Arteta must instantly drop 5/10 Arsenal star who was so “poor” v Brentford

The yr of 2024 did not carry a Premier League title for Arsenal however they had been the most effective workforce within the nation over that calendar yr. The information does not lie.

So, what is going to 2025 carry? Prosperity? Calmness? Drama? A primary Premier League title in over 20 years? Sure, it actually has been that lengthy now.

It will not carry Bukayo Saka for a number of months but as a result of his hamstring drawback however no Saka no drawback for Arsenal, who’ve a 100% report for the reason that Hale Finish expertise was dominated out.

Whereas they solely secured a 1-0 win over Ipswich at residence to see out 2024, they started the brand new yr in superb style by securing a 3-1 victory. It wasn’t with no scare, nevertheless.

Regardless of Brentford barely having a kick within the opening 13 minutes of the conflict, it was the Bees who took the lead by way of the bubbling Bryan Mbeumo.

Arsenal now have not stored a league clear sheet on the street in eight makes an attempt however they rallied to slim the hole between themselves and Liverpool on the high of the desk to 6 factors.

Gabriel Jesus hit again within the opening half earlier than second-half strikes from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli secured the factors.

Arsenal’s finest gamers in opposition to Brentford

With Kai Havertz lacking by way of sickness on Wednesday night, it made for an attention-grabbing Arsenal lineup that was chosen by boss Mikel Arteta.

Jesus starred main the road once more, heading residence from shut vary to attain his sixth aim in his final 4 matches in all competitions.

That stated, it wasn’t the goalscorers who caught the attention essentially the most in west London. It was a sure Ethan Nwaneri who was handed his first Premier League begin on the floor the place all of it started for him as a 15-year-old.

The Gtech was the place he grew to become the youngest Premier League participant of all time and he starred as soon as extra on the similar stadium.

Normally utilised as an attacking midfielder by Arteta, it was on the right-hand facet of the assault the place Nwaneri shone on this event.

He instantly checked out residence and already seems to be just like the closest factor Arsenal should Saka whereas he stays out.

Naturally left-footed, Nwaneri drifted inside and used his fast ft to dazzle the Brentford defence on a number of events. There wasn’t a aim contribution to indicate for his efforts however as Soccer.London’s Tom Canton stated in his post-match participant rankings, he was ‘such a brilliant spark within the facet’.

Arteta has typically been accused of not trusting the celebrities of tomorrow however in Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, he has proven nice religion.

Talking of which, each want to start out after one participant’s efficiency on the away workforce this night…

Riccardo Calafiori’s efficiency in numbers

The emergence of Lewis-Skelly as a left-back in latest weeks has been very spectacular. An 18-year-old, he is performed in a Jurrien Timber-like style, capable of invert into midfield, contribute within the closing third and add safety in possession. The actual fact he averages a 97% move completion fee within the league this time period is proof of that.

So, he certainly has to start out, proper? Nicely, after the efficiency of Riccardo Calafiori on Wednesday you’ll be able to actually argue that case.

The Italian has caught the attention in spurts since signing over the summer time from Bologna, notably scoring that sensible aim in opposition to Manchester Metropolis a number of months in the past.

Nevertheless, he does have a second of insecurity in him and he was arguably at fault for the opener that Mbeumo scored.

Everybody is aware of what the winger desires to do – reduce inside on his left foot – and Calafiori duly let him do this. All too simply as nicely. Within the phrases of 1 Arsenal content material creator, it was a ‘poor’ second and it duly earned him a 5/10 participant score from the aforementioned Canton who famous that ‘some poor passes confirmed that this was certainly a participant recent off from an harm’.

So, it is tough to evaluate too harshly however the truth he gave away possession 13x, essentially the most of any Arsenal participant apart from Jesus, was removed from constructive. It was unsurprising, due to this fact, to see him finish the sport with a move accuracy of 77%, a far cry from Lewis-Skelly’s common this time period.

Calafiori will undoubtedly enhance the extra he settles into this Arsenal workforce however he’s being overshadowed by a uncooked teenage prospect in the mean time.

His time will come however for now, Arteta wants handy the left-back spot to Lewis-Skelly regularly.