A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Mikel Arteta admits he has ‘missed’ a ‘big’ player and Ben White fires a ‘massive’ message for their Premier League title rivals.
Martin Odegaard matched a Mesut Ozil feat in Arsenal’s 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea
Captain Martin Odegaard matched a feat no Arsenal player had achieved since Mesut Ozil in 2017 during their 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea. The Gunners ran riot under the lights on Tuesday night to humble their rivals. The Blues simply could not handle the Emirates Stadium giants.
Goals from Leandro Trossard (4’), Ben White (52’, 70’) and Kai Havertz (57’, 65’) put Chelsea to the sword. Yet while Odegaard did not get on the scoresheet, he was integral to Arsenal’s result. The 25-year-old was also more than a worthy winner of the Man of the Match award.
Odegaard assisted Havertz’s first and White’s second goals to hit eight assists for the top-flight term. He also has eight goals in 31 Premier League games so this season. Only Bukayo Saka with nine has more assists than Odegaard, who ranks fourth at the Emirates for goals.
But Odegaard’s eight chances created in open play against Chelsea were the most that an Arsenal player has recorded in a Premier League match since Ozil tormented Everton back in October 2017, per Opta. Ozil only made one assist but scored in a 5-2 win at Goodison Park.
Read more about Odegaard’s role in Arsenal’s 5-0 thrashing of rivals Chelsea, here.
Ben White feels Arsenal’s 5-0 win vs Chelsea was a message to Man City and Liverpool
Arsenal defender Ben White claims Tuesday night’s 5-0 win over Chelsea was a message to their Premier League title rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool. The result strengthened the Gunners’ place atop the table and opened a four-point margin over Pep Guardiola’s Citizens.
The Etihad Stadium natives now hold two games in hand over Arsenal ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday. Winning out for the rest of the season will also see Manchester City become the first team to win four straight Premier League crowns.
Yet White feels the way Arsenal tore through Chelsea, and could have scored more, showed Manchester City and Liverpool that Mikel Arteta’s side are not to be overlooked. White even feels Arsenal’s quest for a first title since the 2003/04 Invincibles is still in the club’s control.
“I guess,” White told BBC 5 Live. “Obviously, it was a massive game. I bet they were all watching. So, it’s in our control and we need to do what we need to do.”
Read more about what White had to say to Arsenal’s Premier League title rivals, here.
Mikel Arteta praises Thomas Partey for ‘stepping up’ as Arsenal beat Chelsea 5-0
Mikel Arteta has praised Thomas Partey after ‘stepping up’ as Arsenal thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on Tuesday. The Spaniard recalled the midfielder to his starting line-up for just the second time since he returned from an injury. It was even only Partey’s fifth start so far this season.
Partey made three of those starts from right-back last August before suffering a groin injury, as well. Arteta then only had the Ghanaian back for 15 minutes of Premier League football in October before Partey sustained a thigh injury during training which ruined his campaign.
Arsenal ultimately had to send Partey for surgery and further setbacks in his recovery would prevent him from playing at AFCON. Now, Arteta admits that Arsenal have ‘missed’ Partey as he is a ‘big’ part of their plans. Chelsea also offered the right opponent to enjoy a rare start.
“We thought it was a really good game for Thomas to come back,” Arteta shared in his post-match press conference after Arsenal thrashed Chelsea 5-0. “He looks like he is in rhythm.
“He trained really well the last few days, the way that they set up, the players that they have in and the way they attack especially, we believe it was the right call to make. He stepped up and had a great performance and was really important for the team.”
He added: “We have missed Thomas, that’s true, since August and he’s a big player for us.”
Read more about what Arteta had to say about Partey’s role in Arsenal’s win, here.
