Kevin Whitcher
(Ed’s note – As I was unable to see the game last night due to being abroad, my thanks to David Oudôt for doing the honours. Apologies this is a bit later than usual, but a combination of tech issues for the author and my travelling today put paid to the plan to post it earlier)
In what was a glorified behind closed doors friendly, an opening win in our Thursday night distraction saw what was a far easier win and good workout for a lot of squad players than the 4-2 scoreline suggests. Despite Emery's insistence that (unlike Wenger last year) the Europa League would not see us using a reserve XI every week, last night saw starts for summer signings Lichtsteiner, Leno, and Torreira, with Mo Elneny and Welbeck being named in the starting XI for the first time this season too.
Although the opposition were obviously of a different and lower quality (it says a lot about the difference in the European competitions in that Spurs’ group contain three top level clubs and we’ve got a bankrupt Portuguese club, Carrier Bag FC, and a Ukrainian team with less supporters than Citeh) the 90 minutes was used as an exposure for some unused players in the first team squad realistically fighting for starting positions in the League and it looked like watching a different team in many positions. The first time the ball came back to Leno in goal at his feet, all 23,500 of us at the ground sat forward unsure of what to expect from him. To see a striker come in to him straight away to ‘Cech’ him out (*CYMBAL CRASH*) and Bernd calmly take one touch to the side and dink it 45 yards up-field, coolly, quickly, smoothly, and right to the feet of the target player, got all of our attention. Similarly, whilst playing alongside the young Rob Holding, Sokratis seemed calmer and more organised, managing the pair of them carefully, staying out of each other's way - almost problem free.
Over the course of the game both new signings seemed comfortable and relaxed in the side and offering better alternatives to Cech and Mustafi in their respective positions. Leno looked far more natural in the role of ‘keeper-sweeper that Emery is looking to use by monitoring from the edge of the ‘D’ outside the penalty area, allowing the team to press high up the pitch, and you can see him barking orders at the defence when assembling walls at free-kicks. Cech on the other hand, is quiet and reserved, and only comfortable within his own penalty area as though the nerves and pressure over the big adaptation to the game he has played throughout his career is proving perhaps too intimidating for the veteran. Far more like Lehmann than Almunia, definitely.
Similarly, Sokratis in defence was leading and ordering Holding around, and he just cannot do that with Mustafi who is very John Terry-esque in that he runs around the pitch like a mad hatter and so has to make last minute sliding tackles… that are often too late and gives the opposition a chance. Safe in the confidence of the keeper behind covering any long balls over the top, you would often see Sokaritis, Holding, or Elneny camped on the halfway line whilst the other nine are pressing as our new manager desires. Yes, we conceded two goals to a poor side but I think they can be ignored. The first was a defensive fault at the hands of veteran Lichtsteiner whose primary job is to provide cover and education for Bellerin over the course of this year, and who thumped the ground aggressively after the ball reached the top corner out of the reach of Leno, and the second was another top corner finish with the last kick of the game when our team were in the dressing room mentally.
My theory from the start of his appointment as manager is that Emery made it clear to Gazidis and co on taking the job that at least the first half of this season will be an audition for the squad, and he will ultimately focus on the squad's main XI in the League with changes only for the three cup competitions to allow them time to play things his way. If, by March time, it is clear the Wenger old boys do not fit then Sven and Raul will have to start looking for replacements in the summer. I already think it safe to say that taxis can be booked in advance for Mustafi, Cech, and Welbeck.
Back onto the game, and after a first half in which we dominated, the lead was taken with Aubameyang taking a chance to help repair his damaged ego. By ending an unfamiliar pacey counter attack with a delicious finish and sending the ball back from whence it came has hopefully restored his confidence and that in tonight's chief creator, Mkhitaryan. Without Özil on the pitch, Mkhitaryan had the classic number 10 position and was the team’s focal point and after having played alongside Aubameyang for three seasons at Borussia Dortmund, there is a strong suggestion of an underlying understanding greater between the two of them than Özil with anyone else. It could be argued that like Graham Rix, Anders Limpar, and David Bentley (and Özil?), Mkhitaryan is a great player when playing weak opposition and cruising to an easy win but goes hiding when things get tricky (e.g. the 3-1 hammering we received at Swansea shortly after he arrived) but maybe the greater understanding between the pair of them will bring the best out of each other. The third goal was another example of it with Mkhitarayan doing such a good run off the ball away from Aubameyang that it gave the striker two genuine options of shooting or playing the other player through – either way would be a winner and for the shot to curl in the bottom corner with the ‘keeper looking at it rather than diving says a lot.
Another highlight was Lucas Torreira who is obviously a very different player to Xhaka and having more to his game, equally comfortable with the defensive requirements of tracking back, as well as playing 40 yard cross-field balls to open up space. People are understandably frustrated that he seems perfect for what Emery wants yet is playing second fiddle to Guendouzi and Xhaka, but I think patience may very well prove to be a virtue with him. We berated Liverpool after they signed the Ox from us last season and he spent the first half of it on the bench, but when he became a starter in the second half of the season and looked much better than the player we sold it was clear that they were de-Arsenal-ising him and letting him get used to the way they play. By easing him into the side gently rather than throwing them into a baptism of fire they are getting the best out of him (as they appear to be doing with Fabinho this season) so Emery may well be doing so with the man who will grow into the crux of our midfield.
The last major thing to bring out of the game was the competitive debut of Emile Smith-Rowe. Smith-Rowe came on looking equal parts nervous and exciting, but was hungry and eager to get the ball and do as much as he can. Getting the ball on the edge of the box and looking to dance through the opposition as a matter of urgency was exciting for all of us. It says a lot about him that we when we looked to get caught on a counter-attack towards the end, he was the sole player back. A cross comes in for a player at the back post but Emil throw himself at the cross head first, and uses his noggin to take it away from the striker for a corner. Messrs Mkhitarayan and Özil, please take note.
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