A Morning with Arsenal

A Unique Match Report: An American view of the English game

Photo by Nelson Ndongala on Unsplash

October 16, 2022 – Leeds United v Arsenal

It’s gotten better over the past few seasons. Or has it? Fine, I’ll admit it. Football takes up far too much space in my life. Time spent watching matches, time spent analyzing and daydreaming, time spent fretting over results. And let’s not even mention the countless hours spent playing football in the digital world of FIFA. We all have our passions, don’t we? Maybe it’s more an obsession.

This morning I woke around 7:30, the adrenaline of matchday already heavy in my veins. My beloved Arsenal due to face off against Leeds United at Elland Road at 9:00. Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League table, having won 8 of their opening 9 fixtures. With a win at Elland Road, Arsenal will have made their best start to a league campaign in well over 100 years. Exciting times for an Arsenal fan, but each match brings nervy anticipation.

I get the coffee brewing, light up a cigarette, and start the PlayStation 4. One thing that’s great about FIFA is it helps to forget how Arsenal is fairing in the real world. I can take the reins of my favorite club and lead them to glory in the digital world. However, this does feel different. The positive start to the season has me wondering that silly question. Could this be our year? Arsenal hasn’t won the Premier League since back in 2003/2004, when they managed to go an entire season without defeat. As I sit with my coffee and the match inches closer to kickoff, I remind myself, one game at a time.

I’m on my second large cup of coffee when the match begins. However, after less than a minute referee Chris Kavanagh brings a halt to the proceedings. Confusion ensues. There has been a power outage. The referee’s technology has gone down.

In many ways football mirrors modern culture. Football is now heavily reliant on technology, just as much of the rest of the world is. VAR or video assistant referee has been in place for the past few seasons. VAR gives referees a second chance to look at key moments in each match and come to the correct decision on the pitch. But, far too often, VAR simply slows down the game and the referees are still required to make a judgment call. The use of video replay does not enhance the game in anyway. Yet, it is here to stay. After 12 minutes of confusion, Kavanagh sends the players back to the locker rooms while the technology is sorted. I start up another round of FIFA and contemplate the absurdity that is VAR.

The required technology is back online and at 9:40 Kavanagh blows the whistle for kickoff once more. Arsenal start the match in positive fashion as they have done all season, but it’s Leeds who have the first notable chance.

Around the 19^th minute Leeds midfielder Sinisterra drives forward on the right side of Arsenal’s defense. He quickly cuts inside and releases a powerful strike on his right foot that ends up deflecting just past the near post, into the side netting. Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale looked to have it covered. Some inside the ground perhaps thought Sinisterra’s shot had snuck in, but it remains 0-0.

The ensuing corner kick falls fortuitously in the 6-yard box for a Leeds player to poke in from close range, but Ramsdale gets down quickly to palm away the shot.

On 35 minutes Arsenal give me reason to celebrate.

After a bit of sustained possession, Arsenal give the ball away to Leeds. The ball falls to Leeds striker Rodrigo who attempts an ambitious cross field pass, which is broken up by Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka. Saka feeds the ball to Martin Odegaard, who then plays the ball through for Saka to run onto, and just like that Arsenal are into the Leeds penalty area. Odegaard’s pass is played to perfection and Saka takes his shot first time, which flies above Leeds goalkeeper Meslier and into the roof of the net, a brilliant finish. Saka now has 4 goals and 5 assists so far this season.

Leeds’ pressing style forces a turnover in Arsenal’s half as Tomiyasu is dispossessed. The ball finds its way to Harrison who takes a shot just outside the box. However, the Leeds midfielder leans back too far, and his shot is well over Ramsdale’s crossbar.

Right before the halftime whistle, Arsenal create another chance as Gabriel Jesus combines with Odegaard on the edge of the Leeds penalty area. Odegaard finds the space to pull the trigger, but his shot is straight into the grateful grasp of Meslier. All is well at the half with Arsenal leading 1-0, but Leeds pressure has started to disrupt Arsenal’s passing game.

I’m feeling jovial as I take my pup Bella out for a quick walk. Surely Arsenal can put a couple more in the net to make this an easy win. I pour myself yet another cup of coffee, light up a cigarette, and settle in for the second half.

The second half kicks off and it soon becomes apparent that Leeds are up for the fight. On 49 minutes Ramsdale is called into action once again. Leeds whip in a dangerous corner kick, but Ramsdale rises to punch clear of the penalty area.

Arsenal continue to struggle against Leeds’ high pressure, and in the 59^th minute Harrison chips the ball into the Arsenal penalty area. William Saliba, Arsenal’s central defender, attempts to win the ball, but the balls strikes his hand. Kavanagh does not initially award a penalty kick, but VAR eventually deems the contact a handball, and on 63 minutes a penalty kick is given to Leeds.

Substitute Patrick Bamford steps up to take the spot kick. Ramsdale stares down the striker and claps his gloves together, sending a boom throughout the ground. Bamford hits his shot hard and low to the left of a diving Ramsdale, but the shot is just wide, and the chance goes begging. It remains 1-0 to the Arsenal.

The jovial mood I found myself in at halftime has quickly turned into nervous anticipation once more. Everything seems set up for a Leeds United come from behind win. Arsenal have struggled to find themselves in attacking positions, but Leeds on the other hand are creating dangerous chances. I’ve seen Arsenal drop points from winning positions far too many times over the past few seasons and I’m beginning to mentally prepare myself for another disappointment.

On 76 minutes, Arsenal once again turn the ball over in their own half. Leeds combine well and Aaronson tries his luck from the edge of the box, but Ramsdale sprawls to his right and deflects the shot away. Although Leeds have dominated the second half, Ramsdale’s inspired performance has kept Arsenal’s lead intact.

Into stoppage time and Arsenal are still hanging on to a 1-0 lead, thanks in large part to more heroics from Ramsdale. Leeds are getting desperate as the clock slowly ticks towards the final whistle.

Leeds send a long ball into the Arsenal penalty area, which Ramsdale can easily gather. However, controversy ensues as Bamford and Gabriel come together. Kavanagh converses with his linesman and gives the Arsenal defender a red card, while also awarding a penalty kick to Leeds.

I’m shocked. Although I don’t think VAR helps the game of football in anyway, at this point I’m praying VAR will reverse the call.

My prayers are answered. Bamford is deemed to have initiated the contact with Gabriel by shoving him to the floor, but the Arsenal defender does receive a yellow card for kicking out at the Leeds striker.

But in the end, it’s a free kick to Arsenal, no penalty kick for Leeds. It remains 1-0.

With 99 minutes on the clock, Kavanagh finally blows the full time whistle. Arsenal have made their best ever start to a topflight season, with 9 wins from 10.

As an Arsenal fan, it feels good. However, Leeds probably deserved something from the game based on their second half performance. Arsenal rode their luck and Ramsdale was immense in goal. It’s tight wins like this that feed that silly question…maybe this is our year?

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This is a different sort of post. What did you all think? Would you like to see more sports writing on my page?