Sports
ByAlex Brotherton
BBC Sport reporter at Stadium of Light
Toolbox‘s duality was there for all to see in their 2-0 win at Sunderland: gritty defence and minutes of genius.
Things might have turned out really in a different way had a vital 121-second duration gone the other method.
After near to an hour of physical, full-blooded football, Sunderland were provided a charge when Ezri Konsa fouled Dan Ballard at a corner.
It showed the turning point – David Raya tipped Enzo le Fee’s area kick on to the post, and simply over 2 minutes later on, Arsenal replacement Bruno Guimaraes crashed in the opener off the underside of the crossbar.
Arteta’s side left the north-east of England with their ninth succeeding Premier League triumph. Not given that the days of the Invincibles, in 2003-04, have actually the Gunners done that.
Arteta was furious about the Sunderland charge that might have cost his side.
“It’s a judo roll from the opponent. Ezri [Konsa] does nothing. Just watch it,” Arteta informed BBC Match of the Day.
“We have a lot of cameras and VAR, we have to take responsibility to protect the game. Today the game was unprotected and it could have cost us the game and the momentum which is a really, really serious thing.”
Referee John Brooks took a couple of seconds to indicate the charge area after Ballard and Konsa struck the ground, once he did the VAR stuck to his choice.
Konsa was definitely dedicating a nasty, though Ballard did appear to have a hold of the Arsenal guy.
“This should never happen, it’s not fair, and I am sad, very sad, in that sense,” stated Arteta, who was reserved in the very first half for consistently leaving his technical location.
“I’m making it very clear publicly because it’s for the game, it’s not only for Arsenal, this cannot happen at this level.
“It’s not appropriate, I’ve viewed it 20 times and can’t consider why it was offered.”
This season, Premier League referees have been instructed to clamp down on grappling at corners, something that became a big talking point last term.
“With the brand-new laws attempting to eliminate the grappling, Konsa is all over Ballard. You need to be taking a look at the ball,” former England midfielder Karen Carney said on TNT Sports.
“Ballard was holding Konsa’s arm however you risk,” added former Arsenal defender Martin Keown.
“They wish to mark down on it so there is no point arguing about it.”
However, Arteta was not alone in questioning the decision.
“It’s never a charge. He has actually got it entirely incorrect, Konsa’s shoulder is taken down by Ballard and he arrive at top,” former Wales defender Ashley Williams said on BBC Match of the Day.
“It’s like an ideal toss in judo. It’s really smart by Ballard however in no chance is it a charge.”
‘Magnificent’ Raya and defence endure ‘disorderly’ minutes
Arteta spoke more about the awarding of the charge rather than Raya’s conserving of it, there is no rejecting that the Spanish goalkeeper’s intervention altered the instructions of the match.
The save-just Raya’s 2nd charge drop in the Premier League – came at a time when Sunderland were putting the safeguarding champs under pressure.
Le Fee telegraphed his effort, Raya had to be at complete stretch to tip it on to the post. Up until that point, the goalkeeper had actually mainly been a viewer.
“He keeps us alive in the video game, that amazing minute conserving the charge,” Guimaraes told TNT Sports.
“I believe after this minute we [took from it] a huge self-confidence to play forward and score our objective.”
“This charge conserve is extraordinary. He goes out so fast,” former Brentford manager Thomas Frank – the man who signed Raya – said on BBC Match of the Day.
“For me he’s the very best goalkeeper in the Premier League and among the very best on the planet.”
After building last season’s title-winning campaign on a stubborn defence, the Gunners have begun this season with five clean sheets in six matches in all competitions, including in all three away matches.
“It is a wonderful win and the ground work was done by the defence. They have actually weathered the storm and the goalkeeper steps up and makes a fantastic save,” Keown said.
“He is really crucial to Arsenal and what they attain. He was stunning and does not get the credit he is worthy of.”
Though seething about the penalty, Arteta took the opportunity during his post-match media conference to praise his side’s defensive efforts.
“We understood we would need to go through some tough and disorderly minutes to deserve to win this video game,” he said. “We have actually done it.”
Guimaraes makes his mark
On a night when Arsenal were not at their fluid best, one hero was not going to suffice.
Guimaraes stepped up with an objective of the season competitor, a curling effort from the edge of the charge location.
The Brazilian midfielder has actually had a difficult start to life at Arsenal considering that his ₤ 75m summer season relocation from Newcastle, stopping working to begin a match given that the Community Shield.
Now recuperated from a small hamstring injury, he revealed precisely what he can use.
“That objective has to do with character and character. It was him stating: I am going to make my mark at this football club,” Keown said.
“He has actually been viewing on the sidelines, however has actually stated: ‘Take an appearance at me – this is what I can do.’
“Boy did he shut the crowd up. A class player, going to the next level.”
Of all the groups to reveal himself versus, Guimaraes selected the arch-rivals of his previous companies Newcastle.
“It was a beautiful goal. Everyone knows my past, I had an amazing history at Newcastle,” Guimaraes informed TNT Sports.
“But now I’m trying to create a new history here and I start with the right foot.”
This match might have ended up really in a different way for Arsenal, however in the end, it was heroes old and brand-new that did the job.
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