Bukayo Saka was instrumental in Arsenal’s win. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Positive #2: Bukayo Saka
Saka has, at times, looked as though the hectic season was finally starting to take a toll on him as fatigue appeared to be creeping into his game. But, as he always seems to do, he showcased once again why so many Arsenal fans adore him.
Time and Time again, he takes the game by the scruff of the neck and his two goals and an assist against the Eagles take his respective tallies to 12 and ten in the league. He is nothing short of remarkable and is arguably the most likeable player in the country at this time.
His finishing, which was once one of the weakest aspects of Saka’s game, has improved massively and he now paints an incredibly composed figure when faced with goalscoring opportunities. At just 21 years of age, it’s so exciting to think just how good he can be as he matures even more as a player.
Negative #2: Conceding too many chances
Our defence has been porous of late, and that was the case again in this game. Against a side that have struggled for goals in recent weeks, it was worrying to see Aaron Ramsdale called into action as often as he was. Wilfried Zaha hit the post in the first half and also saw an effort whistle just wide of the post in the second. If either of those chances had been converted, the end result may have been altered.
Thankfully, it wasn’t, but our leakiness at the back does need to be addressed. In our last five fixtures in all competitions, we have conceded six goals and kept just one clean sheet – for a club with aspirations of clinching a Premier League title, that simply isn’t good enough.
The xG Philosophy stated after the match that while Arsenal had an expected goals figure of 1.50, Palace were not far behind with a respective figure of 0.92; suggesting that on another day, the chances we conceded may have caused us to potentially drop points.
Continued on the next slide…
pic.twitter.com/aru8SigKVB
<p>— Bukayo Saka (@BukayoSaka87) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://twitter.com/BukayoSaka87/status/1637520489101885443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>March 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<h2>Positive #1: European woes behind us</h2>
<p>After a potentially <a title="Arsenal’s worst Europa League exits – ranked" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenals-worst-europa-league-exits-ranked/" rel="">soul-crushing elimination from the Europa League in midweek</a>, a win in this game was vital if the positive atmosphere surrounding the club was to be maintained heading into the international break.</p>
<p>The victory bolsters our lead at the top of the Premier League table to eight points, suggesting that any effects from our European disappointment will not be long-lasting. Just as important was Martinelli putting his shortcomings behind him, after the winger saw his penalty saved midweek, and he did just that – opening the scoring in the 28th minute in this match.</p>
<p>A sign of champions, or in this case potential champions, is the ability to overcome setbacks and this Arsenal side have demonstrated once more that they have the requisite mentality.</p>
<h2>Negative #1: Another set-piece goal conceded</h2>
<p>Another game, another goal conceded from a set-piece, and more specifically a corner. In recent weeks, Bournemouth, Sporting CP and now Crystal Palace have all scored against us in this manner and it is becoming very concerning.</p>
<p>For the majority of this season, we have been fantastic at both scoring from and defending corners. However, since the turn of the year, the defensive side of our game in this area has regressed and we are no longer as solid as we once were.</p>
<p>It is becoming a common talking point at this moment in time, and Mikel Arteta was <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://www.arsenal.com/news/arteta-win-saka-and-injuries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> how he intends to resolve the issue after the game.</p>
<blockquote><p>“By training more, by being conscious of it and don’t give any hope to the opponent that it’s a weakness. We have tried to train it, but obviously we didn’t have a lot of time with the amount of games we have played in the last three weeks but it’s something that for sure we definitely need to do better.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Perhaps then, our exit from the Europa League will afford the manager time he needs to rectify the situation on the training ground in the coming weeks.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 positive and negative </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_133099" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133099" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1248611323.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1248611323.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1248611323-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Bukayo Saka was instrumental in Arsenal’s win. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>Positive #2: Bukayo Saka</h2>
<p>Saka has, at times, looked as though the hectic season was finally starting to take a toll on him as <a title="Do Arsenal fans need to be concerned about Bukayo Saka?" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/11/do-arsenal-fans-need-to-be-concerned-about-bukayo-saka/" rel="">fatigue appeared to be creeping into his game</a>. But, as he always seems to do, he showcased once again why so many Arsenal fans adore him.</p>
<p>Time and Time again, he takes the game by the scruff of the neck and his two goals and an assist against the Eagles take his respective tallies to 12 and ten in the league. He is nothing short of remarkable and is arguably the most likeable player in the country at this time.</p>
<p>His finishing, which was once one of the weakest aspects of Saka’s game, has improved massively and he now paints an incredibly composed figure when faced with goalscoring opportunities. At just 21 years of age, it’s so exciting to think just how good he can be as he matures even more as a player.</p>
<h2>Negative #2: Conceding too many chances</h2>
<p>Our defence has been porous of late, and that was the case again in this game. Against a side that have struggled for goals in recent weeks, it was worrying to see Aaron Ramsdale called into action as often as he was. Wilfried Zaha hit the post in the first half and also saw an effort whistle just wide of the post in the second. If either of those chances had been converted, the end result may have been altered.</p>
<p>Thankfully, it wasn’t, but our leakiness at the back does need to be addressed. In our last five fixtures in all competitions, we have conceded six goals and kept just one clean sheet – for a club with aspirations of clinching a Premier League title, that simply isn’t good enough.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Arsenal (1.50) 4-1 (0.92) Crystal Palace</p>
<p>— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://twitter.com/xGPhilosophy/status/1637482504100749312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>March 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>The xG Philosophy stated after the match that while Arsenal had an expected goals figure of 1.50, Palace were not far behind with a respective figure of 0.92; suggesting that on another day, the chances we conceded may have caused us to potentially drop points.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 positive and negative </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_133072" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133072" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1248609423.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1248609423.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1248609423-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal’s win put the pressure on Man City. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>Positive #3: Eight-point lead</h2>
<p>While we have now played a game more than Manchester City, our victory against the Eagles means that we go into the international break <a title="Over to you, City, as Arsenal blow away Crystal Palace" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/arsenal-pile-pressure-man-city-crystal-palace-thumping/" rel="">boasting an eight-point lea</a>d over our Premier League title rivals. As most ex-players are always so keen to remind the fans, points on the board are worth far more than games in hand.</p>
<p>A gap of that size means that even if we lose to City next month, and then win their game in hand, we will still have a two-point advantage over the Manchester club. With Erling Haaland currently on terrifying form, Man City will unlikely drop too many points in the league so that gap may eventually become a necessity, rather than a luxury as we continue to edge closer to the climax of the season.</p>
<h2>Negative #3: No clean sheet</h2>
<p>It’s difficult to critique a 4-1 victory, but it was slightly disappointing that the team were not able to secure a 13th Premier League clean sheet of the season for Ramsdale. He currently has the joint-highest amount with 12, tied with Newcastle’s Nick Pope, and it would be a massive achievement for the 24-year-old.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="8tDpSmt57R"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenal-4-1-crystal-palace-player-ratings/">Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace: Player ratings as Gunners extend lead at top to eight points</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/20/3-positives-negatives-as-premier-league-title-charge-continues/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenal-4-1-crystal-palace-player-ratings/embed/#?secret=8tDpSmt57R" data-secret="8tDpSmt57R" width="500" height="282" title="“Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace: Player ratings as Gunners extend lead at top to eight points” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>This may be leaning towards nitpicking, but I am almost certain that both Arteta and the entire defence will be frustrated they weren’t able to keep Palace out, and the more clean sheets we keep between now and the end of the season, the more likely we are to win the league.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
