There was an eerie familiarity to this game for Arsenal. For the second time within the space of three days they found themselves 2-0 up having barely broken a sweat inside the first 45 minutes against a team in blue.
Once again, they were unable to open up a three-goal lead that would have put the game to bed. This time, though, there was no easy route back into the match for their visitors.
PSG are considerably better opposition than Leicester, and gave Arsenal far more of a game in the second half. But the Gunners seemed determined to keep the drama down to a minimum this time.
It’s a big change, not just from this weekend, but from last season for Arsenal in Europe. Last year, they looked a side who were naive on the big stage. This time around, they look streetwise and are desperate to prove it.
“I sensed something different yesterday as well in the way we were preparing the game and how they wanted the level of focus,” Mikel Arteta said of his side after the win. “I think they wanted to prove a point tonight as well, against a top team at home we can be ourselves and we can be very dominant as well. We have to continue to do that.”
Bukayo Saka said after the game that he thinks it’s Arsenal’s year in the Premier League title race. With assured performances like this against top quality opposition you can hardly blame him.
Mikel Merino’s move from Real Sociedad seemed to take forever, so it was fitting that we had to wait a little longer for his debut. The Spaniard suffered the most freakish of injuries in his first training session, but was finally able to make his bow on Tuesday night.
The first thing you notice about Merino as he steps on to the pitch is his size. The man is a mountain. He seems to have a personality to match, too. Within seconds of his introduction the 28-year-old was balling out instructions Riccardo Calafiori.
Merino is viewed internally as a ‘win now’ signing. He is sure of himself as a player and a person and that should allow him to get up to speed quicker. Arteta certainly thinks he can.
“He had just one session with us [before tonight] and he was ready,” the Arsenal manager said of his summer signing. “He was really willing to be part of things today. With the injuries and the changes that we had to make we believed that he was a player who could help us in that phase. I think he’s done really well.”
Merino played both alongside Rice in an old school midfield partnership when Arsenal took up a 4-4-2 out of possession and played slightly advanced when the Gunners had the ball. There may not have been the passing incision and technical security that Arsenal want from him just yet, but Merino showed the one thing he’s perhaps most famous for – his ability in the duel.
Late on in particular there was a meaty sliding challenge befitting of the stormy conditions that played host to it. The home crowd were delighted with the Spaniard’s physicality. A decent start for the new man.
Havertz up top
There is an inevitability to Kai Havertz at the moment. There may have been a touch of fortune about the way he scored on Saturday, but his goal against PSG was completely by design.
Leandro Trossard’s surge up the pitch and timing of the cross was sublime, but Havertz’s thrusting run and clever headed finish was even better. It’s the sixth time in a row that he has scored at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta was delighted.
“So powerful, but as well he’s so intelligent,” the Spaniard said of his centre-forward. “The way he occupies the spaces, the way he glides everything together. Now when he’s around the box and you have the feeling he’s going to score a goal. The goal was superb and overall a really good performance. So really pleased with him.”
Havertz himself seems to be really relishing the physical part of being a No.9. Back in the day he seemed a player who was hesitant to engage in the duel. Now, by his own admission, it couldn’t be more different.
“It feels great to play here,” the German said. “I love this stadium and the fans and I am so thankful to play here and help the team. Coming here was a big step for me. Back in the day I wasn’t always a player who loved the duels but now I love it.”
The biggest compliment we can give Havertz is that the conversations about Arsenal needing a new striker seemed to have stopped for now. The German appears to be the answer.
