bukayo Saka was replaced by Nicolas Pépé with just six minutes of the match remaining. The match started to lose some of its previous fire and fury now, and with two minutes of the game remaining, Emile Smith-Rowe was replaced by Sead Kolašinac in order to shore up the defence in the dying embers of this battle. In the five minutes’ injury time, our game management was the difference between the two sides, and we kept our heads to take three points back to North London, and now fifth in the Premiership table.

All things being equal, a fabulous performance by all concerned. Aaron Ramsdale was truly magnificent today, a world-class performance from a goalkeeper that will surely grow in stature from now on. Arsenal looked good, played with confidence and are now nine matches undefeated across all competitions; we left the King Power with no injuries and no bookings, add to that the players adapting very well to the 4-4-1-1formation (which oscillated between that and 4-4-2 at different times during the match) then you have a recipe for sucess. Keep going lads, you’re looking good.

Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as this season is going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Our next match: Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday, 7th November at 2.00pm (Premier League). Be there, if you can. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Steve

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon.

https://twitter.com/shewore/status/1453318051475173387?s=21

William Saliba performances should get Arsenal fans excited for next season

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William Saliba was not ready to play for Arsenal.

It is that reason why Edu bought in Ben White – with his Premier League and English football experience – to partner Gabriel.

Gabriel had been a stand out performer in France and gave Arsenal good balance on the left hand side of the back 2.

The Brazilian had a tough first season at Arsenal – picking up a red card and contracting Covid19 – but the talent was clear and obvious for all to see.

The question this summer would have been who partners him.

With David Luiz leaving following the expieration of his contract and Pablo Mari clearly Gabriel’s back-up, Mikel Arteta and Edu had a few options.

Rob Holding was “first reserve” last season, coming in for Luiz when he was out injured. But Holding is a limited player.

Holding is very good when a team is defending deep, backs against the wall. But his pace is exposed when holding a high line and his distrubtion is weak.

He is very much an old school English centreback – focusing on defending rather than playing football. It is a style not suited to Arsenal and Arteta moving forward.

It was therefore not a surprise that Arteta was not sold on him, and that Edu made a new defender a priority.

The other option would have been Calum Chambers.

Chambers is perhaps more sorted to Arteta’s game play than Holding.

He is quicker and much better on the ball – yet he is not as good defensively and certainly not a power house in the air.

Chambers is one of these whose career has been affected by never really establishing a position for himself.

He started as a right back at Southampton; but upon his move to Arsenal his lack of pace was exposed in that position.

When he moved centrally, he proved a good reader of the game and ball player, but could be dominated physically.

A period playing central midfield for Fulham created more problems than it solved.

That left William Saliba – but the feeling was the young Frenchman was still not ready for Premier League football.

No one has ever questioned Saliba’s natural physical talents. It was those that saw Arsenal pay so much for him at such a young age. But he needed to learn how to defend and deal with different situations.

He would only develop this side of his game through playing – and with the state of Arsenal and the defence it was a risk that the club could not take.

Still just 20-years-old, he opted to go to Marseille on loan this seaosn rather than Arsenal’s preferred choice of Newcastle United.

Arsenal wanted him exposed to Premier League football. Some could argue that Saliba opted for the comfort zone of French football. But in hindsight with everything going on at Newcastle, Saliba made the right decision.

Saliba has been fantastic this season for the French club and it would not be a surprise if he gets a France call up sooner rather than later.

Some would argue that Saliba should have been given the opportunity he is getting now for Marseille at Arsenal – but it has to be remembered the coaches saw him week in week out. And that he barely got a sniff in pre-season friendlies.

It was clear that Arsenal did not feel he was ready for 38 Premier League games a season.

So the club went out to the market and signed Ben White for £50million from Brighton.

https://twitter.com/SheWore/status/1453318051475173387

A few gawped at that price-tag and Arsenal probably did overpay for him. but it showed an intent – that we had the oney to get the players we want.

After a tough first game against Brentford, White has been fantastic.

His reading of the game, his defensive ability and his ball playing has transformed the Arsenal defence; and he has built a really god partnership with Gabriel.

Against Leeds United we really saw the gulf in class between Holding and White. The new signing is levels above.

That shows Arsenal got the decision right in buying White to come in ahead of Holding.

The other option would have been to have Holding as first choice for one more year and hope Saliba develops in France. It would have been a risk.

So moving forward to next summer; what are Arsenal’s options?

White and Gabriel will be going nowhere. That is our first choice defence.

If Saliba continues his form in France, I expect him to return to Arsenal and compete with the pair to start for Arsenal.

It only seems to be at Arsenal where having quality players as back-up and competing for first team places is a proble,. There is easily enough room for White, Saliba and Gabriel.

Injury, suspension, rest and rotation will mean there is plenty of game time for all 3.

What is clear about the data over the previous 5 years is that when we are in Europe, we need 3 first choice centre backs.

The 3rd defenmder has averaged 24 starts over the last 5 years and 28 appearances. That is more than enough games to justify keeping Smith, Gabriel and Saliba in the squad. It will also be more than enough games to keep all 3 satisfied with their laying time.

Manchester City have John Stone, Ruben Diaz, Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte. Liverpool Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Joe Gomez and Joël Matip.

Antonio Rüdiger, Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr are all competing to start at Chelsea – and the club failed to buy Jules Kounde i nthe summer.

It is clear that to compete at the bottom, you need 3 top class central defenders and then another one or two backing them up.

At Arsenal, we would have White, Gabriel and Saliba competing for two spots, with Pablo Mari as the 4th option.

Saliba, again still just 20, is in finishing school at Marseille. He wil lcome back a beeter player next summer than he would have been had he stayed at Arsenal this season and been in and out of the squad.

Instead of pointing at Saliba’s performances in France and saying “why is he on loan?” embrace his development and get excited over the depth in defence we will have next season.

Keenos

Arsenal sensory room “turned first game into a great memory”

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Last night I took my son to Arsenal for his first match. He was buzzing all day for it.

I wasn’t sure if it he’d ever go as he has autism.

Once we were in the ground he struggled with about 50,000 people shouting and was having a hard time.

Halfway through the 1st half I could see he wasn’t going to get used to it so we had to leave.

When we left the stadium, a steward (blonde lady, wish i got her name), asked why we were leaving and I told her. She asked me to hold on and contacted someone else.

Next thing I know, we’re being walked towards club level.

Arsenal have got a sensory room there where we could watch the rest of the match.

The gentleman running the room, Luke Howard, was fantastic. As was everyone in there.

Between Luke & the stewards that helped, it turned my lads first game night into a great memory.

Dave

Arsenal have two sensory viewing rooms, opened in September 2017.

The club worked in conjunction with The Shippey Campaign, who call Arsenal’s two rooms “a wonderful sensory haven”.

The Shippey Campaign was set up by Kate Shippey MBE & Peter Shippey MBE.

They have 3 children with autism and the eldest, Nathan, fell in love with football.

In 2014 they took Nathan to his first game – armed with ear defenders, headphones with his favourite music, hats, ear plugs and a bag filled with his favourite comforters. By half time they were one their way home.

It was at this point they came up with the idea of sensory rooms in sports stadia.

They started with their home town club Sunderland and the Nathan Shippey Sensory Room opened in 2015.

They have since worked with the likes of of Arsenal, Watford, Notts County, Middlesbrough, WBA, Everton, Airdrieonians (the first sensory room in Scotland) and Rangers.

Celtic, Liverpool, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, Coventry, Tottenham, Brighton and Manchester City have also opened sensory rooms.

The Shippey Campaign has now gone worldwide – with them consulting on sensory rooms at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar and The New Perth Stadium in Australia, as well as Hong Kong, France and Germany. They have recently welcomed a USA Ambassador on their team.

In an era where clubs seem to focus more on commercial income rather than the experience of match going fans, sensory rooms are one area where the likes of Arsenal deserve high praise. Football is for everyone.

To read more about what Arsenal do to embrace diversity and equality, Arsenal for Everyone – written by friend of the site Dave Seager – is at Legends Publishing or you can wait for the official Arsenal launch at the Armoury on the 27th of November at the match. (Look out for details…)

Keenos

https://twitter.com/SheWore/status/1453318051475173387