A double for our new striker, a 15 year-old producing on his Premier League debut, the unveiling of Eberechi Eze at his new home: who could have asked for more?
Me, that’s who.
Listen, I don’t want to be churlish and sour, especially when some much was so positive but I can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding around this squad and its record of untimely injuries.
Yes, this season we are better prepared to deal with setbacks in the squad but, just two games into the new campaign, should we really have to? Losing Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka to lengthy injuries in the same week goes beyond bad luck – it’s potentially season-defining.
We have a ridiculously difficult start to the campaign, with trips to Liverpool and Newcastle, as well as the visit of Manchester City, all within the next six weeks. It was in this period that we needed everyone available, fit and firing – not hobbling for the treatment room.
And that’s why yesterday’s win over Leeds was tinged with disappointment – at least for me. I would have taken a 1-0, own-goal win if it meant we could have avoided any more injuries. Instead, we have a shiny, headline grabbing win and three of our starting XI looking like they’re destined for the sidelines. And that’s leaving aside lingering injuries to Christian Norgaard and Ben White.
I don’t doubt the club and the manager is looking forensically into what is going on behind the scenes but that doesn’t change the fact that things on the pitch don’t seem to be changing. In fact, they’re getting worse with every season.
Here’s hoping we can navigate these next few weeks while we get a clearer sense of who is out and how long for.
As for the match itself, it was a tricky opening period as Leeds – like almost every other team for the past two seasons – sat deep and looked to hit us quickly on the break. It’s become such a familiar and tiresome approach against us that I’ve grown to detest it. I have no sympathy at all for teams that attempt it and fail spectacularly, as Leeds ultimately did.
But all that doesn’t mean it won’t continue to be tried in this campaign. As has often been the way of late, it was a set piece that provided us with an opportunity to get in front and Jurrien Timber rose superbly to take it.
And while Leeds resolved to stick to their game plan despite having fallen behind, the collective sigh of relief in the Arsenal squad meant they really started to take control. A little of the caution and reticence that plagues us in these sorts of games frittered away and the chances – and goals – started to flow.
There were so many stand-out performers that it’s difficult to highlight any one but I was especially pleased for Viktor Gyokeres. There is a collective desire for him to fail among opposing fans around the league and I’ve no doubt the performance against Manchester United would have weighed on him this week. His relief at scoring a familiar sort of goal to open his account was obvious. With that particular monkey off his back, he can refocus on doing what he does best and the team can focus on responding and reacting to how he operates.
Kudos also goes to Riccardo Calafiori, who is as unpredictable as he is dynamic. The manager has clearly given him licence to do what he wants, where he wants and he doesn’t hesitate to execute. Teams may well work him out as the season moves on but, for now, he brings a real X factor to this squad that is hard to replicate. We need him to stay fit!
Last up, a word on Max Dowman – prodigious. It beggars belief that he is able to do the sorts of things he is doing with so few years of football under his belt. His instincts, his ability, his ambition and confidence – they belie his year. Players twice his age take their entire careers to develop some of the facets he is already showing. Keeping him engage, involved, and protected is going to be a big challenge for Mikel Arteta and his team but, while that goes on in the background, we can all enjoy the emergence of a star.
All things considered, it was a confidence-building win after the toil of Old Trafford but it was a win that was tarnished a little by what it cost us – a bit of a Pyrrhic victory. All eyes on recovery and rest now as we look ahead to Anfield next weekend.
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