Gunners
The Champions League returns, how did the Premier League team fare?
Overall we saw a record of 4 wins and 2 loses as the English clubs recording the following results:
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Spurs 1-0 Villareal
Arsenal get 3 points in Spain
The first half in Spain was not a great watch as the two teams managed only 1 shot on target between them. After a strong start from the home side, Arsenal gained more and more control of the match as the half wore on. Gyokeres had a couple of chances and also took a bang to the head from Gabriel!
As we got into the second half it was more of the same, albeit Arsenal were probing without creating too many big chances. It started to have the feeling of a one goal game and if Bilbao had grabbed the first it would have been tough for Arsenal to turn it around in a passionate stadium.
However, we saw more evidence of the improved strength in depth Arsenal have this season as both Martinelli (within 30-odd seconds!) and Trossard came on and assisted a goal for each other.
Trossard cleverly flicked an Arsenal clearance over the top for Martinelli to run on too, a touch away from the defender just as it looked as he would get there and he was in on goal. I’m probably not the only Arsenal fan to admit they weren’t certain he would finish the chance but finish it he did and it was great to see the team really celebrating, not just a huge goal in the game, but potentially a huge goal for Martinelli’s Arsenal career. For the second summer in a row there have been rumours of him leaving but hopefully a goal and assist will spark him in to form and give him the confidence to carry on this way.
Defensively Arsenal always looked sound, with Mosquera in particular impressing – how did we snaffle him for £13M!? He has fitted in straight away and looks to have a huge future ahead of him in North London.
Late on in the game Martinelli had the ball wide left and found Trossard in the box, he took a touch, was allowed far too much time and his shot took a deflection past the keeper to seal the game.
A huge win for Arsenal as, with one of the easier game on paper next in Olympiacos at home we could be looking at 6 points from 2 games and a confidant start to the Champions league campaign. I also read this was a record breaking 6th straight win over Spanish sides for Arsenal showing the improvement that has been made in recent seasons and the ease with which we have slipped back in to being champions league regulars.
The other English clubs…
Spurs weren’t great and, after being gifted an own goal thanks to a huge blunder from the Villareal keeper in the 4th minute, managed a total of 0 shots on target during the remainder of the game. To be fair, under Frank they look much improved defensively and this allowed them to keep a clean sheet and secure the 3 points. A big win for Spurs as they have 3 of the easiest games in the competition coming next and could set themselves up for the knockout rounds.
Chelsea went to Bayern and were in the game for a while but Bayern always looked the slightly better team and class played out in the end. A tough start for Chelsea and it will be interesting to see how they balance being back in the top competition and unable to rest their entire team for Premier league games. They travel to Old Trafford this weekend and after their next champions league game they play Liverpool so we won’t have to wait long to see how their squad handles fighting on both fronts.
The Liverpool game was like a microcosm of their season so far as they strolled in to a 2-0 lead, through it away and then scored a late, late winner. A lot of pundits starting to claim this is the ‘champions mentality’ that it takes, I still maintain it’s unsustainable and a sign of a team not playing that well but managing to get away with it.
Ekitike was a new player for me this season as I hadn’t seen much of him in Germany and I thought he started the season really well and was scoring goals. Some hints now that he might not have been so keen to sign had he known they were also going to bring in Isak at the end of window, maybe one to keep an eye on….
Man City faced a potentially tough game against Napoli but once the away team lost their captain to a red card and were forced to take KDB off for defensive reinforcement it always seemed a case of when Man city would score and win rather than if.
Newcastle and St James’ park were fully hyped up for their first champions league game for a couple of years. The team did well and created some chances but ultimately Barca showed why they are many peoples favourites to go all the way this year and their on-loan Man United forward, Marcus Rashford scored a good header before unleashing a rocket from outside the area to put them 2-0 up. Newcastle grabbed a consolation late on but the game was done and dusted.
Like Chelsea, and the Newcastle team of a couple of years ago, it will be interesting to see how Newcastle handle the intensity of balancing these games with the bread and butter of the premier league. This game in particular may have a big emotional impact on the team and they have a tough away game at Bournemouth at the weekend. Not sure I will be adding Newcastle to any betting coupons this weekend….
Overall thoughts….
A good start for the English teams and I think if you were asked to name which two may lose before the games a lot of people would have looked at Chelsea away at Bayern and Newcastle playing one of the overall favourites in Barca.
The three teams expected to go the furthest, Arsenal, Liverpool and City, all start with a win and will be confident moving forwards.
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