Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
Mikel Arteta reduce a annoyed determine throughout his post-game media appearances, and you’ll perceive why. It’s going to have been multi-faceted, I believe. Not simply the frustration of conceding a objective to a penalty that ought to by no means have been awarded, but in addition at his personal aspect’s incapacity to reply to that setback early within the second half within the form of extra targets.
That has been a operating theme all through this season, and it was additional proof that coping with video games like this should be on the coronary heart of the subsequent evolution for Arteta’s Arsenal. Everton did what Everton do, which is make it very tough for the opposition with a rugged, bodily strategy. They did what we have now see David Moyes groups do for an extended, very long time, and sadly, we didn’t have the solutions.
After a reasonably even begin, we obtained maintain of the sport. It appears clear that the adjustments to the beginning XI, which everybody understood with Tuesday on the horizon, had been a little bit of a difficulty, however we had been the higher aspect. Raheem Sterling had an early shot blocked, whereas Everton brought about some hazard from a free kick. There was a heavy sort out on Ethan Nwaneri which in all probability ought to have led to a yellow card, however was principally ignored. A stunning cross by Jakub Kiwior despatched Leandro Trossard in behind, however he didn’t profit from it. He had squared the ball, Nwaneri was being fouled within the field and I believe we might have had a penalty (haha, as if).
A mistake from Everton introduced in regards to the opening objective. Sterling drove by means of midfield, performed it exterior to Trossard, and his left footed shot fizzed in past Jordan Pickford. That was a transition we made probably the most of. There was one other Trossard second when he skipped into the field, James Tarkowski got here sliding in and made no contact with the ball. The Belgian stayed on his ft, however off steadiness he might solely poke his shot on the keeper and Rice’s observe up was blocked.
Ought to he have gone down underneath the problem? Once you see what occurred later, in all probability so, however I don’t thoughts a participant attempting to do what they’re speculated to do (stuff with the ball) and I can extra simply think about a yellow card for Trossard than an Arsenal penalty. I’m certain I’m not alone in that this morning.
As for the Everton penalty, I can type of see why it was given in actual time, as a result of Myles Lewis-Skelly does make a small error, and also you typically see a participant in that place panic and make a foul. Nevertheless, he doesn’t make any sort of foul, and as a lot as individuals may need their knives out for the referee (who was fairly bizarre I believed), my largest gripe with that is that VAR didn’t inform the ref to go and have a look at it once more.
If there was even the slightest trace of a foul, I’d settle for it’s a call that couldn’t be overturned, however there isn’t. It’s a dive by Jack Harrison as the image under reveals:
What’s the level of VAR if it could actually’t overturn a call like this? Mikel Arteta mentioned afterwards:
After seeing it 15 occasions, there isn’t any manner that, in my view, that’s a penalty, as a result of if there’s, then O’Brien must be out, and Everton has to play with 10 males, that’s clear.
I assume he’s referring right here to the second when David Raya was attempting to kick the ball from his palms, and Jake O’Brien stepped in entrance of him to dam it. Which he did. On TV they initially mentioned the referee wasn’t wanting, however he was, he simply ignored it. As did his assistant. And look, these issues are inclined to get punished with a yellow card, and the Irishman had already been booked, so I get Arteta’s frustration right here.
As I mentioned although, he’ll be sad with a few the choices but in addition together with his personal aspect. The penalty got here after a sloppy begin to the second half (which needed to be kicked off twice as a result of I don’t know why?). Pickford’s first lengthy ball brought about some panic when Raya got here out of his field, and the second led to the penalty. Each of these kicks had been launched over the top of Jakub Kiwior, who I believed had a great recreation generally, however was that coincidence? I might be unsuitable however I really feel like these are the sort of meat and drink headers for Gabriel that we take as a right.
Having introduced on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the break, it’s clear what our intentions had been for the second interval, however Everton equalising from the spot so early was not a part of the plan. That mentioned, we had loads of time to get one other objective/targets to take all three factors, and on that aspect of issues we struggled. Saka was/is understandably rusty, these minutes had been extra about health than impression, whereas Martinelli was fairly vivid – forcing Pickford right into a save late within the half.
Rice had a free kick saved too, Kieran Tierney’s late cameo noticed him vogue possibilities for Merino and Martin Odegaard, however past that we didn’t actually trigger them too many issues which, as I mentioned on the prime, is the story of our season. 77% possession, 8 photographs, 0 targets. It’s a well-known theme, so whereas I believe it’s all proper to really feel a way of injustice in regards to the award of the penalty, we additionally need to recognise that we didn’t do effectively sufficient with the sort of domination we had. I additionally suppose everybody is aware of what we have to do to enhance in that regard, and with Andrea Berta watching on from the stands, the brand new Sporting Director’s important activity this summer season is clear: make this workforce stronger, whether or not that’s with new attackers, extra creativity from midfield, or ideally each.
Afterwards, Arteta mentioned:
I believe we deserved extra, however that’s what we obtained on the finish at a extremely powerful place to come back. We wished the three factors. You wish to get every thing in the way in which you intend it. We did numerous good issues within the recreation. We managed to offer minutes to numerous gamers as effectively and relaxation some gamers, however we dropped two factors.
What extra is there to say, aside from we appeared to have come by means of this one with a clear invoice of well being, and forward of Actual Madrid on Tuesday night time, that’s in all probability a very powerful factor. Hopefully Mikel Merino’s head can have stopped bleeding by then, however that’s the one situation by way of harm we needed to cope with. I gained’t lie, I used to be anticipating one thing to go pop on somebody, simply because that’s what appears to occur this season, so on that foundation I’m pleased sufficient this morning.
A ultimate level: I’ve by no means seen a referee blow for full-time, then change his thoughts on the protestations of the house aspect’s gamers, earlier than awarding them a free kick and an opportunity to lump it into our field. Simply add it to the lengthy checklist of ‘stuff you’ve by no means seen in soccer earlier than’ that has all occurred this season.
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. You possibly can be part of us early tomorrow for an Arsecast Additional at which level this recreation might be within the rear-view mirror, and all eyes might be on the Champions League.
Till then.
