There was plenty to like about Arsenal’s performance in victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night but plenty to bemuse and bemoan too.
In many ways, it was a classic cup tie. It had some back-and-forth, some backs-to-the-wall, and some late drama too – all the elements you would want as a neutral fan watching two sides trade blows.
As an Arsenal fan, there was perhaps a little too much late drama for my taste and too much shooting ourselves in the foot too. Ultimately, we secured the result we wanted but there will be elements about our game that will concern Mikel Arteta and, indeed, that concern me too.
I should say, before I launch into a moan, that Gabriel Jesus had probably his best game in a year for Arsenal. His touch, his movement, and his finishing were all electric. We saw flashes once more of the player we signed from Manchester City a few years back and it was a joy to behold. His hat-trick was by far the highlight of the night and worthy of high praise, particularly for a player who has struggled in front of goal for so long.
But more on that later.
Before Jesus had even had a sniff of goal, we had a dour first half to endure. There really were shades of the Everton match in the way we toiled our way from side-to-side against an opponent quite content to sit in. More frustrating than anything else was just how bad the visitors were and equally bad we were in finding ways to break through or at least fashion some opportunities in front of goal.
I will concede that our team selection may have played a significant part in the turgid, rudderless football we served up in the opening 45. But despite the changed personnel, we simply lacked any sort of rhythm or direction. Aside from some individual moments, we produced precious little as a team and that, I think may be where the problem ultimately lay. There was nobody to knit things together, it was a group of individuals out there unfamiliar with each other.
Thankfully, the manager recognised what were clear issues and made changes at the break. The difference thereafter was stark.
In the second half, Palace were simply overawed. At one point we had 90 per cent possession and we were, at last, able to fashion some good quality chances. The difference tonight, versus other games we have endured this month, was a striker capable of putting those chances away.
This is not to forget the supremely average year Jesus has had but he was outstanding from start to finish. A hat-trick was just reward for his efforts and just reward for a second half in which Arsenal were incisive on the ball in a way they simply weren’t in the opening half.
A lot of credit must go to Martin Odegaard too. I’m certain the manager would have much preferred not to have had to bring him on but, having done so, he changed the course of the game. He was the missing link, the man who brought all the disparate strands together, and possibly the only one capable of driving us forward in the way we did in the second half. He has become so vital for us in this campaign and that is both fantastic and worrying. Ethan Nwaneri, for all his talent, will learn a great deal from a match in which he struggled to make an impact. The way Odegaard dominated every aspect after the break should serve as a eye-opener for the youngster.
Having worked so hard to get level and then into the lead, there were some nervy moments late on as we contrived to let Palace back in a game they had hitherto been anonymous in. It was yet another case of an opponent scoring from the merest hint of a chance after we had spent huge periods of the game toiling for a goal of our own.
That’s maybe because we’re a little unlucky but it’s also maybe because opponents are willing to take a chance on something different while we prefer to play the odds. Speculative crosses, shots from distance, long balls – we tend to avoid them in favour of the surer thing – the short pass or the byline cut-back. Sometimes, doing something unpredictable brings its own rewards.
That said, it would have been a travesty had Palace forced a result in this game given just how bad they had been for a significant portion of it. Sure, they had their moments defensively but from an attacking perspective and in terms of retaining the ball they had precious little to offer.
We were worthy winners on the night and I think it’s fair to say we’re all delighted by Jesus, who has endured a luckless year on the pitch. He still needs to produce a great deal more if we’re to say he’s back in form but three goals and an assist from his last two games is a good place to start.
On to the semi-finals!
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