IT IS Tuesday, December 29 and we Arsenal followers are genuinely enthusiastic about our final match of 2020 – one thing we maybe won’t have stated over the previous few weeks.
Apprehension has been firmly changed by anticipation for the membership’s go to to Brighton this night.
Emile Smith Rowe is likely one of the Arsenal kids serving to to get the very best out of his extra skilled team-matesCredit score: Kevin Quigley-The Every day Mail
Granit Xhaka loved one in every of his greatest video games of the season within the 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Boxing DayCredit score: AFP
Nonetheless, this new positivity is not only born out of the victory over our big-spending London neighbours Chelsea, however the method and elegance of the win, and critically – for me – the gamers answerable for it.
The entire beginning XI are deserving of reward, however it was the influence of youth that, largely, made the distinction.
It’s massively encouraging subsequently to listen to that Mikel Arteta chosen the youthful gamers that he did as a result of they deserved to start out, and never as a result of sure senior gamers the place unavailable.
I sincerely hope this heralds a brand new section of 2020-21, during which the supervisor’s choice relies on skill, kind and benefit, not seniority, expertise and – dare I say – price ticket.
This additionally got here on the again of membership legend, Ian Wright, revealing on his podcast earlier than Christmas how a lot the younger gamers respect Arteta, consider in him and needed to succeed with him.
This has lengthy been evident within the shows and phrases of each Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney – allow us to not overlook the Scot is just 23 – each of whom have shone and endeavoured to induce on their extra skilled colleagues in current weeks.
Maybe these two on their very own, regardless of their efforts, weren’t sufficient to rub off on or energise their team-mates.
However on Saturday, when Arteta added Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe to the combination, the outcomes had been staggering and evident for all who watched the match.
Chelsea merely couldn’t take care of the exuberance of youth that was of their faces from minute one.
The fixed vitality, willingness to chase seemingly misplaced causes, excessive press, and tempo of the triumvirate of Martinelli, Smith Rowe and Saka was a sight to behold.
The Chelsea defence – and certainly midfield – got no time to dwell on the ball or suppose and this zest rubbed off on Alexandre Lacazette forward of them and Granit Xhaka behind them.
It was no coincidence that each ‘veterans’ had their greatest recreation in an Arsenal shirt this season.
The vitality and high quality of the play of all three in assault was apparent as Arsenal transfer the ball faster, discovered extra decisive passes, made simpler by higher off-the-ball motion.
However within the second half when the guests may need come again into the sport, each Saka and Martinelli confirmed equal dedication and work fee of their defensive duties.
An instance that won’t have been missed by their watching supervisor, nor I think Willian and Nicolas Pepe.
In Smith Rowe, as I’ve written beforehand, Arteta, for now no less than, because the logical participant, with the right attributes to play the No10 position and Martinelli and Saka each excel as vast gamers within the 4-2-3-1 system.
It’s simple to forgot Kieran Tierney continues to be solely 23 as he affords an skilled head within the dressing roomCredit score: Getty Photos – Getty
Smith Rowe and his fellow kids received Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette working arduous in entrance and behindCredit score: Getty Photos – Getty
Nonetheless, as I’ve advised, it isn’t simply what these gamers usher in their very own proper however how they bring about the very best out of others.
Each Tierney and Hector Bellerin thrived towards Chelsea with these ‘inverted wingers’ forward of them, overlapping at will and to nice impact, assured that Mohamed Elneny and Xhaka had been sitting and defending the centre-backs.
I also needs to add a phrase or two in reward of Joe Willock, who has struggled when requested to play the central attacking position, creatively no less than.
On Saturday when he got here on, it was nominally in that place to switch Smith Rowe, however as a substitute at that stage within the recreation it was extra about defending the lead and Willock performed his half to nice impact.
He used his tempo and lengthy legs to get again nicely, stifle Chelsea assaults and made some fabulous challenges in key areas.
Most likely not what Willock needs to be identified for however yet one more instance of the helpful influence of youthful vitality.
We’ve seen the superb outcomes that may happen when mixing genuinely expertise kids with high quality, established gamers prior to now.
Pundits will usually cite the influence at Manchester United of the Class of ’92, and righty so, however we Arsenal followers will inform you George Graham did it earlier in 1989.
Arteta arguably has the very best collective of younger gamers since Adams, Rocastle, Thomas and Thomas and it stays to be seen if he’ll mix them with the deserving senior gamers long term.
I sincerely hope he does.
Twitter: @goonerdave66
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Wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are two of Arsenal’s most fun gamers proper nowCredit score: Guardian Information & Media / Free to make use of by all titles in perpetuity underneath NMC settlement
Joe Willock put in a nice efficiency on the Emirates as he helped Arsenal maintain on to their leadCredit score: Reuters
