Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is about to shoot himself within the foot after Palace win
Mikel Arteta did it the onerous manner at Selhurst Park as a penalty determined the competition in 10-man Arsenal‘s favour. Eddie Nketiah gained it and Martin Odegaard scored it to go away Crystal Palace licking their wounds after an entertaining contest. As the mud settles, Express Sport takes you thru three key speaking factors from the Gunners’ 1-0 win.
Arteta set to shoot himself in foot
Arsenal could also be clever to rethink their place on Kieran Tierney. The 26-year-old was overlooked of the matchday squad by Arteta for the second matchday operating as he continues to be linked with a transfer away.
Simply put, sanctioning Tierney’s exit may very well be an enormous mistake, and never simply because Takehiro Tomiyasu – who began at left-back towards Palace – was despatched off for a second bookable offence with half an hour remaining.
If reality be informed, the Japanese worldwide was poor even earlier than being given his marching orders. With Jurrien Timber out for almost all of the season and Oleksandr Zinchenko extra of a central presence when he performs, Arteta is painfully wanting left-sided defensive choices who can bomb ahead to assist Gabriel Martinelli.
Considering the quantity of consideration that Bukayo Saka attracts on the alternative flank, possessing a left-back that may assault freely and hyperlink up with Martinelli, whilst an choice from the bench, looks as if sensible squad administration.
Saka drawing defenders in direction of him meant the cross-field change was nearly aways on for Arsenal at Selhurst Park. And whereas Martinelli acquired some pleasure because of this, the Gunners may have been much more harmful with Tierney there to assist.
Saka matches file
Bukayo Saka taking part in his 82nd consecutive Premier League sport for the membership is a testomony to his longevity, in addition to his prominence in Arteta’s XI. Reaching the magic quantity has seen the 21-year-old draw stage with membership legend Paul Merson on the prime of the all-time listing.
“I’m really proud to be in the same company as the legends that have played for this club,” Saka mentioned earlier than the match.
He was unable to crown the achievement with a purpose, nevertheless, as Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell did a strong defensive job to maintain him quiet.
Rice settles in
Gunners followers are nonetheless maintaining a detailed eye on Declan Rice, who made his second Premier League look for the membership on Monday evening. Starting in a double-pivot alongside Thomas Partey when Arsenal had been in possession, the previous West Ham man started slowly however quickly discovered his manner into the sport.
Accurate diagonal passes to Martinelli, agency tackles and well-timed bursts ahead had been all a part of Rice’s efficiency in south London. One foray in direction of the penalty space arrange an amazing likelihood for Nketiah within the first half, though the striker denied Rice his help by spurning the chance.