Sports
Saka Stunner! Bukayo Saka shines as Arsenal begin season with win over Wolves
For Mikel Arteta, the end goal this season is a simple one: Champions. And Arsenal’s title bid is up and running with three points, after goals in either half from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka were enough to see off Wolves at the Emirates.
Havertz, selected ahead of Gabriel Jesus as the focal point of the Gunners attack by boss Mikel Arteta, nodded the hosts in front after 25 minutes, beating Jose Sa to Saka’s right-wing cross.
Minutes later, Wolves almost levelled, but new No.9 Jorgan Strand Larsen saw his header beaten away by David Raya. Arsenal threatened to score again but couldn’t take their chances, and Raya – who turned his loan move from Brentford permanent this summer – again came to their rescue to deny substitute Matheus Cunha.
Just as the home crowd began to get nervous that the away side could produce a surprise and equalise, England star Saka brilliantly jinked inside on his left foot and slammed an emphatic finish into the back of the net. His celebration – seemingly saying ‘calm down, don’t worry, I’m here’ – told the story.
In the end, they were just a cut above their visitors. By the end of the season, Arteta will hope they’re a cut above the rest too.
Defensively, Wolves were quite good early on. Not perfect, but they frustrated their hosts, didn’t give any clear looks on Jose Sa’s goal. Then, in the 25th minute, a goal that was pretty much unforgivable went against them.
Saka claimed the assist, and while it’s not the first nor will it be the last in his career, it will be tough if there’s ever a more difficult one. Because when the ball was switched out to the right side after a set-piece had broken down, Wolves weren’t in their defensive shape. But only new captain Mario Lemina, 6/7 yards away from Saka as the ball arrived at his feet, will know why he didn’t sprint across to close down the England man.
Instead, he waited and looked around for team-mates, while Saka shuffled the ball back onto his right foot with all the time in the world to survey the scene, and picked out a cross from which Havertz notched. Had Lemina reacted quicker, he may have been able to have an influence.
When Declan Rice and Havertz first arrived at the Emirates, it seemed that the duo were destined to operate together as part of a new-look midfield.
And while 12 months later, at the start of their second seasons in Arsenal red, the £170million duo are both very much fixtures in Arteta’s first-choice starting lineup, their respective situations have greatly changed.
Rice initially appeared to have been signed to be the Gunners No.6, holding and screening the defence. Havertz, even by Arteta’s own admission last summer, was going to dovetail in midfield with Martin Odegaard, the way David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne once would at Manchester City, while Arteta was Guardiola’s No.2.
Alas, it didn’t get the best out of either man. As England have found since the demise of Kalvin Phillips, when Rice is forced to be the deepest midfielder and is restrained, unable to use his physicality and athleticism to run all over opponents, he’s half the player. And when you spend over £100million on a player, you want them to be the best version of themselves.
Thus, Jorginho and Thomas Partey returned and Rice’s role changed. Defensively, it gave Arsenal a better balance and added security, and saw the ex-West Ham man find his best form, becoming a far more decisive performer.
That in turn meant Havertz, whose early showings were widely questioned, saw his situation change too. When Gabriel Jesus’ injury issues reared their ugly head again and Eddie Nketiah having struggled to show he’s the correct answer, the German was pushed into the False Nine role from which he won the Champions League with Chelsea. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea in the role. But he’s now – it’s pretty undisputed – the best fit for this Arsenal side when it comes to being their attacking focal point and getting the best from others.
His header here to open the scoring offered a reminder of that fact, as did his hold up play, his movement, the clever feet and touches to link with the club’s other attacking lights. The less said about the right-foot shot from 12 yards – funnily enough when arriving from deep – five minutes into the second half, the better.
Neither player was signed for the position in which they now find themselves. But if Arsenal are to usurp City this season, these roles, for both men, look the way to go.
For much of last season, whenever he could, Gary O’Neil used three centre-backs: Craig Dawson, Max Kilman and Toti Gomes. The latter would sometimes push out into full-back positions to cover for Rayan Ait Nouri if he had pushed up the field or follow strikers into midfield if they dropped back, so while Wolves would flit between a back four and a back five during matches, those three were important mainstays.
This term O’Neil is determined to take what he sees as the next step in his side’s development: Back four, higher line, an extra attacking player on the pitch.
With Kilman gone and Dawson a year older, that has seen the Wolves boss go with newly-minted Portugal international Toti and returning Colombian defender Yerson Mosquera – fresh from an impressive loan spell at Villarreal – working together throughout pre-season as a pair. Both are strong, quick, mobile, physical, as able to defend on the halfway line or wide areas as they are their own penalty box.
It was something of a surprise to see O’Neil go with the duo as just that in North London. Both Dawson and Santiago Bueno, the Uruguayan international, were on the bench.
But with the Wolves boss determined to make his side more of an attacking threat in his second season, he started with the back four which had been used during the summer.
It was good to see referee Jarred Gillett and VAR Paul Tierney use their common sense in the early part of the second period after a clash between Havertz and Mosquera.
The pair collided after a bit of argy-bargy, Havertz ended on the floor and Mosquera wasn’t best pleased, initially placing his hand high on the chest of the German; comically, as he was giving Havertz some verbals, he stumbled, and proceeded to try and stop his fall with his hands around the neck of Havertz, who duly made a meal of it.
Sadly, you’ve seen red cards dished out in such situations before and just completely ruin games. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here.
If Arsenal are to hit that minimum 90-point mark that’s needed to overhaul City and end their title stranglehold, then you feel Saka, their biggest goal threat, will need to do something he’s not yet managed: Mo Salah numbers.
Well, one goal and one assist on the opening day is a pretty good start.
Saka’s development in recent years has been remarkable, but you do wonder if he has the same single-minded ruthlessness that Liverpool’s No.11 has. Certainly, his goalscoring threat continues to develop – last year was the first time he hit more than 15 goals in the league and the first time he hit 20-plus in all competitions.
At only 22 he is Arsenal’s biggest goal threat. If he can have the kind of season that Salah has normalised during his Anfield pomp – certainly it’s not going to be easy, but it feels like something of which he’s capable – then winning the title can become a reality.
A Wilfred Ndidi own goal in the 94th minute and a close-range Kai Havertz strike in the ninth minute of stoppage time denied a Foxes side who were within reach of an unlikely point at Emirates Stadium after clawing back a two-goal deficit in the second half.
Gabriel Martinelli had given the dominant Gunners a deserved first-half lead when he steered home Jurrien Timber’s cross, before providing the pass for the second, converted by Leandro Trossard, on the stroke of half-time.
Leicester had managed only one touch in the Arsenal area before the break, but they reduced the arrears a little over a minute into the second half when James Justin’s header from Facundo Buonanotte’s free-kick struck Havertz on its way in.
Justin doubled his personal tally in spectacular fashion shortly after the hour mark, meeting Ndidi’s left-wing delivery with a swerving volley that beat David Raya via the inside of the post.
If Arsenal were momentarily stunned by Leicester’s recovery, they soon recovered their poise and Mads Hermansen produced two superb saves to keep the Foxes level, denying Havertz with a point-blank stop before keeping out Trossard’s shot – moments after giving the ball away inside his own area.
But Trossard’s late effort was deflected past the Danish goalkeeper by Ndidi before Havertz struck from close-range to complete the scoring.
Victory lifts Arsenal level on points with Manchester City, who could be overtaken by Liverpool if they beat Wolves at Molineux in Saturday’s late game.
Arsenal fans must have been scratching their heads as the game entered second-half stoppage time, as Leicester closed in on a draw that had barely seemed possible at the halfway point of the contest.
Notwithstanding a Justin shot which was blocked by Riccardo Calafiori, the first 45 minutes took place almost entirely inside the Leicester half, with Bukayo Saka and Martinelli both going close before the Brazilian’s 20th-minute opener.
Calafiori stung Hermansen’s palms and Havertz sent a header narrowly wide from Trossard’s cross, before the Belgian – back from suspension after his dismissal against City last weekend – gave the home side a richly deserved two-goal cushion.
Justin’s first of the afternoon came almost out of nothing and, buoyed by his header, the Foxes continued to venture forward and eventually restored parity through the defender’s spectacular swerving strike.
Time appeared to be running out for Arteta’s team, who had registered more than 30 shots – including 14 on target – and racked up 14 corners as the clock ticked past 90 minutes.
Hermansen did brilliantly to keep out goalbound efforts from Havertz and Trossard before denying Calafiori and substitute Ethan Nwaneri as the Gunners piled forward in increasing desperation.
But they were finally rewarded for their pressure and persistence with just over three of the allotted seven minutes of added time remaining, before Havertz completed the scoring with virtually the final touch of the game.
Pain for Foxes, but positives for Cooper
Steve Cooper said he would not shy away from criticism after Leicester fans were heard chanting “Cooper, sort it out” and “this is embarrassing” during Tuesday’s penalty shootout victory at Walsall in the Carabao Cup.
At half-time on Saturday, it looked like being another painful afternoon for the Foxes and their manager as Arsenal sailed serenely into a two-goal lead, but Leicester’s second-half recovery – though ultimately in vain – will give fans heart for the battles ahead.
Cooper’s team were vastly improved after the restart and Justin’s sensational drive will live long in the memories of the away fans nestled in the lower tier of the Emirates Stadium’s south east corner.
Hermansen was sensational in the latter stages, producing a string of fine saves to keep Arsenal at bay – but there was little he could do about Ndidi’s own goal or Havertz’s last-gasp effort.
Not for the first time this season, Cooper was frustrated by some of the officiating at Emirates Stadium, with referee Sam Barrott refusing to penalise William Saliba for a tug on Jamie Vardy in the build-up to Martinelli’s opener.
Cooper and Vardy were both booked after remonstrating with the officials in the aftermath of the goal.
Once the dust settles on this pulsating contest, Cooper can reflect with pride on his team’s fightback against one of the Premier League’s title challengers – but the manner of the defeat may take a while to digest.
Manchester City and Arsenal have been the Premier League’s best teams over the course of the last two seasons.
Their meetings have felt like gargantuan clashes in the journey of discovering who will win the country’s top division but not always delivered the entertainment that some would expect from the quality of players on display. Sunday’s meeting perhaps did not show an abundance of free-flowing football but it delivered the entertainment and drama worthy of the game, in a manner nearing clashes between Manchester United and Arsenal of old.
When Rodri hit the floor in the opening seconds of the game, the stage was set for what was about to transpire. The Spain star was left clutching his face after colliding with Kai Havertz but there was deemed to be no red card offence having taken place.
A physical start to the game followed and Erling Haaland soon opened the scoring. The City forward scored his 100th goal for the club in 105 appearances and his 10th of the season, and outpaced Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes before slotting past David Raya.
Arsenal cruelly denied famous Man City win after 10-men concede in last minute – 6 talking points
Pep Guardiola’s side did not have to wait long to suffer a blow however. As early as the 16th minute Rodri went down under the challenge of Thomas Partey, clutching his leg.
Once again VAR deemed the incident unworthy of intervention but Rodri was left in tears as he was ultimately forced from the field. The momentum of the game quickly changed as Mateo Kovacic was introduced to replace the 28-year-old.
Soon after the restart, Arsenal found themselves quickly taking a free kick. Gabriel Martinelli drove at City’s defence before laying the ball off to Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian defender, on his full debut, launched an impressive strike to level the game.
City were left furious. There was a suggestion that Arsenal took their initial free kick from a more advantageous position which saw Ederson eventually earn a yellow card.
The Gunners took control of the game at this point and were able to find more success before the end of the half. Gabriel headed home from Bukayo Saka’s corner to give the visitors an advantage.
It was another goal that was not without contention. VAR deemed that Gabriel Martinelli did not foul Ederson in the build up to Gabriel’s effort but Ruben Dias earned a yellow card for his protests.
The half would not end there however as more drama emerged as late as the eighth minute of stoppage time. Leandro Trossard cynically fouled Bernado Silva before launching the ball away after the referee’s whistle had gone.
To the disbelief of Arsenal, it was a second yellow card for the Belgian who was given his marching orders. The Gunners stars frantically protested on the pitch, while Arteta half took off his jumper before making his case to the fourth official to no avail.
The break saw Ben White replace Bukayo Saka as Arsenal opted to utilise a back five in a bid to suppress the Premier League champions. Manchester City dominated possession with their one-man advantage and the first 15 minutes following half-time saw the Gunners manage just 13 passes compared to City’s 138.
Opportunities were taken by Arsenal’s stars to go down in a bid to tick time over, to the extent Michael Oliver was not always forthcoming in believing the Gunners’ claims of cramps. As David Raya looked to stretch out and frustrate his opposition, Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly was cautioned by the official for something he said, despite having yet to make his Premier League debut.
Once again it was in stoppage time where the drama racheted up. First Jurrien Timber went down claiming an injury, to which Oliver invited Arsenal to kick the ball out themselves. Raya launched the ball up the field but not out of play as City were able to keep the ball in but the official then stopped play to the home side’s frustrations and Bernado Silva picked up a yellow card.
Seven minutes later City eventually found the net. The ball fell to John Stones to scramble into the net to spark jubilant celebrations that included Haaland throwing the ball of an Arsenal defender, with some tension also present between the benchs.
Following the restart, things flared up on the pitch. Looking to press the ball, Haaland flattened Partey, who had now made his debut, as the midfielder attempted to block him. Gabriel then came head-to-head with City’s forward as full-time soon arrived.
Below Mirror Football have listed some of the flashpoints from a dramatic match that saw 33 shots from City compared to Arsenal’s five, and seven yellow cards shared between the sides.
Timeline of drama
1 min – Rodri falls to the floor and holds his face after colliding with Havertz from kick-off. Players from both teams crowd the Spaniard but no card is produced as VAR looks at the incident without intervening.
5 mins – Haaland throws himself into a challenge with William Saliba as the pair contest for an aerial ball. It was forceful from the Norway international to continue to set the tone for the game as each player went flying through the air.
9 mins – Haaland scores his 100th Manchester City goal to hand his side the lead and quell any fears he could not score against Saliba and Gabriel.
16 mins – Rodri goes down injured under the challenge of Partey. The midfielder, a key part of City’s control until this points, was forced off on his first Premier League start of the season.
22 mins – Riccardo Calafiori scores on his Premier League full debut with a thunderbolt before Manchester City protest where Arsenal took a free kick from in the build up. Ederson shown a yellow card.
34 mins – Trossard receives first yellow card for a cynical foul.
45+1 mins – Gabriel scores his second header in a week as it was decided Martinelli did not foul Ederson. Ruben Dias shown yellow after demanding a foul be awarded.
45+8 mins – Leandro Trossard sent off after being shown a second yellow card.
65 mins – Lewis-Skelly awarded a yellow card after speaking to the referee despite having not yet featured in the Premier League.
83 mins – Declan Rice shown a yellow card for delaying a restart before a throw-in.
91 mins – Timber goes down and Oliver invites Arsenal to kick the ball out,. Referee eventually blows up to City frustrations despite Raya’s kick upfield being kept in by City.
98 mins -John Stones scores City’s equaliser and Haaland throws ball off an Arsenal player in his celebrations
99 mins – Play stopped after Haaland barges into Thomas Partey after the Arsenal player attempts to block his run from the restart. Haaland then squares up with Gabriel.
-
News3 years agoNollywood Actress Nkechi Blessing speaks on plastic surgery, big butts
-
Entertainment2 years agoDJ Dimple Nipple dropped by longtime boyfriend after claiming D’Prince allegedly demanded sex for roles
-
Privacy3 years agoSelf-imposed Oba vacates ‘palace’ after warnings by community
-
News3 years agoPlus size rocks: Ghanaian plus size dancer who can’t travel by air because of her size
-
Sports3 years agoMeet Ashleigh Plumptre, the ‘Oyinbo’ member of Nigeria Super Falcons [Video]
-
Entertainment3 years agoIni Edo welcomes first child through surrogacy, speaks on past miscarriages
-
News3 years agoHow CCTV ’caught’ Baba Ijesha molesting minor
-
Opinion3 years agoLeave our community, Imobi orders self-imposed Oba