Kevin Whitcher
You can understand, after watching this kind of match, why the Premier League is so popular abroad. End to end stuff, chances aplenty and rarely a dull moment.
In the sense of Arsenal’s attacking football, it was the Gunners at their best, although Leicester played into their hands with their own admirable, if perhaps slightly naïve, approach to the game. God bless Claudio Ranieri, an Italian with a very un-Italian approach when it comes to his team. Even when he was Chelsea boss, I couldn’t help but like the bloke. He enjoyed Arsenal games so much that he would attend Champions League matches at Highbury with his son. I remember one night his son looking through the items on what used to be the fanzine stall on Gillespie Road and Ranieri waiting patiently for him. It was surreal. I nodded acknowledgement to him. Few others recognised him, although I think Chelsea were playing someone like Liverpool, Spurs or Man United the following weekend and one guy wished him luck in that game. These were the days when they weren’t challenging for the league, pre-Roman Abramovich. Ranieri lasted just one season under the Russian, although did make the Champions League semi-final in that year. History might have been very different if they had not shot themselves in the foot against Monaco. Jose Mourinho might never have managed Chelsea.
Anyway, enough indulgence, Myles Palmer does it so much better than me. Back to the King Power Stadium and the opening 20 minutes. Leicester, as well as scoring, hit the woodwork twice. The second time, Arsenal broke and Theo converted one of the eight chances he had in the game. His goals to chances ratio is not overly impressive, but he gets so many chances that he does look like the prolific scorer that Arsenal require. The fear is that in the tougher games, when he might only get a couple of opportunities, he needs to up his conversion rate. It does look like the manager has decided he is first choice for the time being, so we will have to wait and see. The next two matches are highly significant and ones the club really need to win. Sure it’s early days in the league, but in a winning season, Arsenal need to beat Manchester United at home.
Leicester played into Walcott’s hands with their high defensive line. I doubt Louis Van Gaal’s side will be so accommodating, and for that matter neither will Olympiacos. At 1-1, it was anybody’s game, but Alexis Sanchez then came to the party in a big way and reminded us of the player he was last season. A hat-trick, the second and third exceptional goals that really demonstrated a striker’s instinct. Would he be better at centre forward or given the freedom his current role allows? The evidence of yesterday suggests the latter. Mesut Ozil also had a great game, largely because of the space provided by the opposition. Given time on the ball, he can kill you. It’s in the matches he does not get it that fans become frustrated. He needs to work harder to influence such games.
At 4-1 it was easy street, but let’s not get too carried away. Defensively the Gunners were highly suspect. Play this way next Sunday v United and it will be hands over the eyes stuff. The first Leicester goal was a shocker, two against two, with Vardy easily outpacing Mertesacker. Hector Bellerin was effectively a winger yesterday, and caught miles up field when the Arsenal attack broke down. He is a very effective weapon in attack, no question about that, but he needs to find a balance.
Leicester’s second goal was disappointing, mainly because of sub Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain standing ten yards off a free Jamie Vardy and not having the presence of mind to go and help out his defence. Sure enough, the ball ended up at Vardy’s feet and he converted. It almost happened 30 seconds earlier in the same move and again, the Ox was a spectator, seemingly just waiting for the ball to come out rather than ensuring his team did not concede. At 4-1, you can get away with it. But it wasn’t a good sign. Successful sides defend as a team, and at times yesterday, when Leicester were attacking, the Gunners looked like a disorganised rabble.
Still, in isolation, we can ignore that and enjoy yesterday’s victory. A thrilling game and no small credit is due in beating the Premier League’s only unbeaten side. Points-wise, with Manchester City’s mini-collapse, Arsenal are right back in the hunt. However, next weekend will tell us whether we can raise our hopes for a title challenge or settle down for a campaign of ensuring a top four place.
In summary, beginning to look like the real thing going forward, with more chances converted, but worryingly disorganised at the back.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
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