Thursday, October 3, 2024

Post-Leicester quotes round-up: Arteta, Cooper, Martinelli, Trossard, Keown

Arsenal made a palaver of their win over Leicester, dominating the match from start to finish and all but killing it off by half time, before making life very difficult in the second half, conceding twice, and leaving it to the death to get the job done.

Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…

Mikel Arteta on his side’s attitude in tough circumstances…

I’m really happy, really pleased with the performance, the attitude of the team and the way we played and dominated the game. I’m especially happy with the way the team reacted when it got very difficult, with a really unexpected two goals conceded which put the game at stake. We – the crowd included – showed unbelievable emotional control, a lot of belief and clarity into what we are continuously doing and a lot of courage at the end to find a way to win it.

Source: Arsenal.com

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Steve Cooper on Leicester’s late defeat…

Tough one to take to be fair. Proud of the second half performance particularly. If it’s a team that’s not together, they can really go under after the first-half but it was great to score as early as we did in the second half and then go to 2-2. You know you are going to suffer here at time against a really good time like Arsenal at the Emirates but I felt like we were coping really well. To have that deflection for the third goal is just a bit of where our luck is but then the fourth goal is against the run of play.

Source: BBC Match of the Day

Gabriel Martinelli on the win…

Really happy with the performance. I think we deserved the win. We suffered a bit. We won the game, that’s the most important thing. It is always nice to score goals. We have to focus on ourselves and be ready for the next game.

Source: PremierLeague.com

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Leandro Trossard on leaving it late…

Overall, I think we played a very good game to go 2-0 up at half-time and then the goals we conceded today, they were a bit too easy. It shows how you need to push for the other goals – we had some great chances, and their goalkeeper made some great saves as well but it’s nice to get those two goals at the end to get the win.

Source: Arsenal.com

Arteta on whether Riccardo Calafiori was lucky to avoid a red card…

I haven’t seen the action, but I got really worried because he gave the foul. I haven’t seen the replay.

Source: Post-game press conference

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Arteta on the impact of substitute Nwaneri…

I brought on Ethan and the guy, at 17-years-old, his first action is to go past two, three people and take a shot. I just love it. If you want to be here and play at that level, you need to have that courage. I really value that from the team today.

Source: Post-game press conference

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Theo Walcott on Nwaneri’s cameo…

The great thing about him, the first words that comes to mind, are fearless and confidence on the ball.With his first few touches, he’s direct, he wants to commit players and get the shot away. The end product is there. He’s a player that has been highly regarded in the academy. He wants to do things on the half turn. This man has a very good career ahead of him.

Source: BBC Match of the Day

Gabriel Martinelli on netting his first goal of the season…

It’s always nice to score goals and even more for us that plays up front so really happy with the goal and the assist [on Trossard’s goal] as well.

Source: Dazn

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Don Hutchinson (yeah, slim pickings today) on Arsenal’s winner…

They find a way to find a free player at the far post. They’ve had the overload at the far post.

Source: PremierLeague.com

Martin Keown on Arsenal’s title chances…

They could [win it] but they’ve got Man City in the room with them so they have to respect them, and I think there is a healthy respect between the two managers which is the only thing keeping a lid on those two clubs right now, but it’s like a tug of war. When you’re playing your match or watching their game and they lose a little and that rope starts to come your way, Arsenal will have thought before the match today, we’ve got a good tug on this rope, we’ve got an opportunity. Then suddenly, it’s 2-2, the rope is going the other way and you’ve got to be brave in that moment. They found a solution and found a way to win to keep the momentum going.

Source: BBC Final Score

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Arteta on Saka’s consistently dangerous corners…

That’s not an extra, that’s a game-changer. When he’s there in front of goal and he puts the ball in the back of the net, that’s a game changer. That’s what he needs to do consistently at this level and the others have to do other stuff, I think we generated 17 corners today, we should have scored from others, we need every possible tool to be a threat all the time.

Source: Post-game press conference

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Jeremy

Wait, did I watch a different game? What did Califiore do which supposedly merited a red card? I genuinely don’t know what he is referring to…or is this more media fabrication?

aberinkula

Fouled a Leicester player kinda awkwardly around the halfway line when they were breaking. Innocuous enough challenge, but you’ve seen yellows given for them on other days. I personally thought it was a foul and no more, but again, refs, Arsenal, we know the story.

Henkamp

Funny thing was that his and Saliba’s yellows were soft in the first place! Ref just went on a card-dishing spree at the beginning of the second half.

CactusLizard

Exactly that. It’s like Blogs was talking about last week. The ref decided to impose himself on the game and start influencing it when there was no need. The Saliba booking directly led to their first goal too

Btgooner

Well, but Saliba did foul him. I’d certainly want that given if it happened to Saka

Dr. Gooner
Dr. Gooner

Oh the Vardy incident was a pure dive. Expert gamesmanship.

Okester

Love how on match of the day they didn’t show the contact, just him going down. Obviously helps the anti Arsenal narrative they seem to be pumping out this season…

Aleksander Włodarz

Second yellow I think

Wilhelm

I remember seeing that and thinking Calafiori was pretty lucky. I think the ref let it go cos he’d just waved away a penalty shout for Havertz

djourou's nutmeg

he had a rough challenge when whey were counter attacking, which would usually mean nothing but with the quality of refs we have it wouldn’t have been out of character for them to give him a red card, suspend him for 5 matches and deduct us seven points

Dr. Gooner

If it’s the foul I saw, I think it was on Buonanotte who swan dove over his leg and then got up and waved an imaginary card toward the ref, who, beautifully, got out his yellow card and booked Buonanotte.

Mayor McCheese

At which point the ref said, “Good night!”

Dr. Gooner

Or was it Buon giorno, bastardo? Cause that’s what Richy was thinking.

David C

I watched a Leicester player go studs up over the ball into Martinelli’s shin and not even get a yellow.

Inconsistency seems to be the only consistency with PL refs.

Bjorn

Ex spurs no less.

Rochester

He did it again later in the game as well. I think it was Saka the second time

Matt

He delayed the game by existing. Yellow card, if you’re an Arsenal player.

MarcelloValerio

Bloody soft first yellow…arguably a yellow for the second one since it was a counter, but Buonanotte was also already diving – anyway..today the ref was fine, could of given more yellows to leicester, etc. but he didn’t do anything stupid i guess, Havertz should of had a pen. What’s crazy is the media narrative about how Califiori should of been sent of..two yellows is the new red for Arsenal.

Reality check

Remember when a Leicester player got a yellow for waving an imaginary yellow, he was asking the reff to book Calafiori.

Xuan

Calafiori was at risk of a red only because of the state of refereeing we have seen so far- farcical. Otherwise, absolutely nothing at all..

N5gooner

I haven’t seen a replay yet, but I am pretty certain the Leicester City player dived in an attempt to get Calafiori sent off. He even got booked for telling the ref to get his card out. Even though there were some odd deciaions (e.g. playing on when Saka was fouled on the edge of the box) I think the ref actually did well managing the game. He could have sent off Calafiori and one of the Leicester City players too for second yellows. I guess they do have a choice and don’t have to just go by the LETTER… Read more »

Rich

That foul on the edge of the box was by Skipp, who was already on a yellow and should have been off for that challenge.

Dr. Gooner

I remember talking about the FB position last season in terms of creativity and what that could do for Martinelli in particular. Playing ahead of Kiwior or Tomiyasu is a thankless task, even when it’s Zinchenko he seldom gives the overlap. With Calafiori, he now has a running mate who will give him overlaps, underlaps, interchange and combine with technical security and zip. It will make a world of difference. On the other side, I have nothing bad to say about Ben White but there’s a real chance that Jurrien Timber is just better. Better balance, better first step quickness,… Read more »

BLUEBERRY

We’ll need them both. We have to play three games per week.

Dr. Gooner

We need them AND Tomiyasu, methinks. Zinchenko is another nice option to have. Can’t think of a team with better FB depth.

Bjorn

Might be, but hold your horses. We haven’t seen him put up 7-8 out of 10 consistently over almost an entire season yet, like Ben.

Ebo

exactly, Ben White is a consistency monster and our defence last season and carrying into this one was basically unpenetrable with him, his chemistry and instinctual understanding with Saliba and Gabriel, often as our de facto back 3 when our LB inverts, is unparalleled. Timber is almost definitely a more talented football player, but he still has to show he can have the level of synchronicity and unwavering mental concentration to deliver that kind of solidity week in week out. In the end I’m really happy to have both. If Timber does become our first choice RB for the big… Read more »

It Is What It Is

Don’t be surprised to see Benny Blanco at 6. Dropping in to RB, as Partey often did today when Timber came in-field. Timber is a whole other type of competitor. Really intelligent. Was nice to see three deep right foot crosses from Calafiori (all within 15-20 mins). He seems to have the best of Zinni and Tomi’s strongest attributes, while adding some of his. Anticipation and positioning will improve as connections deepen. Happy for Bossard, Martinelli and Kai – a little pressure off them. Just slightly worried about Partey – his mistakes or indecisions, seem to compound or snowball quite… Read more »

Dr. Gooner

I think so too. BW balanced out Zinchenko really well and Calafiori has some of the same roaming tendencies. You can see his team mates don’t even expect a lot of his movement or quick passing yet, they’re not used to that tempo. It’s ridiculous to consider we have Tomiyasu to add back into this group. We will need all 4 I reckon, it’s such a physically demanding position.

Ebo

Yeah, the one or two times Ben’s performances dipped a slight bit (to 6 or 6.5 out of 10 levels mind you, not in any way disastrous) was for a few matches in the second halves of both of last two seasons after playing non stop through an intense December to February period. It’s kind of insane to expect one player to handle all that load for that position, especially the way Arteta demands it to be played.

Walleye

Had similar thoughts but think Ben is a better passer. He is also much better at annoying the opposition on corners. Thought we were missing him 😀

Dr. Gooner

BW may complete a higher % but it’s generally low risk passes. He tries things in the final 3rd, good on those overlapping cutbacks, has a nice switch of play as well, generally very secure and makes good decisions. It’s in the buildup that I think Timber surpasses him. It’s his agility, ability to shimmy and hit on either foot or to go on a quick dribble that opens up angles not available to BW. It’s a relatively fine margin but we’re at a point in our project where it takes those little margins to improve on what we already… Read more »

Dr. Gooner

This thread from expert tactico @EBL2017 explains it better than me (just saw it after I wrote the above):

https://twitter.com/EBL2017/status/1840153110075101448

Essentially, Timber and Calafiori offer an unprecedented tactical flexibility in the early and mid buildup and in the final third. Either of them can rotate with the interiors, wingers or the 6, while the other can drop. This allow us to supersede was was possible with BW and Zinny, who were both more one dimensional.

Alan Sunderland

Trossard had no problem scoring from the left when he took martinelli’s place last season. Martinelli can be effective in certain games but he hasn’t improved. He’s a clunky player with poor technique. He plays with his head down. Not even close to being an 200k week player. Good back up player, not good enough for a team trying to win the league or in Europe. The most obvious position we need to upgrade, even more so than Partey. Sterling will take his place this season and have no problem putting up better numbers.

John C

I’d happy say i think Martinelli, with Calafiori and Merino behind him will be our top scorer this season.

Martinelli has had 7 shots this season, of which 5 came against Leicester, that is the power of having a player who can go on the outside of him has.

For me, if given the opportunity to play closer to goal, he is the most likely player to score 20-25 goals a season

Dr. Gooner

The things you say are true, but I think it under sells the player he is. Ok, he’s not Lamine Yamal or Bukayo Saka. His profile is a straight line big space burner who can also do some small space stuff, a little bit two footed, high variance finisher (which is a nice way of saying he’s streakier than most). Similar to Luis Diaz, Anthony Gordon, that kind of high motor outlet who also tracks back tirelessly. It’s a valuable profile to have in the squad, even if you’d prefer to have someone who can ALSO be more associative and… Read more »

John C

Martinelli isn’t a high variance finisher (whatever that means) he just doesn’t take that many shots because he’s been isolated out on the left wing for the last season and a bit.

If you look at the actual stats last season his number of dribbles per game doubled and his shots dropped by a quarter.

He’s our best finisher, he needs to be put in those positions more regularly

Dr. Gooner

Arsenal are setting record books on fire one week for their ability to defend and deny scoring chances, then the next week for their ability to attack and create them. Asombroso!

Gabriels

What kind of juice was Trossard carrying as punishment? Was it the bitter tears juice of Haaland?

Ebo

but then the fourth goal is against the run of play”

Not sure about the point of addressing comments from a manager with seemingly negative IQ, but how about you even having a chance of getting a point from this game was completely and utterly against the run of play you halfwitted oaf? Or what run of play are you talking about then, Leicester finally advancing the ball past the halfway line after conceding in injury time? You really showed some attacking verve there.

Dr. Gooner

The Bolton manager did this too. He said we didn’t create an awful lot in the first half, and that they should’ve had a penalty. They are high on the copium.

yen

I love how in the article above his words are followed by the xG numbers which absolutely dismantle any point he’s trying to make

MBen

their keeper made, 3 notable world class saves, they scored a deflected goal & a worldie, we had 17 corners – them 0, 36 shots, Arsenal carried the ball progressively 1356 yards – them 380, it was almost complete domination, also its a game we don’t win 3 years ago

Naked Cygan

This is my biased opinion, at this time, the best player on the world is Martin Odegard. He is just on a totaly different level. I can’t wait to have him back.

MBen

How come, Skip halfed Martinelli early doors (unreal that wasn’t even a booking), then Saka (top of the box, when play was waved on), then I believe was booked later on. But the narrative is, why didn’t CaliPhwori get sent off, & there isn’t even a mention of any of Skipp’s plethora of yellow worthy fouls

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