Turning a Corner?

Arsenal cruised past Leicester City with a 3-1 win at the King Power Stadium last Sunday as the Gunners climbed back into the top half of the table.

Mikel Arteta fielded a rotated side following the 3-2 Europa League victory over Benfica, bringing in Lacazette, Willian, Pépé, Elneny, Mari and Cédric .

Arseanl got off to a shaky start with Granit Xhaka giving the ball away in his own half 6 minutes in. Youri Tielemans intercepted the ball and marauded down the right flank with Pablo Mari curiously backing off, instead choosing to track Jamie Vardy in the middle. Unchallenged, Tielemans carried the ball into the box, striking it beyond Leno, into the far corner, to give Leicester an early lead.

The Gunners responded well however, growing into the game and having a penalty overturned by VAR in the 12th minute with Pépé being fouled just outside the Leicester penalty area.

The equaliser came in the 39th minute as Pépé was brought down to the right of the Leicester box. Willian stepped up to take the free kick, curling the ball towards the penalty spot as David Luiz dived to meet it, thumping the ball beyond Schmeichel to make it 1-1.

Luiz 1-1

Alexandre Lacazette fired Arsenal into the lead just before half time after Nicolas Pépé won a penalty due to a Ndidi handball. The ball was worked to Pepe on the right with the winger cutting onto his left foot and setting out his trademark curler which struck Ndidi’s outstretched arm, giving Arsenal a penalty. Lacazette stepped up and coolly smashed the ball into the net to put Arsenal ahead at the break.

Lacazette 2-1

Arsenal made it 3 in the 52nd minute with Nicolas Pépé tapping home a flowing counter. Xhaka stole the ball off Evans in Arsenal’s half before releasing Pépé down the right. Pépé drove at the Leicester defence, releasing to Ødegaard who helped it on to Willian. The Brazillian’s deflected shot rolled to Pépé for an easy tap in, sealing the win.

Pépé 3-1

(Credit: Arsenal)

The sheer number of games Arsenal have played in recent weeks forced Arteta's hand on the rotation front, and that came with some concern of a diminished performance. Typically this season, players like Pépé and Willian have struggled to make an impact when they have been brought into the starting 11 but the game turned out to be a positive outing for the pair.

The key to both player’s performance was their simplicity. Both want to pick up the ball, seize up a defender and take him on, which at times is effective but can also slow the attack down, giving the opposition defenders time to set themselves. One of the main reasons Smith Rowe broke into the first 11 is his tendency to only take one or two touches, progressing the ball quickly and unsettling the opposition defence.

Pépé found some form out on the left wing recently as it restricted his capacity to cut inside, instead forcing him to focus on his infield runs and crossing. He showed against Leicester that he can be effective on the right, but only if he is assertive. In the first half, Pépé had the beating of Leicester’s young left back, getting him booked and winning the free kick which led to the David Luiz goal.

The improvement of Willian against Leicester and Benfica was seen in his assist for Tierney’s goal in the Europa League. The Brazilian dropped deep to play a first time ball to Xhaka before spinning and running into the space behind the fullback to give Tierney an option down the line. He then took one touch before laying it back to Tierney in the box. It took Willain 3 touches and running into a dangerous area to create the goal.

Willian assist vs Benfica

(Credit: RMC)

Regardless of people’s opinion of Willian, he is an Arsenal player and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Arteta clearly values him, and he fits the mould of what Arteta wants from a player behind the striker. Hopefully the simplicity of his cameo against Benfica and his performance against Leicester will unlock a player who can contribute to the squad and at the very least allow us to rest the likes of Saka when needed.

Arsenal travel to Turf Moor to play Burnley on Saturday at 12:30pm. It is a game where I expect Burnley to defend deep and look to play long balls to their physical strikers, which could make for a tricky afternoon. It will be interesting to see if Arteta goes back to Aubameyang through the middle with Saka, Ødegaard and likely Willian behind or whether he goes with Lacazette through the middle. It is a game Arsenal have to win if they want any chance of European football through the league.

Prediction: Burnley 0 – 1 Arsenal

Adam Perry – 05/03/2021