Terrific Thomas, shaky Leno and Ozil’s GIFs: Talking points from Rapid Wien v Arsenal

Bernd Leno

Terrific Thomas Partey, shaky Bernd Leno and Mesut Ozil’s GIFs: Talking points from Rapid Wien v Arsenal


By Paul Martin

Arsenal may have done it the hard way in the Austrian capital last night but the result was all-important in what appears, on paper, to be the toughest game Mikel Arteta’s men will face in Group B.

Second half goals from David Luiz and sub Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were enough to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Rapid Wien and there were some standout individual displays on the Gunners’ return to the Europa League.

Here’s a look at the talking points from last night…


How good is Thomas?!

Sometimes full debuts don’t quite live up to the hype – but Thomas Partey's did.

Assured in possession with a passing accuracy of 90% and equally adept at breaking up opposition attacks, the £45m midfielder slotted in effortlessly and gave an indication of what could be to come.

Both Ray Parlour and Martin Keown have made comparisons between Thomas and Patrick Vieira and while it may be early days, more performances like Thursday night’s will mean there is some substance behind such big claims.

Thomas was not the only new signing to impress, with Gabriel quietly and effectively going about his business at the heart of the back four.

Like Thomas, he won possession back on a game-high eight occasions and also topped the charts for aerial duels won, with four.

In short, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Arsenal’s new boys.


Does Leno need more competition?

Arsenal only had to come from behind because of a sloppy error from Bernd Leno, whose casual pass out from the back was intercepted and led to Taxiarchis Fountas' opener.

The German got away with another poor kick shortly afterwards and would have been among the most relieved men inside the stadium when Arsenal turned the game around.

Might Arsenal live to regret selling Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa? He has been a key factor behind Villa's successful start and his performance in last year’s FA Cup final won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

His presence as a quality back-up would also have helped keep Leno on his toes and perhaps avoid basic errors like those made in Vienna.

Whether Runar Alex Runarsson is of the required standard remains to be seen but Leno will hope to get back to last season’s fine form as soon as possible – Arsenal won’t get away with such mistakes the further into the Europa League they get.


Twitter fanbase gets well-paid addition

There have been enough column inches filed about Mesut Ozil to fill an encyclopaedia this season alone, and the mercurial midfielder ensured he remained a talking point by tweeting his support for the side from home as the game went on last night.

PR move or genuine backing? Either way, it remains a staggering waste of his talent to see him sending out man of the match polls and goal GIFs – Ozil now appears to be the world's best paid social media manager.

Arsenal have started the season well without the World Cup winner but a place in the Europa League squad could have been an ideal way to ease him back into action and at least try and get some value from the final year of his contract. 

As it is, it seems Ozil will be limited to joining the rest of us in tweeting from the sofa. It's a sad way for his Arsenal career to drift away.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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