Arsenal v Wimbledon Carabao Cup review

EN 1

Arsenal v Wimbledon Carabao Cup review

By Oscar Maung-Haley

Following Arsenal’s comfortable 3-0 win the the third round of the Carabao Cup over AFC Wimbledon, we take a look at the talking points from last night's action.

ANOTHER clean sheet

Don’t look now, but Arsenal have now kept clean sheets in THREE consecutive games following the Gunners’ dismal 5-0 loss at the hands of Manchester City.

Granted, they came against Norwich, Burnley and AFC Wimbledon but ultimately you can only beat what’s in front of you.

Arsenal’s last three games were all games they should have won – which they have done with relative ease.

And after their 5-0 drubbing against Pep Guardiola’s side, there’s a lot to be said about going back to basics and searching for some form of stability.

The reality is, Arsenal’s first choice XI, on paper, is very talented. For various reasons, they’ve not been able to field it consistently just yet.

If the defence can continue to gel, then Arsenal should climb the Premier League table in a matter of weeks.

The real test will come against Spurs this weekend when the two face off in the North London derby.

Partnerships coming together and minutes under the belt

TP 1

Arsenal’s 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup saw Mikel Arteta give vital minutes to a number of squad players, whilst also fielding a midfield that consisted of Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Partey got through 60 minutes of action against the Dons, as he looks to get up to speed following a mixed start to the season.

If the Gunners are to have a successful campaign, they will almost certainly need the Ghanaian midfielder to play a pivotal role in the middle of the park.

And likewise, with Lokonga showing real signs of promise, a partnership between the two could bring the Gunners some real joy if their upturn in form continues.

Nketiah takes his chance

This summer saw Arsenal embroiled in contract talks with Eddie Nketiah, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

It was reported during the off-season that Nketiah turned down a new deal to extend his stay at the Emirates in what could be another potentially disastrous mishandling of contract negotiations from the Arsenal hierarchy.

However, against Wimbledon, Nketiah was the talk of the town after delivering an impressive performance in front of a packed out Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal’s first goal, a penalty from Alexandre Lacazette, all came from a beautifully-weighted ball into the box from Nketiah, which saw Gabriel Martinelli latch on to it before being brought down.

And he also rounded off the evening with a wonderful backheeled finish to make it 3-0, showing his impressive ability in front of goal.

Granted, it was against Wimbledon, but if Arsenal can get THAT Nketiah on a regular basis, they have a real player on their hands that they must do everything they can to tie down.

However, he must continue to take his opportunities when given them, or his time at the Emirates could be over come the end of the season.

PHOTO CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES

Popular posts from this blog

What have we learned from Arsenal's pre-season so far?

Image
  Arsenal – what have we learned from pre-season? By Jack Lacey-Hatton It only feels five minutes since Euro 2020, but incredibly we are just one week away from the new Premier League season starting. Arsenal will travel to newly promoted Brentford for a London derby in front of a noisy crowd next Friday night, not the easiest of starts to the new campaign. But what sort of shape are Mikel Arteta’s side in, going into what could be a defining season for the manager? We took a close look at what we have learnt from the pre-season period and what kind of shape the squad are in.   The new signings are ready to go It has been a mixed transfer window so far. Some fans would have expected more both leaving and arriving at the Emirates stadium over the summer. But positives can be taken - Ben White has arrived from Brighton for £50million, and highly-rated full back Nuno Tavares has come in from Benfica. Albert Sambi Lokonga completes the 2021 summer singings so far. Cruc...
Read more

Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves

Image
Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves By Jonny Bray It is hard to believe that Ruben Neves is still only 25-years-old.   It feels as if the Portuguese international has been tipped for big things for nearly a decade now.  With the midfielder out of contract in 2023, it appears his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers could be coming to an end.  Understandably, with a player like Neves on offer for a reduced price, clubs around Europe are queueing up to secure the international's signature.  So, after all this time, should Arsenal move for Ruben Neves now, or is it time for the Gunners to turn their attention to a new target?  What would he bring?  Arsenal do not have enough defensive midfielders.  Martin Ødegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka give Mikel Arteta plenty of midfield options going forward, but the Gunners have been found lacking when out of possession this season. Thomas Partey has been in and out of the side due to injuries, a fact that has not hel...
Read more

Where will Arsenal finish this season?

Image
Where will Arsenal finish this season? By Alec McQuarrie Arsenal have made steady improvement over the last few seasons under Mikel Arteta. After finishing 8th in his debut season, the Spaniard oversaw a five-point improvement in his first full campaign.  And last year an eight-point leap followed, which was unfortunately not enough to pip Tottenham to fourth place.  Cruelly, the 69 points accumulated would have been enough to seal Champions League qualification in the previous two seasons.  Looking at the trajectory over the Arteta era, it would be fair to assume a continued improvement this coming season.  After all, with five signings already secured this summer and Alexandre Lacazette the sole first-team player to depart, surely fourth place should be a bare minimum expectation.  Oleksandr Zinchenko offers much-needed cover at left-back and competition for central midfield.  Gabriel Jesus is a proven goalscorer and brings a tireless work-ethic to fulfil...
Read more