Goalkeeper David Raya and his fellow Arsenal defenders left the stadium celebrating their clean sheet bonus and the knowledge they had played an integral part in all FIVE goals.
Set piece coach Nicolas Jova further enhanced his reputation and pay packet as the architect of at least two of the goals which were rehearsed ad infinitum on the club’s mini-winter break to Dubai last week.
Like Raya, Jova used to ply his trade at Brentford. The coach came to Arsenal via a spell working alongside Gunners manager Mikel Arteta in Pep Guardiola’s renowned coaching set-up at Manchester City. Now, based on this return to form and the stats of the season so far, the pieces of the puzzle, with this unique link back to Brentford, are all falling into place.
Arsenal’s Catalan goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana was also recruited from Brentford within a week of Arteta being appointed manager just over three years ago. He is also integral.
It is clear now why Arteta stuck his neck out to get his fellow Spaniard in from Brentford and then go for Raya, despite already having the Premier League keeper of the season Aaron Ramsdale. Raya, although prone to the occasional howler, is such a quick, dynamic distributor of the ball it is like having an extra outfield player.
A player and family bonding trip to Dubai post their FA Cup defeat by Liverpool here two weeks ago seems to have lifted the mid-season fog hanging over Arteta and his men. Few can have benefitted more from the experience than Raya, now clearly seen as the club’s long-term NO.1
He explained: “It was a good break and a good way to reconnect as players and with the staff. We trained really, really hard and we focused on the things that we had to improve.
“We worked on set pieces a lot and we look to score more that way. We can be a massive threat with our players to score on set pieces. We have shown during the season that we can score on set plays.”
Raya is not joking. The opening two goals courtesy of headers from corners by central defender Gabriel (his second is currently being chalked up as an own goal as it bounced in off an unwitting keeper Dean Henderson) mean Arsenal now lead the Premier League in two niche area of stats. The top numbers read 10 goals from corners and 11 goals from headers.
It was fitting that former Arsenal player and manager George Graham was here to watch the match. The Scot was able to go home safely in the knowledge that his legacy lives on. A different format to the near-post flick-ons of the 80’s and 90’s but still old-school Arsenal numbers for the fans to savour.
It was Raya’s second-half throw to snuff out and counter a Palace attack that started the move for Leandro Trossard to score Arsenal’s third. He smiled: “You could call it a ‘pre-assist'”
“There’s been a few ways this season that we counter from the goalkeeper, so it was he was a nice one to score. With the players that we have fast counter attacks are really important. We tried it a few times in different ways and this time we scored. We could have scored more.”
Embed from Getty ImagesWhatever the difference Raya feels at home now as he gave some insight into the Dubai trip and Arteta’s message there. He added: “Apart from the set pieces we focused on our style of play. Playing two games every week, you don’t get that much training time. It was massive for us to win to get back on track after a difficult period in the previous few weeks. Every side has those spells but now we feel ready to push on in the second half of the season.
“For me, personally, I have had to adjust to a new club, new facilities and new demands. It’s not easy. But I think I’m finding my feet and I’m finding myself now. I really feel part of the team now.”
The match concluded with two expertly taken goals by substitute Gabriel Martinelli; Thierry Henryesque finishes to counter attacks enabled by Arsenal defenders breaking up late Palace attempts to salvage some pride.
Raya pointed out how Arsenal, without an Erling Haaland or Harry Kane goalscoring figurehead, prefer to spread the goal threat throughout their team. Keeps their opponents on the back foot too.
“We have so many quality players and anyone can score – from me to the strikers. That is a good way of thinking and the way it is.”
