What Mikel Arteta did after two Aaron Ramsdale errors that nearly cost Arsenal 3 points at Brentford, should he be benched for David Raya in the next game?
Another week, another goalkeeping conversation
No one wants to talk about the Arsenal goalkeeping conversation again – least of all Mikel Arteta. Ever since David Raya’s arrival in the summer there has seemingly been a weekly debate over whether bringing in the Spaniard was the right thing.
Many have argued that you can’t have two number one goalkeepers. Arteta has vehemently disagreed on several occasions and sources around Arsenal have indicated that he feels he’s already said what he has to say on the matter. For weeks now he has been swerving questions about Ramsdale vs Raya and with the cold winter temperatures finally arriving in London he was back slaloming away from difficult questions in his post-match press conference on Saturday.
“This is football,” he said when asked about Aaron Ramsdale’s performance of two halves. “I’m so happy with the team, the way the team performed with the clean sheet. We move on. So happy.”
Clearly he doesn’t want to speak about it any more. Well sorry Mikel, this is a talking point that is simply too big to ignore.
The spotlight was always going to shine heavily on Ramsdale at Brentford. With Raya ineligible due to loan restrictions, the England international was going to be given a chance in the Premier League for the first time since September.
It was billed by many as his last chance to save his Arsenal career and his spot in Gareth Southgate’s Euros squad. From early on at the Gtech Community Stadium it became clear that he also felt this way.
Ramsdale was jittery each time the ball came to him at the back and struggled with Brentford’s high press. The worst moment came from a goal kick as he got the ball caught under his feet, allowing Yoanne Wissa to nip in and tee up Bryan Mbeumo. Fortunately for the 25-year-old Declan Rice was on hand to clear the shot off the line.
From the resulting goal kick Ramsdale looked to go for a short routine with Gabriel. Having witnessed the same play go so wrong before though Arteta began frantically wagging his finger begging his goalkeeper to go long. Ramsdale ignored this though and after seeing him go short, Arteta began shaking his head in disappointment and frustration.
This can happen to any goalkeeper though. Brentford’s high press has made plenty of goalkeepers look like fools in the past. Just ask David De Gea. Understandably though Ramsdale struggled to find this perspective. After claiming a ball he sprinted to the edge of the box to throw a quick release that he must have done thousands of times in his career. When you’re trying desperately to impress though, it’s easy to lose sight of the basics and the 25-year-old inexplicably bowled the ball into the ground. Arsenal were lucky to get away with it for a second time.
Things did improve though. As the first half wore on he began finding some of the mid-range line-breaking passes that drew some to dub him the ‘English Ederson’ in the early part of his Arsenal career. One to Leandro Trossard in particular drew applause from Arteta.
In the second half Ramsdale was far better and even claimed some crucial crosses to relieve the Brentford pressure after Kai Havertz’s late winner. This also drew praise from his manager. “Courage,” the Spaniard said. “He has big courage and big personality and that’s what why we love him.”
As Ramsdale went over to applaud the fans who had stuck loyally by him throughout everything in the game it had the air of an actor taking his final bow. A final farewell perhaps? We’ll see in January.
Kai Havertz shows why Arsenal signed him
When Kai Havertz signed from Chelsea, there were plenty of questions over why exactly Arsenal signed him. Nearly six months later, those haven’t gone away.
In his fledgling Gunners career the German has looked confused as to what exactly he’s supposed to be doing. Spells up front, on the left of a midfield three on the right of a midfield three and even at left back for his country, have done little to provide any answers. On Saturday though, we finally saw what had convinced Mikel Arteta to part with £65million to sign him.
With the game petering towards a 0-0 draw, Arsenal didn’t look as though they would have a way to break down Brentford’s defence. The selection of Leandro Trossard in midfield alongside Martin Odegaard and the first choice attacking trio of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, suggested that the Gunners had every intention of keeping the ball on the floor. That plan had largely failed though due to the Bees organisational excellence.
In times gone by that would have been enough to stunt Arsenal. Not any more though. In Havertz they have a player who offers them something completely different when it comes to breaking down opposition presses. His winning goal – a third man run on to the end of a back post cross from Saka – was exactly how Arteta had imagined it when he worked so hard to bring him in.
“Absolutely (that’s why we signed him),” the Spaniard said in his post-match press conference. “Against these blocks, and against teams that defend the box like this, you need this kind of profile. He’s exceptional at that. Today he won the game in that action for us.”
There has been so much will for Havertz to succeed at Arsenal, but for much of his first few months with the club there has been confusion as to how exactly that was going to happen. With his winner at the Gtech we got a glimpse into Arteta’s prophetic plan for him. If the German can do it more often, then it won’t take him long to win over his remaining doubters.
Another late win for Arsenal
For many years teams approaching the last few minutes of matches against Manchester United knew they were far from safe. As Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides scored late goal after late goal, it also became a self-fulfilling prophecy that they would decide a game in it’s closing stages.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are surely now reaching that point. In their 13 Premier League matches, the Gunners have scored a winning or equalising goal in the last 10 minutes on four occasions this season. That’s nearly a third of their games!
Each time, Arsenal are proving they’re not afraid to leave it late. It’s the sign of champions some might say, but as far as Arteta’s concerned it’s a sign of improved squad depth.
“The team needs to have that resilience,” he said of his side’s latest late win. “It shows as well the impact and the importance of the finishers. Today they were crucial again.”
Arsenal have had more goals from substitutes than any other team in the Premier League this season so Arteta certainly has a point. But it is also the sign of a mentality shift in his players.
For so long Arsenal were a side who almost seemed willing to accept their fate as the final knockings of matches came calling. That is definitely no longer the case. This season’s wins combined with dramatic victories over Manchester United, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, to name but a few last season, show that the Gunners are a team who will truly play to the final whistle. Long live Arte-time in north London.