What we did we learn from Arsenal vs Leicester

Gabriel Jesus

What we did we learn from Arsenal vs Leicester 

By Ben Hart 

Arsenal’s first home outing of the new season was certainly a fun one. 

Mikel Arteta’s side were scintillating in the first half at the Emirates Stadium, with Gabriel Jesus registering his first league goals for Arsenal to put them 2-0 up at the break. 

The second period was a little more frenetic as Arsenal twice let a two-goal lead slip but were able to restore the cushion within two minutes on both occasions. 

It took until December for Arsenal to score four in the league last season, so after a convincing 4-2 win over an established top-flight side in Leicester, Arsenal will be brimming with confidence ahead of games against Premier League new boys Bournemouth and Fulham. 
  
Here is what we learnt from the demolition of the Foxes. 

Jesus is what Arsenal have been missing 

There were more than a few shades of Alexis Sanchez to Jesus’ performance against Leicester. 

The Brazilian's first goal evoked memories of Alexis’ fine strike against Ludogorets in the Champions League in 2016, a glorious chip from the left of the box into the far top corner. 

Jesus also became the first player since Alexis to have been directly involved in four or more goals for Arsenal in a single league game since the start of 2016/17.

Having grown tired of Alexandre Lacazette’s ever-diminishing goal return prior to his summer departure, the threat Jesus provides is already proving a welcome and long overdue change, and he has already managed as many non-penalty goals this season as Arsenal’s former No.9 managed in the entirety of the 2021/22 season. 

He will be aggrieved to have not completed his hat-trick, having had three decent opportunities to put the icing on a truly memorable home debut, but if his current form continues, he could well prove just as devastating as Alexis had been in his Arsenal prime. 

Saliba will make mistakes…but he has the support of his manager and fans 

It was always going to be tough for William Saliba to top his Man of the Match performance at Crystal Palace. 

But according to Arteta, the way the Frenchman responded to his unfortunate own-goal in the second half against Leicester was even more impressive than his peerless display at Selhurst Park. 

The 21-year-old diverted a threatening James Justin cross past Aaron Ramsdale after 53 minutes, an error which could have had harmful consequences for both Saliba’s confidence and Arsenal’s hold on the game. 

But Saliba remained just as assured and seemed totally unphased by his slight misjudgement. 

He and Arsenal ensured the mistake was not a fatal one, and that they were still able to see out the game with relative ease will have done a world of good for both the individual and the team.  

It is important to remember that Saliba is still in the process of learning about his new teammates and that mistakes will be part of his acclimatisation to the Premier League, just as they were for his new centre-half partner Gabriel when he joined from Ligue 1 in 2020. 

The way the Arsenal fans reacted to the own-goal, by singing Saliba's name and applauding their new hero, will certainly have reassured him that he has a home in north London. 

Maybe Arsenal don’t need Tielemans after all 

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Youri Tielemans all summer but based on Saturday's evidence they may be just fine without him. 

Tielemans has been mooted as an alternative to Granit Xhaka in the Arsenal midfield, but the Swiss captain upstaged the Belgian, weighing in with a goal and an assist and making several fantastic bursting runs into the box from the inside left channel. 

He is certainly playing some of his best football for Arsenal right now, and looks an indispensable member of the team, dovetailing brilliantly with Thomas Partey while also exchanging positions seamlessly with Oleksandr Zinchenko when Arsenal build from the left. 

Another new signing, Fabio Vieira is also thought to be a contender for the left '8' role, but based on current form, it is going to take something special to dislodge Xhaka. 

Arsenal can change momentum in matches 

Having conceded a goal from nowhere, and a needless own-goal too, you could have forgiven some inside the Emirates for thinking that Arsenal might crumble. 

One of the main shortcomings of Arteta’s side last season was their inability to shift the momentum in matches, or to recover quickly after conceding.   

That they were able to do so twice against Leicester shows the improving character and mental strength of Arteta's team. 

The additions of serial winners Jesus and Zinchenko are of course a factor in that, but it would seem that their experience of closing out victory and navigating tough moments in matches is already rubbing off on their new teammates. 

Sterner tests lie ahead, but Arsenal have made a brilliant start to the new Premier League season. What a difference a year makes.  

Photo Credit: 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