Revenge vs Brentford Shows How Far Arteta Has Brought Arsenal This Season

At the start of the season, Arsenal faced Brentford in a match which highlighted the Gunners’ disarray and lack of preparation for the season ahead. 6 months and 22 matches later, the vast difference in the Arsenal line-up this time around against Brentford shows the progress that Arteta has made in this season alone.

So how did Arteta line the teams up?

The first time around, Bernd Leno started between the sticks. The German was clearly the recognised GK at the club and wasn’t really a point of interest in terms of benching him, however, Edu brought in Aaron Ramsdale and Arteta hasn’t looked back since. A 55% clean sheet percentage (11 in 20 Premier League games) and counting. He wasn’t asked to do much today but was obviously unfortunate to concede late on.

Kieran Tierney and Benjamin White made up half of the defence in that lacklustre defeat and did so in the win today as well. Both played well in staying solid defensively whilst also contributing to the attack when possible. Where Pablo Mari stood in the first game of the season now stood Gabriel, whose aggression and physicality resulted in a terrific performance from him. The Brazilian is proving his worth to the club time and time again.

Calum Chambers set up on the right hand side for that game in August. Since then, Japanese international Takehiro Tomiyasu has been a stalwart at RB and a great improvement in the position. Out with injury today, he was replaced with Cedric, who played brilliantly on both sides of the ball. The Portuguese should’ve easily won his team a penalty for a handball offense that was turned down, even though practically the same ‘blocked shot’ happened in the City vs Spurs game, resulting in a penalty. All we ask for is some consistency.

In midfield, Emile Smith-Rowe and Granit Xhaka were the only other 2 that started both games. This time around, Xhaka commanded the midfield with great solidity and presence whilst Smith-Rowe did what he does best with a moment of individual excellence, cutting in from the left wing and scoring the opener. Record signing Nicolas Pepe started in the season opener but came off the bench at the Emirates, looking like a much more revitalised player compared to the start of the season. Albert Sambi Lokonga didn’t step on the pitch in this game, losing out to Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian’s immense physicality made the Arsenal midfield impenetrable off the back of two brilliant performances from him and his Swiss counterpart.

Gabriel Martinelli started the match in Round 1 but obviously missed the Round 23 fixture due to suspension, allowing Bukayo Saka to play and eventually score a brilliant goal – enough lift to clear the defender, enough dip to stay under the crossbar, enough power to beat the keeper – a wonderful finish (pictured below).

Arteta chose youngster Folarin Balogun to start against Brentford. This time around the manager went with Lacazette… because he’s got no one else. Papa Smurf didn’t offer much up top but still managed to get an assist for Smith-Rowe’s goal - probably the easiest one of his career. If it was up to me, I’d start Pepe up top. Watching Lacazette play makes it clear that there isn’t really anything he does that Pepe can’t do the same or even better.

With only 4 players starting both games, the adjustments were ample in securing another big 3 points in the race for Top 4, with the Emirates experiencing a dominating performance sealed off with goals from Hale End graduates Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka. Smith-Rowe’s 10th goal this season makes him the first academy graduate to do so since Cesc Fabregas in the 2009/2010 season… and he’s only just getting started.