Improved Arsenal must show they can roll with the punches
Arsenal have gone into league games against Liverpool in excellent form twice this season and been humbled. They must recover instantly.
The Arsenal roadshow was well and truly in town last weekend. Introducing lead actor Aaron Ramsdale, previously seen in Sean Bean’s Sheffield territory, but now getting rave reviews for his performance in net. He strutted and rolled around like Daniel Craig without guns. Even Brendan Rodgers was wowed by the theatrical but impressive save from Harvey Barnes. It was a Super Sunday premiere that turned more heads as the Gunners continued their mission to get back into Europe’s elite.
A-lister Aaron is the poster boy of this new, improved feeling. The Emirates was Arsene Wenger’s “suffering” but is now being retuned into a stadium of light. The Frenchman’s crossed arms and cross words are a distant memory. The kids are alright. Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli are the future. Mikel Arteta is moving the club forward with a sure hand. Smiles and waves are not his thing but the intensity is translating to the pitch.
After Sunday’s routine 2-0 victory over willing victims Leicester, Jamie Redknapp garlanded Ramsdale with superlatives: “He played a ball into Partey in midfield today that even Glenn Hoddle couldn’t have played, it was just unbelievable. A modern goalkeeper has to be good on the ball and also a great goalkeeper, and that’s what he is.”
What a reaction from Brendan Rodgers after that Ramsdale save https://t.co/DB7oFXdnkE
— Sir Jenkinson (@theEpicGooner) March 13, 2022
Those were hyperbolic supersonic words that would not stand up to scrutiny just days later. “Unbelievable” and “great” are accolades that need to be earned over time, through success and solid achievements. We are not there yet.
Warming to the theme of Ramsdale for president, avuncular Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink insisted that he is always waiting for a Jordan Pickford mistake between the national sticks. It’s a long wait, Jimmy, but do go on. When David Jones challenged The Hassel on this particular point, the Dutchman admitted that he wasn’t English and is therefore able to see things differently.
This is the point. People see life through their own subjective prism, even more so when a catchy narrative appears backed up by upwardly mobile progress. The whole truth is not necessarily totally distorted by lashings of praise. Articles about Arsenal‘s new groove or how they got the feel good factor back are a great read. As Odegaard claimed: “There is clearly something special going on here now. You feel it in the whole club. We are building something special. It’s a group of players who like each other, and who enjoy playing football together.”
Who are we to say otherwise?
Arsenal are an improved model. Twice before meeting Liverpool, they have been flying in relative terms. The Gunners chalked up 20 points from a possible 24 on the eve of the Anfield annihilation in November. They had taken 28 from a possible 33 when the Reds came to north London. It showed in that first half, too.
However, the rate of the ascent could not live with the rarefied air that Liverpool’s crack force inhabit. Arteta may have stepped over the white line a little too much by suggesting that “if we get to the game with the belief and understanding of doing what we can do, the game is there for the taking”. Don’t think he meant it like that. It was a little giddy nonetheless. Expectations are bubbling and when the sucker punch comes, heads take some time to clear.
Arsenal need to cement what’s possible: preserving fourth. The quality of competition in that race is such a rollercoaster of broken dreams and damaged goods that this will be one helluva bun fight. Despite the manager’s protestations that it’s no longer a club that feels sorry for itself, there are still signs of struggle in extremis. For all the good work against Manchester City, keeping heads on shoulders and players on the pitch was too much to ask. Arsenal are yet to pick up a single point against the Premier League top three this season. That won’t be damaging if they do the business elsewhere. That Wolves comeback template has to be the norm when the chips are down.
Arteta has ruthlessly disposed of the captain who didn’t fit into the bigger vision or ethic. Bravo. Applause all around for snuffing out any signs of anarchy. The battles cannot be off the pitch. But one question remains: do this new Arsenal have the required bottle for the run-in when the scrutiny down the long straight will ramp up to the rafters? There are fixtures against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Manchester United and West Ham all in the next six. Then we will learn whether the Gunners can be playground spoilers who want this badly, as well as pretty boys with balls.
