This game, expected to be a close tactical battle, started with a bang. It was 1-1 after 17 minutes, both teams laying siege to the other's goal for stretches, though Arsenal had slightly more big chances. Gabriel Jesus scored early and late in the first half, first by redirecting an errant Timber effort and the second on a header two yards out after Trossard headed a corner, glancing it over Sommer's arms and off the crossbar for Jesus to power past defenders on the line. The game was iced after Martinelli released Gyokeres, who'd made a great run into Inter's half. A quick attempted interchange with Saka ended with him stroking the ball, in stride, just hard and far away enough from Sommer to glance off that GK's outstretched hand and ripple the net.
Eze, MLS, Mosquera, and Jesus started. Gabriel and Rice started on the bench. Not everything went our way. I was very impressed with Thuram's play. He held the ball up beautifully and involved the other attacking players. We got passed several times through midfield. But we escaped all but that once, when they powered a shot Raya could not touch.
This means the game against Kairat, the worst team in the ECL, is meaningless for both sides. Arteta can rotate the hell out of the squad for that one and still almost certainly win at home. That's useful.
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