Pass & Move - Picking Up The Cech
Arsene Wenger and Brendan Rodgers have reputations. Reputations for flair and flakiness in Wenger’s case, passion and character for Rodgers. Neither of them are very good at living up to grand expectations but both are fantastic at doing just enough to get by. They met here with each having scraped by their first couple games. Liverpool with two 1-0 wins, Arsenal with a good win and a poor loss. It’s too early for grand statements about title credentials but based on prior reputation, these two teams are playing for fourth until they prove otherwise.
The Emirates was damp and dark yet hopeful. Each team will have fancied their chances. Each had plenty of reasons to do just that. And there were changes, oh were there changes.
Laurent Koscielny out with a dodgy back and Per Mertesacker with a case of sore tummy, in came Gabriel Paulista and Calum Chambers, a very fresh centre back pairing. Hey, it’s better than what they could have mustered two years ago as patchwork (remember that time last season when Debuchy and Monreal played there?), but up against the monstrous Christian Benteke it was a worrying sight. The rest of the Gunners were about as expected.
As for Liverpool, they were without Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson with injuries. In their place, Milner moved forward a bit, Roberto Firmino came in for his starting debut, Emre Can and Lucas started as holding midfielders. Jordan Ibe dropped to the bench.
We knew how Arsenal would approach this game. The same way they approach every game. Arsene Wenger is a curious man, one who sees the world not so much in Good vs Evil, but in Beauty vs Ugly. Results are misleading. They fluctuate without pattern. Instead he coaches a style that will always result in attractive football, that’s all there is for him. Plus they’re really good at it.
Where the intrigue comes in tactically is with Liverpool. Rodgers certainly has a few strands of Wenger about him and his philosophy (the new buzzword of English football, it’s the only sport in the world where managers and coaches don’t just have plans, they have doctrines). He now has Christian Benteke, a battering ram of a centre forward, and he needs to figure out how best to use him. That path should not be a matter of pumping long balls on his head all the time, though that’ll work now and then, a game against Arsenal who’re sporting a couple new centre backs not a terrible time to play the physical stuff. However Benteke is a far more refined player than he gets credit for. He can play the swift stuff at his feet. It’s a matter of getting numbers and movement around him is all.
Arsenal are not an easy team to dominate. Teams that beat them and their score of attacking midfielders tend to be those, like West Ham in the season opener, who sit back and soak up pressure, then hit them on counter attacks and from set pieces. Liverpool are hard to imagine playing that way, Brendan Rodgers doesn’t care for the ugly so much himself. Deploying Milner, Can and Lucas gave them plenty of steel without the ball. Could they do enough on it to control this game though? Skrtel and Lovren have started this season wonderfully but this was their first real test. Lovren in particular. Same goes for rookie fullback Joe Gomez. Ozil and Sanchez have made many a young player seem foolish (Reece Oxford aside). The feeling was that if Liverpool tried to match Arsenal at their own game then this was a matter of pushing boulders up hills. If they played it ugly (not so much to their strengths but at least to Arsenal’s weaknesses – and still within their capabilities) then this becomes a winnable trip to the Emirates. Of course, the last time they played there they got pummelled 4-1. And it was a soft four.
First chance of the game, however, and it fell to the Reds. All because of the enterprising Milner, and the fact that they had numbers in midfield to commit behind the droves of the Gunners. Milner on the loose ball, plays in Benteke (just onside). CB hits Coutinho who hits the crossbar.
The Gunners soon found their way on the ball though, a long passing move ending in a header just over from Sanchez. By the way, this is why Arsenal struggle to break teams down. They get all these guys making these fluid movements but ultimately they just pass the ball around a stacked defence. Side to side and around the edges. Hence the wonders of Sanchez for this team: he takes a chance. He’ll shot from 35 yards, he’ll cross a ball from deep.
That Santi Cazorla, he likes to pull the trigger on a sharp pass though. He picked out Aaron Ramsey with 8 minutes played and he picked him out with a pass of near-gasping beauty. Mmmm, what a ball. The Welshman slipped it past the keeper and that would have been the opener were it not for that meddling linesman.
Of course, the linesman may just have been doing his civic duty, what with the Ramsey Curse and all.
The plan for Arsenal (well, the usual philosophy, anyway) involved high possession. What that does if it all goes well is it isolates Christian Benteke, Liverpool’s biggest threat. At times he was walking lonely around the halfway line as his teammates all sat in and around their own penalty area. He’s still gonna get his now and then because he can be pretty unguardable, it’s a matter of limiting those opportunities. Arsenal were quickly on top of this game, only looking threatened when they looked flustered. And how do you fluster the Gunners? Counter attacks, set pieces and their own mistakes. There were plenty of the latter to go around. Calum Chambers was giving it away like the early 90s Chilis.
God, and he wasn’t the only one. A single glance at the team sheet told you Arsenal might have defensive troubles and true to the narrative, so they did. Gabriel actually defended quite well, as did they all to be fair (especially in the air against the far more powerful Benteke), but only in isolation. As a unit they were a bit of a shambles. Look at how often Liverpool beat the offside trap. And it wasn’t just the defence giving the ball away cheaply and in dangerous places, Cazorla and Le Coq were doing it too. You’re gonna struggle if you continually lose possession in your own third, that’s just unforgiveable. Some credit goes to the high pressing (of Firmino especially) but at some point you’ve gotta know you don’t have to play it out from the back every time. It’s that thing about flustering them again. Arsenal like to dictate their own tempo and if you shake them off it, then… well, imagine a band all playing in different keys and different timings. Sounds like a junkyard massacre.
This is nothing new for Arsenal. They’ve always had a few of these issues. The steadying figure of Koscielny usually takes care of a lot of it, and it’s been hoped that Petr Cech’s leadership would help in their organisation. It hasn’t really, not yet. What Cech has done instead is he’s saved their bacon from frying to a crisp in the pan. He made a smart lil save of James Milner in the first half but his denial of Benteke in the 39th minute could end up as the save of the season.
Honest to God, he has no right to stop this. Bellerin’s clearance hit’s Firmino, Coutinho gives it back to him down the edge. Firmino hits a perfect cross in and Benteke wanders on to it at the far post. At this point, you’re thinking sitter.
Instead this happens:
He then tipped this belter from Coutinho onto the post. If it were possible for him to play any better in that first half then Jose Mourinho will be crying into his pillow.
Look, Arsenal were the side more capable of dominating but they had to get out of their own way first. Even when they did, Liverpool are no mugs. Unbeaten to start the season, this is the best their midfield has played in ages. I’ve had the odd jab at Lucas in the past but he did everything his manager asked of him. He broke up play through the middle and he turned loose balls into possession. That’s his role, same as Coquelin. And at some point (presumably half time) Can and Milner swapped places, which meant they had Can’s defensive nous further forward (where Arsenal were continually getting in trouble) and it also meant that with Milner’s work-rate they’d still be able to flood the top with numbers when reasonable. Aside from Lucas, the other four mids were all pretty fluid with positioning.
What brought the Gunners back into the ascendancy was when they started getting Giroud some touches in the box. The Frenchman should have set up the latest in this game’s long line of should’ve been goals when he popped a lovely touch into Sanchez’s path but Alexis shot near post instead of far and it pinged back off the post.
Soon after and for a sustained period after it became all Arsenal. Rodgers brought off Firmino for Ibe, which was a curious one given how many times Firmino had worried the Arsenal defence, but then he did come back late for pre-season after Copa America stuff, maybe he was just tired. This was his first start. Ibe’s more of a genuine winger and Liverpool weren’t playing with traditional width except for when the fullbacks got forward (which they didn’t as often as they usually would, can’t give Sanchez too much space on the break). It’s not like they had many other options, yet Ibe’s introduction seemed to trigger a deeper ‘Pool, one looking more for the counter. I’ve said that’s usually an alright strategy against the Arse, but not often at this stage. The Gunners were raising the pace of the game and the defence was struggling to hold. Best not to stretch the field any further at that point.
Now. Was this a penalty? Maybe not. Looks like he was already slipping (it was pretty rainy) and he did still get a good shot away. Fine save by Mignolet, btw. The thing is, it shouldn’t matter if he got a good shot off, if the shot was impeded in some way then what advantage did he gain? He took a worse shot than otherwise possible, that constitutes a disadvantage and therefore there oughta be a whistle even still. But, yeah, probably not in this case. Giroud didn’t even really appeal.
He was subbed off a few minutes later, on came Theo Walcott. He’d have been a good bet to start this game, I thought, with his pace a continual threat to open holes in the Liverpool defence. However coming on as he did it was strange. Giroud had just had his best 10 mins of the game, finally getting the ball at his feet often enough to use his strength and bring teammates into the play. Theo doesn’t have that physical side of things and he didn’t really get the chance to stretch Liverpool’s back four at all. But if that sub was a headscratcher, and if Liv’s one before it was even moreso, then Mr Rodgers’ next move was certifiably mental. He brought on 18 year old Jordan Rossiter for his Premier League debut, in place of Lucas. Milner went into Lucas’ holding slot, at least he knows that woulda been too much for young Rossiter with the game on the line. I guess you’ve gotta admire a manager not afraid to throw his youngsters in at the deep end. That’s the end where you either sink or swim. Rossiter sort of floated, which will do well enough.
And Arsene being Arsene, he reacted by taking off his own midfield insurance policy, Coquelin, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (who’d start every week if it were up to me) replacing him. The Ox for Le Coq.
There were under 10 minutes left by this time, both teams having shown their hands. There was a winner there for whichever one of them had the nerve and the ability to claim it. Ramsey drew a couple of smart saves with shots from outside the box. Coutinho kept defenders on ice with his footwork, buying that extra yard of space to slam one at Cech, but the goalie parried it away firmly. Then one of the closest calls of the night, Ox slipping past Gomez and his firm, flat ball was almost turned in a the far post by Skrtel. Whoops.
Perhaps as a direct result of that, Alberto Moreno came on for Coutinho. He went onto the wing, giving Gomez some help down that flank. Gomez actually had a pretty superb game. He can make a tackle and he’s strong and positive. Very few mistakes. For a teenager just signed from Charlton, he looks like an absolute bargain. Moreno didn’t have too much to do, but if he’d played in Can on a break then perhaps he’d have been a hero.
Blame the goalkeepers, in the end there was just no beating them. Mignolet turned a late Ox shot wide, Gabriel headed over the bar and the final whistle came resounding through the Emirates. 0-0. In a fixture that’s been known for plenty of goals recently, this was the first goalless draw between the sides this century.
A fair result too. Arsenal had two thirds of possession but Liverpool had more than their share of chances. There were 34 total shots in the game. Unbeaten to start the season, the Scousers will be mightily pleased. They haven’t conceded a goal in three games. Meanwhile it’s one of each for Arsenal - a win, a loss and a draw.
Man of the Match: Well, it was Petr Cech in the first half and Simon Mignolet in the second, but Cech edges it because… that save. The other one too, plus the many more routine ones, but mostly that save.
The Good
Manchester City – And everything about them. Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure look like they’re playing at their imperious best again, both were immense against Everton, while Eli Mangala suddenly seems legit (though he’s likely to lose his place to Nicolas Otamendi), David Silva and Serio Aguero look frightening every time they touch the ball (oh, and what touches they have!) and Raheem Sterling’s fitted like a glove. Damn, and how good was Aleksandar Kolarov!? By the way, on Mangala: This is why people shouldn’t write players off in their first season in the Premier League. Players adapt and improve. City are the only team left with a perfect record.
John Stones (Everton) – Honestly, after John Terry’s start to the season and all else that’s going wrong for Chelsea at the back so far (Matic has been poor, Cahill’s hurt & Zouma’s not quite there yet, not to mention Ivanovic’s troubles), Jose and Roman ought to just pay whatever they can muster (so: ∞) to buy Stones. Just offer enough that Everton have no choice. Offers of £20m, £26m and £30m have all been rejected, give them £50m. Stones was brilliant against City and there’s nothing to suggest he won’t be perfect for Chelsea either. Cahill’s done alright there and Stones is already better than him.
Petr Cech (Arsenal) – See the 2000 or so words above.
The Bad
Manchester United’s Goals – Where are they? To be fair the Red Devils were far better in this game on attack. They created a number of chances and had Wayne Rooney not been ruled (debatably) offside in the first half then they probably would have won. Louis Van Gaal called it “fantastic” as a performance but you have to make it count. Rooney was good though. Not at his best but his best game so far. You wonder if the Adnan Januzaj thing at no. 10 might not last, however. Or maybe swap him out right and bring Mata into the middle. Actually, Pedro could probably… no, wait.
West Ham’s Defence – This was a chaotic performance by a team usually able to rely on their defence if nothing else. No more Fat Sam, no more stability it seems. Slaven Bilic has a brutal job on his hands trying to turn this side into an attractive team and it doesn’t help when they concede four goals at home against a promoted team. Three of them due to inexcusably dumb errors. Aaron Cresswell failing to clear and losing the ball just outside the box on the goal-line for one, Cresswell then playing a pass across his own goal that was stolen before Winston Reid even had the time to realise what he was being asked to do, for two and then the last goal came after Carl Jenkinson took an age to clear a ball up the sideline only to lose it and foul the bloke in the box as he tried to recover, a red card and a penalty. Jenko got skinned for the third goal too. Oh, and Angelo Ogbonna was subbed off at centre back after 34 minutes. No injury, not formation change. Just a substitution. Winston Reid was solid but that was all.
Spurs – I mean, a deputy for Harry Kane is one thing but the lad also needs some support. Tottenham should have fashioned far more against Leicester but with Christian Eriksen missing they struggled for that killer touch before the killer touch. Erik Lamela was not very good. Mousa Dembele was not very good. Dele Alli came off the bench and looked pretty great. Nudge nudge, wink wink. Also, they conceded like a minute after taking the lead. Disappointing.
The Ugly
Darren Randolph vs Bournemouth – The former Birmingham man was in goal last season when Bournemouth beat them 8-0 in the Championship last season. He made his West Ham debut against the Cherries on the weekend and shipped in another four. In fact he’s leaked 20 goals in his last 4 games against Bournemouth. There are bogey teams, and then there’s whatever this is.
Drinks Breaks in the Footy – A little bit weird, seeing teams break for a taste midway through halves. You think the English weather’s hot, try playing mid-afternoon in Perth like the Wellington Phoenix have. Looks like the coaches and managers loved the timeouts though, barking away instructions.
John Terry’s Tiny Shinpads – Mate, what did you borrow those from your kid?
David Ospina’s Bowling Action – Looks like he’s auditioning for a spot in the next Ashes series. He’ll fit in nicely by the looks of it.