Matt

Arsenal - Mental Resilence 💪. One of the key aspects which Mikel has instilled into the squad, and one which is fundamental to success in any elite sports. Check out my latest piece below @Arsenal @ThePixstoryApp ✍️ #AFC #Arsenal pixstory.com/story/arsenal-…

Lauren Hemp by the way. What an absolute shift

Chloe Kelly. Michelle Agyemang. You just have it. It’s as simple as that. The difference makers - turning odds in their favours no matter what. My oh my, if that Agyemang effort had gone in… Amazing stuff

The countries hopes resting on her shoulders, after the Lionesses are on the verge of despair - and she delivers. Not once, but twice. Michelle Agyemang, you are a superstar.

Much better from the Lionesses. More intensity, sustaining pressure better and have already created two big chances - more than the whole of the first half. Hopefully a sign of things to come. #ENG #ENGITA

Incredible from Berger and Germany. Much, much better penalties. Thoroughly enjoyable game - and it’s commendable how Germany got to ET and beyond after going down to 10 early on. Especially after losing 4-1 to Sweden a week ago. Talk about resilience and recovery. Bravo🙌

Atmosphere in Sporting sounds incredible tonight. #UCL

Not the greatest of spectacles to say it’s ruined a good game as it’s been pretty one sided, but a red card for that just feels… nah

Really fun night; 🔴 special night for Porter 🔴 the real introduction of MLS & Nwaneri 🔴 Nichols so direct and positive, great overlaps & general intent 🔴 Calafiori you can just tell when a player really has it 🔴 Sterling first goal, great performances. Lovely 👌 #AFC

Gowan Kai. Excellent from Jesus - he can be so very fun to watch! Sterling really nice play too

Saka is hilarious isn’t he. Unfair to have him playing in a game like this. Buzzing for Raheem to get his first goal for the club! #AFC

Ethan again!!! 3-0 Arsenal. What a debut for the 17 year old. Brilliant from Rice as always too. Top top stuff #AFC

Myles, Saka Rice & Nwaneri the best players on the pitch for me. Can’t wait for Ethan & Myles to be fully integrated. Started slow but has been pretty comfortable #AFC

Yes Ethan!! Hopefully the first of many. Brilliant ball from Myles & run & ball from Raheem. Lovely stuff 🙌🔴

Lovely goal Declan. Super finish #AFC

Balance and a great blend of youth debutants and seniors. MLS & Nwaneri as expected but 16 year old Jack Porter and Nichols - special Good to see Kai get a rest - played every minute for both club & country. Good management of Saka & excited for Raheem’s home debut! #AFC

@RichardRee15438 So I believe the commentater said Haaland was within his rights to crash into Partey, comparing that to the uproar on Kai early on which was very little. Apologies it’s very vague

@MattJSport_ On the notes, what does the last but one paragraph mean? The comment on Haaland v Havertz?

I rewatched Man City vs Arsenal last night. 🔵🔴 Here were my notes, below are my main takeaways - first half; 👇 #AFC 🔴Savinho excellent. So dynamic and caused big issues 🔴The early stages weren’t as dominant as I thought 🔴 City were better than I thought post Rodri 1/5

@TroweTrove Without context I personally don’t think it looks so great. With context there’s Martinelli as you say & a very quick turnaround after a whistle. As you say though it’s consistency again which is the issue

@MattJSport_ At full speed, it looks harmless. Less than a second elapses. Martinelli is out wide and running into the space. Less time had gone compared to Doku's kick away or Silva's pick up and run with it. And those are contextually moments where play was dead. I just can't blame Trossard

@TroweTrove This is very true. Especially in a game like this it’s very hard to send someone off for an action which is generally subjective. In full speed it doesn’t look great but at the same time Timber continued last week even so it’s natural to

@MattJSport_ If you're trying to pull out of a kick, that indicates that you were already in kicking motion when you heard the whistle to blow a play dead. How do you mitigate that risk? You don't know when the ref is going to call a foul when they are inconsistently calling soft & hard fouls

A really good game of football, where it was just one corner too much/ one lack of concentration which cost Arsenal in the end Wasn’t anything too special, or anything too threatening, was just a case of one corner not being defended as well as the rest A fair result generally.

Concluding - Arsenal did what any team would do (or should do) in their position. Soak up pressure, and time waste in the right moments. The discourse about that is no doubt overdone. But if that’s going to be the narrative, then so be it.