The days leading to Boxing Day were all arousing with tension, expectations, anxiety and positive vibe. Everyone was looking forward to Mikel Arteta's first game in charge as Arsenal Boss. Well, everybody, I meant, the football world. 😁.
I was unavoidably unavailable at my comfort zone to see the match but you know, for the passions, "mag gat to do what he gat to do". Local man had to make a binge subscription (which turned out to be crap as it lasted me till around the 88th/89th minute)... So painful.
Ordinarily, taking from Arsenal's recent performances, I would have settled for watching the highlights since I was unavailable but it was more beyond knowing the scoreline. I could have also followed LIVE commentary on SkySports but, I really wanted to see the game play. Wanted to see the change, if any at all in the set up. So, I had to do a live stream, bittersweet experience.
We ended up play a one all draw in Arteta's first game in charge. Not bad if you ask me. What matters is where we go from there.
MY OPINION
From the lineup, I really cannot say I was disappointed, especially seeing Saka at left back again, knowing we had our two natural left backs out injured. I was more surprised with the decision to not start Nicolas Pepe.
Reiss Nelson who started in his place has got a lot o potential but I still feel he has a lot to learn. Yes, he performed well at Hoffeinhem last season but it's a different ball game in the EPL, you have to take it one step at a time with him.
I'm not really sure the problem the managers have with Pepe. You can't help a player with his confidence if you keep giving him less than five minutes of play time, not to say the club record signing who has a lot to prove. It's worrying. He came on an showed highlights of things we know he could do, why put him on the bench.
Not to take away the improvement witnessed in the players' attitude and spirit. That, if not anything was commendable. I was particularly pleased with Granit Xhaka (very weird... Lol) Torreira seemed back to life and my dear Laca... Oops, I could say he was misfiring. And, it was good to see Auba get back on the score sheet.
Like I said, let's take it, one game at a time. Hopefully, we'd improve game by game and get the desired results.
