TOPS
The French defender will be able to be proud when he sees the film of this meeting. He is one of the great architects of the Gunners’ victory. Very solid defensively, he was authoritarian and sure in each of his interventions. The former Marseillais really turned off his vis-à-vis Erling Haaland, not in the game this Sunday. With the ball at his feet, he even created danger with sharp passes which often broke one or more lines, as on Kai Havertz’s first big chance (25th). Saliba is ready to face the 2023-2024 season.
The young 21-year-old English attacking midfielder improved his team’s performance by coming into play in place of Erling Haaland (62nd). The City-bred southpaw first brought danger to life on his first attempt just minutes after taking his first steps on Wembley, with a shot blocked by Timber that ended just above the Ramsdale goal. Before shaking the nets with a silky brushed strike, which everyone thought was decisive, until Arsenal equalized after added time (90th 11).
If the score was only 0-0 for 77 minutes and finally one everywhere at the end of the meeting, it is because of the importance of the two goalkeepers. Aaron Ramsdale was decisive on a strike from Foden (82nd) which could have ended all suspense, then during the penalty shootout by releasing Rodrigo’s attempt (3rd shot).
On the other side, Stefan Ortega, who replaced Ederson in the cages, silenced the Gunners the whole game (or almost) and in particular Havertz twice (25th and 39th). Very reassuring on his line, Ortega illustrated the quality of the Mancunian workforce even on the goalkeepers’ bench. Unfortunately for him, he did not have the same efficiency in the penalty shootout, he who conceded all four attempts from Arsenal.
FLOPS
After a historic season last year (52 goals in 53 games in all competitions), Haaland did not start the new season as he would have liked. Not in the game for 62 minutes, the “Cyborg” brought nothing to his team, who failed to find him and had to rely on Julian Alvarez, or even Rodri, to be dangerous offensively. Upon its release, its partners have unblocked the situation by the boot of Cole Palmer.
The Swiss defender had a good game both offensively and defensively, but on replaying the match, he was at the heart of the game’s turning point. This 101st minute (90th 11), during which he counters Trossard’s strike and changes his trajectory to deceive his goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, cost his team the victory, then beaten on penalties.