Unai Emery was quick to praise the contribution of Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Joe Willock as three of Arsenal’s Academy graduates starred in a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.
Man of the match Saka laid on assists for Willock and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and found the net himself with a beautiful curling effort from 25-yards as the Gunners weathered constant pressure from the home side to start their Europa League campaign in thrilling style.
After the game, the boss reflected on Saka’s eye-catching first start of the season before turning his attention to his other youngsters.
“Maybe with his goal, maybe with his performance during the match, he took confidence in his finishing and was strong physically,” he noted.
“Also, it’s the same with Emile. After his injury, tonight he played for the first time for us this season and he did well.
“Willock was aggressive in the midfield and worked well in the space. Progressively he got better throughout the game and gave a good performance.
“Some other players like Lucas Torreira and Chambers worked a lot.
“Everybody can be happy. After, it’s about continuing. This competition is a very big challenge for us and we’re excited to do something important. After tonight’s good result against a big team, I think that’s important.”
Emery went into more detail about Smith Rowe, who, due to injury and a loan move to RB Leipzig, was making his first start for Arsenal’s senior side since December last year.
“With him, we need to do more work with him on the pitch and outside,” he said.
“Last year, he started well with us and played some matches. After, he left on loan to Germany and then when he came back he was injured.
“He played some matches with the under-23s, so today was big challenge for him. It was a big opportunity but also we needed to protect him. He worked very well and I was very happy with him. I told him that.”
I made a joke after the Watford game that Bukayo Saka would be a starter on merit in a months time if Pepe doesn’t pick up the pace.
He might have to watch his back anyway . Nelson certainly must . What a fine crop of youngsters we have. Well done!
Pepe beat his man 2 3 times and was fouled.
Gave an assist and made a couple of intelligent runs which if spotted would have given him a 1 on 1.
The lad is new. Can our fans not give him some space to develop without calling for him to get dropped and calling him Gervinho?
We do not want him to turn this situation into Di Maria or Depay like who were WC players but driven away due to fan pressure.
We’ve got a WC talent at our hands give him some time and patience.
I wasn’t slaughtering him as far as I’m concerned he will probably be in preseason from for anothe 3 games or so , but I definitely want more from and did not think he was good vs watford in either direction. We are allowed to criticize , nothing overtop here.
How do you think unnecessary stuff goes overtop
Sorry mate. Wasn’t aimed at you particularly. Just a general reply to all the people dissing Pepe so early on.
If you remember a certain Thierry Henry was just the same when he signed from Juventus. The thought of that is encouraging as is Sako, Rowe Smith, Nketiah and Willock – some good young players coming through – its Emery that concerrns me….
Agree with that but I have to say, that was hardly an assist 😉
Also don’t think Di Maria or Depay were driven away by fan pressure but that’s another discussion entirely.
Saka was outstanding, especially in the 2nd half, but he also brought about Willock’s goal with a scintilating turn, drive and then perfect pass to the advanced player. He’s strong, technically brilliant and works on defense. Could be our find of the season…super excited for him! Willock was also outstanding again. Really, really impressive player. I hope Willock gets the start on the weekend. He is so well suited to the EPL too, tall, strong, fast, great turn and drive, and doesn’t over complicate his passing game. Positionally still some things to work on, but you can see he is… Read more »
Aston Villa at home seems like the perfect game to play Ozil and Ceballos together.
Saka+Willock won’t have done their chances any harm, but I’d be surprised if 2 young lads start twice in 72 hours.
We’re desperate for 3 points in the league, the pressure is on, and that surely means Emery goes with experience on Sunday…
Why does Ozil merit being anywhere near the first team?
When was the last time you thought “wow what a player” when watching him? It was October 2018 against Leicester.
Ozil is a washed up chump who has had less then 10 good games in his 6 years with the club.
Blame tactics and formation. He has proven an assist king several times and years. What has gone wrong is tactics and game plan
He’s had more than 10 good games for sure. But you’re probably right that the last really good game was against Leicester. Almost a year ago
Ozil gives what experience exactly? That wastrel has been a total disaster last 3 seasons and can’t even be relied upon to play 2 games in one week! 350k/wk for absolutely fuck all. Disgraceful.
Personal hate coming through, don’t let any objectivity get in the way..
Really liked the kids performances today but I have to say the way we were playing was far from convincing. Frankfurt had 24 shots on our goal again and we were lucky not to concede first. Still see no signs of a game plan or a functioning system. Let’s see what we get on Sunday but we really have to sort out our defensive problems.
Maybe the game plan is there is no game plan…
Why is it that Wenger, the “free jazz” manager, oversaw far more coherent tactics than Emery, the supposedly clever tactical manager?
*free jazz version of the x-files theme begins to play
Not in the game today Smith-Rowe. Surprise Unai was so charitable and didn’t haul him off start of second. Chambers had a tough time first half. Saka also showed a bit of inexperienced first half but he kept at it. Robbed the ball once to set up a very good opportunity squandered. But second half he grabbed the bull by the horns as the game opened up following the fortuitous red and struck home beautifully (decent assist from Pepe but started with Martinez rolling the ball early to Granit and the Swiss playing the ball quickly from deep). Then a… Read more »
Well analysed! I am surprised by all the down votes. I guess its just the happiness of victory making people look over the details.
I think it’s just that Santi likes his comment to always be longer than the original article!
I don’t always agree with him, but at least he discusses some tactics and styles and posits means for which we might improve.
Xhaka had a great game, his best in a long time for Arsenal. Problem is why are his great games so few and far between in the EPL. The pace of the EPL is much faster and the opposition players faster and more clinical (not necessarily always more technical). That is why Granit struggles in the EPL. I have been very critical of his game – but that critique stems from his lack of fit with the pace of EPL games. He’s much more suited to European style games and it showed here. I would love to see him bring… Read more »
Saka – outstanding.
Willock – fantastic.
Martinez – commanding.
All 3 should start at the weekend.
Well played lads – kids team tonight and they did us proud.
Some positivity on here for a change would be fucking welcome. Emery haters can fuck off.
Talk about result dictating the analysis. They could have easily won 3-0 instead. At no time did we control the game and Torreira was playing false 9 again.
Agree, our defence and midfield aren’t cohesive.
However, I hope Saka, Willock, Martinez get starts in the Carabao cup next week, along with Chambers in the CB role. For the weekend though, hope Holding gets some minutes.
Starting Martinez at the weekend would be absolutely mental and insulting to Leno, who has been great for us since signing and not really put a foot wrong this season.
Martinez will play the cup and EL games, and that’s just fine.
Leno is massively over-rated on here…why? Suspect at corners and set pieces and dreadful with the ball at his feet. Martinez in one game tonight looked 3 times the keeper than Leno. Should start immediately and give us some stability between the sticks.
Stability between the sticks? Weak with the ball at his feet?
Sometimes I wonder if we watch the same games. Leno has been one of our outstanding players in 2018 and 2019. The only player in the current back 5 I’d keep long term. Please just go watch the double save at Spurs last season. Leno isn’t the problem, our shit system that let’s crazy amounts of shots to the opposition is the problem.
Absolutely weak with the ball at his feet. Did you even watch the Watford game? “Outstanding player”?!! How about the shit save at Spurs 3 weeks ago? How about his utter inability to command the box at set pieces and corners?
There’s a reason he didn’t get called up by Germany for the last World Cup…he’s not even top 5 in Germany.
“Some positivity on here for a change would be fucking welcome.”
*Leno* haters can fuck off.
@mpls…touché…ha ha
If it wasn’t for Leno we would have lost against Watford. He made some Brilliant late saves. Again, are you watching the games?
Aside from the spilled shot straight into Erickson in the Spurs game, I agree with you.
Still don’t quite understand why Emery prefers Xhaka over Torreira deeper in midfield.
Right. That’s the role Torreira excels in for his national team, and where he has been brightest for Arsenal.
I think it’s the same reason Sarri prefered Kante at 8 and Jorginho as the “regista”. Emery wants Torreira to use his athleticism to press high up the pitch, force turnovers, and make late runs into the box, while also not being stuck up the pitch when we get countered. Torreira also slyly has some goal scoring ability. Meanwhile Xhaka plays the “Jorginho” role, the deep lying distributer that dictates play.
Various problems with having them in those positions, but I reckon that is Emery’s thinking at least.
…and you only brushed on it, but Torreira’s ability to recover is brilliant. he does get forward quite a bit, but he is super fast and super fit. He ALWAYS sprints back to get involved in defense too. It’s interesting watching him for Uruguay though. he plays almost entirely as a pure DM, always there to break up attacks, and play simple passes to bring it forward, but he never makes the attacking runs and it’s a completely different role to what he plays at Arsenal. It’s a conundrum because we need that traditional DM role in our team –… Read more »
He doesn’t as they play totally different positions. Torreira is a DM and Xhaka a deep lying midfielder. They have formed a great partnership which certainly worked tonight
Exactly. Torreira makes Xhaka better. Torreira should always start if Xhaka is starting.
That was a tricky tie. Frankfurt haven’t lost a home game in Europe since 2006! Yes they had a load of shots (mostly way off target or easy for Martinez) because they never found that killer pass so they were shooting more out of frustration. (Like Watford). The first half we were a bit nervy mainly due to playing like a team that doesn’t know each other, (true). In the second half we got our game together and Frankfurt just collapsed. We could have scored 6 or 7. In fact every time we went forward they shit themselves. Auba basically… Read more »
Why not start them?!! If you’re good enough you’re old enough…and god knows they looked better tonight than some of the usual suspects…
They don’t have the fitness at 18/19 years old. When they are playing week in and week out this will come. The trick is not to let let them push too hard and get hurt. I think that’s what happened to Smith-Rowe last season. Willock needs to be handled with kid gloves, he’s going to be our main man in a few seasons. I read yesterday that he was 4 years old when he started at the academy. Tonight he scores for the first team. Dreams are made of this stuff. Same for Saka 18 years old and nets his… Read more »
I have to disagree on that…willock is a fantastic talent and he needs to be starting every game because he gives the midfield that dynamic edge Ramsey gave us at his best. He’s the same age as guendouzi (I think?) but imo is already ahead of him in development. He’s totally ready to play every week. Future arsenal and England captain no doubt.
You had me until the future arsenal and england captain part…do don’t it too him mate! Same rubbish people threw at Jack when he was this age and it went straight to his head. Willock is awesome (so is Guendouzi mind you), lets let him develop and not burden him with that sort of rubbish already.
We need to stick torreira in front of the defence to block out shots and snuff out attacks instead of ‘the better passer’ xhaka there.
Yeah and save Xhaka for these Euro games. He is a perfect Euro player when the game slows down. He struggles with the pace of the EPL, but he was brilliant against Eintracht and he’s always pretty good for Swiss too when games aren’t as open.
That’s unavoidable Dave, it’s in a footballer’s DNA that when your country comes calling you can’t say no. The difference (I believe) in what I’ve read about Willock is his attitude is right. Jack was a bit of a lad, remember “what d’you think of Tottenham” on the bus? Joe’s not that kind of kid so hopefully he can handle it.
We might have won the game 3-0 but i really am starting to doubt Emery. You have one of the best DM in your side and you play him as attacking midfielder, ESR is making his comeback from injury and is being played on the wings when he should have been in CAM position. Auba was spent, you have to protect your main asset but he made him play the whole 90.