Arsenal suffered their first defeat in many months when they faltered against Everton last week. That set some alarm bells ringing among the fans as there is a worry that cracks are starting to appear in the title challenge. But that should not be a thought as these blips are bound to happen for any team.
A lot of the Gunners’ inability to break down the Toffees or Newcastle United for that matter was down to the inefficiency of the attack. The major factor behind that is the absence of one man, Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian who got injured in the World Cup brings in certain qualities that no one else in the team has.
The Unpredictability
This is one of the best qualities of Jesus as the forward is able to create unpredictable patterns on the pitch and whether it is with his movement or dribbling, he has the knack of making defenders commit. The biggest advantage of this aspect is that, it allows others to get into the game. This could be seen in the way the team was playing fluidly before the World Cup began.
And this kind of versatility in how you attack, is needed when you have to beat low blocks. When a defence is focused on being organised and compressing the pitch, you need to be able to stretch and pull them apart. For that, you need runners who are good with the ball and that is exactly where the former Manchester City man comes in.
One particular example from this season that stands out is the first goal that the north Londoners scored at Bournemouth. Jesus controls the ball near the halfway line, turns quickly and dribbles past three to four players and lays it off to Martinelli. That awareness of where his teammates are is another special quality which helps open up defences.
The Xhaka And Martinelli Factor
There are two players in particular who have been helped by the presence of the Brazil international. And it can be argued that the form of Martinelli and Granit Xhaka has gone down a little bit since the resumption of the league. They do not seem to be as effective as they were earlier in the season.
If you take a look at the Everton game, it was evident that on far too many occasions, Martinelli was left isolated on the left flank. With Alex Zinchenko playing more as a central midfielder, it left the winger all on his own. If Jesus was playing, this would not have happened as those two have built quite a rapport and understand each other’s rhythms very well.
The effect on Xhaka can also be seen in how the runs of the Swiss midfielder have changed. Earlier in the season, we could see him in the opposition box on a regular basis because of the way Jesus likes to rotate his positions. That adds another dimension to how the Gunners attack and that causes confusion in the opposition defence. So, once the Brazilian talisman is back, these two are bound to have an uptick in their form.
Nketiah The Answer?
Before we say anything, it needs to be mentioned that Eddie Nketiah has done a phenomenal job filling in for the former City man. But, there are certain things that the English forward just cannot do. And that is not to blame his style of play as he is more of a pure goal scorer. His winner against Manchester United was possible only because he knew how to be at the right place at the right time. There is no guarantee that Jesus would have been there so, it helps Arsenal to have two quality forwards with differing traits.
A lot of clubs have a problem trying to find a backup forward that can complement the first team. But thanks to the development of Hale End and the talent that emerges from it, the Emirates is blessed to have two brilliant attackers.
The beauty of having two talented strikers is that you do not have to choose between one or the other. Mikel Arteta has the ability to use each player for different scenarios and that will help the team push their title charge forward. Nketiah is not always going to be the answer but can pose an interesting question to defences.
Forgotten Stars
As fans we have the tendency to put our focus on the bright and shiny new thing in front of us. But it is important to sometimes remember the talent that isn’t on the pitch. Take the case of Emile Smith Rowe who is being eased into action after getting surgery that was long overdue. Since the club is taking some time to bring him on, there are already calls to sell him.
This reactionary nature tends to take away some of the shine from what has been an amazing season. With Jesus away from action due to his injury, he is also being this reaction from ome fans which is a bit disappointing. Some people will point to the number of goals that Jesus has scored and say that he hasn’t done well. But what the forward is doing on the pitch outweighs his goal tally.
He may never turn out to be a 25-goal a season player but will ensure that the goals keep flowing. It might seem like a tough concept to grasp but once you see this in action, you will be convinced. There is a title at stake and that can only be won when different players are able to contribute.
So, the only thing fans need to keep in mind is that each player brings his own attributes to the team. And there are some such as Jesus who are able to do what no others can. This is the kind of player that can turn the game around in an instant. He raises the game of his teammates and for that reason alone, he should not become a forgotten star.
Conclusion
It can be said that the Gunners have not been in this position for some time and whenever there is a little wobble, fans start to worry. But as we saw with City losing to Tottenham, this season is going to have a lot more twists and turns. There is no need to panic but just be ready for whatever is thrown your way and to witness this thrilling title run-in you need to be at the Emirates. With Arsenal tickets selling like hot cakes, book your seats right now.
There are still 18 games left in the Premier League and a few more in the Europa League. Hopefully Jesus can be back soon and show just what this team has been missing. Arteta struck gold with someone he is familiar with and it is his vision that needs to be applauded.
Arsenal still have the upper hand in the title race and they should keep that in mind. Performances such as the one at Goodison Park are bound to happen, it is how you respond that matters. Fans will be hoping to see their heroes bounce back in strong fashion against Brentford this coming Saturday.
