Arsenal secured their first three points of the season with a commanding victory, highlighted by the opening goal from their £65 million striker. The anticipation leading up to the match centered around the absence of new forwards at the club. However, I maintained my stance that any incoming striker should surpass Kai Havertz, and as of now, no striker has transitioned to a team that I believe would better our attack.
When Havertz netted the first goal with a well-placed header, I felt justified in my belief. I reflected that if we had signed players like Dominic Solanke or Ivan Toney and they had scored that goal, we would all be praising the value of a quality striker. Havertz’s goal was a classic striker’s finish, reminiscent of Olivier Giroud’s best moments, complemented by Havertz’s all-around gameplay.
I understand some fans may have felt uncertain seeing the starting lineup, which featured no new signings and left Riccardo Calafiori on the bench. Nevertheless, given our previous season’s performance against Manchester City, there was no need for drastic changes.
Typically, clubs lower in the standings are the ones to make multiple signings, whereas higher-ranked teams with established squads tend to keep their core players. Any new additions must improve upon the current roster. In this context, I don’t believe a player like Solanke would significantly elevate our squad over Havertz or Gabriel Jesus. On the other hand, Calafiori is a clear upgrade on Jakub Kiwior, and Mikel Merino provides a stronger midfield option than Emile Smith Rowe.
Historically, we have struggled at the start of the season as new players took time to gel, but with so few signings, our current squad already has established chemistry. We saw this with Ben White and Bukayo Saka rekindling their partnership, essential for the new England manager to recognize. Oleksandr Zinchenko contributed effectively from the left, while Thomas Partey functioned as a solitary defensive midfielder, with Gabriel Martinelli providing width on the left. It felt reminiscent of “same old Arsenal.”
Zinchenko’s substitution for Jurrien Timber after the hour mark was intriguing, indicating that Calafiori, while future-oriented as a left-back, may not yet be first choice. Timber and Zinchenko give us the flexibility for more adventurous full-backs on both sides.
This change did not signal Timber’s superiority over Calafiori but rather the tactical variation we can employ depending on the opposition. Some matches may call for White on the left and either Timber or Zinchenko on the right, while others might see Timber on the right and Calafiori on the left.
Something noteworthy from the game was the mention of Arteta’s desire to “reduce the minutes” of certain players. A common critique of Arteta is that he often relies heavily on a select few, which can be justified given the performance levels of some squad members like Smith Rowe and Nelson.
Throughout this season, we can expect Timber and White to share responsibilities on the right flank, while Zinchenko and Calafiori will alternate on the left. In midfield, we have Partey, Merino, Declan Rice, and Jorginho to cover those roles, with Leandro Trossard and Martinelli rotating on the left side and Havertz and Jesus leading the line.
Only William Saliba, Gabriel, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard are players who will start as long as they are fit. It’s crucial to keep in mind that top-tier talents like Odegaard and Saka should not have their minutes managed excessively; they excel when given consistent playing time, much like legends such as Messi and Ronaldo rarely faced rotation during their primes.
With the first win of the season under our belt, we now have a week to prepare for our upcoming match against Aston Villa, followed swiftly by an international break.
Enjoy your Sunday!