Against West Ham, Arteta’s battling youngsters pass test of character
Arteta questioned aspects of his team’s performance, especially their ball retention in the first half, and was clearly guarding against any slide into complacency.
Arsenal gave so much and this meant so much that Eddie Nketiah could hardly move at the final whistle he had run so much.
Gabriel Martinelli fell to the floor and lay there, having also worked overtime against a good West Ham United side.
The defender Gabriel was pumped up, fist-bumping anyone in yellow, knowing they had overtaken Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table and are within a win of third-placed Chelsea.
When they recovered their breath, Arsenal’s players marched over to the two tiers of writhing, celebrating fans here at the London Stadium and saluted them.
Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale were the last to pull themselves away from the scene.
Ramsdale even walked backwards to the tunnel, continuing to take in the sight of the fans partying and the sounds of them singing themselves hoarse in praise of Mikel Arteta and the players.
A West Ham supporter paused his journey to the exit and repeatedly held up the middle finger of his right hand towards them.
West Ham pushed Arsenal so hard, especially late on, and there was also understandable lingering anger over a booking for Jarrod Bowen for not wanting to be flattened by the reckless Ramsdale and wisely taking evasive action.
The threat of Bowen and Declan Rice made Arsenal’s win feel even more precious for the visitors. Spurs had earlier faced a Leicester City side clearly more focused on Europe this week while West Ham had many of their A-listers starting despite also having a big date on the Continent.
This was a test for Arsenal, tactically, physically and mentally, and they passed. They are young, developing and clearly dancing to Arteta’s tune.
Afterwards, Arteta questioned aspects of his team’s performance, especially their ball retention in the first half, and was clearly guarding against any slide into complacency. '
He needs his players to stay fixated on the fixtures to come, an assault course rather than a cakewalk. Arsenal next face Leeds United at home, then that seismic shootout with their neighbours at the Tottenham Stadium, a trip to Newcastle United before finishing up with Everton at the Emirates.
Every match matters. Every moment matters. Arteta learned under the obsessive Pep Guardiola.
He keeps challenging his players, and the group which lost to Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton have responded to Arteta’s demands, showing more resilience, beating Chelsea, Manchester United and now West Ham.
He has made the players tougher, and more committed to the team, and the decision to ease out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is increasingly vindicated.
Martin Odegaard now captains the side (with Alexandre Lacazette on the bench) and has also raised his game, hurting opponents more.
With Aubameyang gone, Nketiah gave another tireless display at centre forward. Arteta needs Nketiah to keep showing this more rugged, streetwise side, standing up to opponents, even managing to wind up Rice, and constantly troubling West Ham’s defence with his movement. Nketiah was a high-speed pest, even winning six duels.
The team ethos is everything for Arteta, and that is why he so likes Rob Holding, who again stepped into the breach as Ben White had a tight hamstring. Holding doesn’t complain when on the bench, just makes sure he is ready.
He started here and was certainly ready seven minutes from the break when Saka curled in a corner won by Nketiah.
West Ham were badly exposed. Manuel Lanzini was on blocking duty, all 5ft 6in of him, while Kurt Zouma was expected to attack the ball in that zone.
Lanzini could not cope with Holding’s height or strength, Zouma was too slow taking responsibility, and Holding steered his header past Lukasz Fabianski. Nobody was guarding on the post as is the modern way. A plume of red and yellow rose from the away section.
A decent game broke out. West Ham refused to accept being behind. Rice led the charge, flicking a header that Ramsdale clawed away and the England midfield player was involved in Bowen’s equaliser a minute from the break.
Rice picked up possession 50 yards out and drove the ball from left to right to Vladimir Coufal.
The full-back found Bowen, who exploited Gabriel’s strange hesitation. Rather than step towards Bowen, Gabriel stopped, and turned his body to try to block the shot. Bowen made contact, and the ball took a slight deflection off Gabriel and beat Ramsdale.
When Saka tripped Bowen and was booked, the mood music did not look so good for Arsenal at the start of the second half.
They were almost opened up when Bowen tore down the inside-right channel, and leapt to avoid the rampaging Ramsdale. Darren Cann, the assistant who was close by, is the most experienced in the Premier League, and having all the knowledge acquired through two decades running the line, including the 2010 Champions League and World Cup finals. Cann signalled no contact and Mike Dean booked Bowen for simulation.
Yet what else was Bowen supposed to do? Ramsdale was reckless, rushing at him, and Bowen would have risked injury had he not hurdled the goalkeeper. The booking was harsh.
Bowen scored his 16th goal of the season for West Ham across all competitions, and tenth in the Premier League — he is the first Englishman since Kevin Nolan in 2012-13 to reach double figures for goals in a Premier League campaign for the club
Bowen scored his 16th goal of the season for West Ham across all competitions, and tenth in the Premier League — he is the first Englishman since Kevin Nolan in 2012-13 to reach double figures for goals in a Premier League campaign for the club
West Ham’s mood darkened further when Arsenal took control. Saka drew a low save from Fabianski and from the corner, the ball hit Coufal, and carried on to Martinelli. The boys from Brazil, more specifically the state of São Paulo, delivered in the 55th minute. Martinelli’s ball flew to the far post where Gabriel’s header was too much for Fabianski.
David Moyes sent on Michail Antonio and then Tomas Soucek, both originally rested for Thursday’s trip to Frankfurt, for Lanzini and Mark Noble, who received a standing ovation. Arsenal ran down the clock and Nketiah was booked for time-wasting. The final whistle soon sounded and Arsenal’s celebrations intensified. But they have to maintain this focus.( Culled from The Times)
