A BLOCKBUSTER WITHOUT A PLOT – BUT ARSENAL STILL SHOWED UP
When the fixtures were announced, I was really looking forward to Arsenal’s game at Anfield. I felt there would be a lot at stake going into this one - a potential title decider, or at the very least, a clash with real consequences.
But now, with the league wrapped up and not much jeopardy in Arsenal finishing second, the game felt a bit empty. The kind of blockbuster you look forward to all year, only to find the climax already passed.
Considering the emotional week we have been through, we didn’t start the game that badly. We had two big chances to big chances to take the lead but didn’t manage to capitalize and then completely switched off, allowing Liverpool to score 2 goals within 2 minutes. That summed up our season and the rest of the half felt like the players didn’t want to be there.
That said, our record against the so-called “big six” was still on the line. Whether the players liked it or not, Arteta was always going to be fuming at half-time after that first-half showing. It was going to be interesting to see the response: do we collapse, or turn it around?
There was no way Arteta was accepting a similar performance in the second half and the players responded brilliantly. We were aggressive, committed, and purposeful. Yes, the red card and sloppy play towards the end almost jeopardised things, but the second-half performance has to be carried now into the last two games of the season.
One of the big positives? Gabriel Martinelli. That was a proper second-half performance at #9.
He’s got so much more to offer in this Arsenal side, and you could see it in the way his movement completely changed the dynamic of our attack. It’s no coincidence Ødegaard came to life the moment he had a proper runner in front of him.
And honestly, I don’t think Martinelli at #9 was just a case of Arteta throwing something at the wall. I have a feeling that they’ve worked on this. You don’t show that level of understanding of the role, or that kind of movement, without coaching. It never felt like his first rodeo.
Not sure what exactly clicked in that second half—maybe it was just having someone threaten the space in behind—but Martin Ødegaard’s decision making, confidence, and shooting reminded me of his 2022/23 version. He looked liberated. He’s definitely going to thrive once we sign a proper #9.
Unpopular opinion: Martin Ødegaard breaks the assist record with a Šeško/Gyökeres/Isak/Watkins in front of him.
As much as the second half showed the fight left in this team, the first half and the squad management this season is a reminder of what can’t happen again. We cannot leave ourselves this thin next season. The club (Arteta included) cannot afford to gamble again. Go out in the summer and get every missing piece as we have built a special squad so far, so let’s not let it go to waste. Lastly, that second half was proof that this team will still play for pride, even when the big prize is out of reach. The character of this team can’t be questioned and that will be rewarded, sooner rather than later.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are here to fight.
Until the next game, till then take care. And try not to scroll through Twitter too much.