And then There Was One
If you want an early indication of how this season is going to be, look no further than the league table at this moment. Only the Reds have a perfect record after three games, and that record surely won’t last much longer; all the teams are playing well, and every game is a trap, you’re just not always sure who is the trappist and who is the prey. Still, to be the only ones standing with three from three is, without question, a wonderful start, especially considering all the changes to the side over the summer.
Perhaps inspired by the addition of Florian Wirtz to the side, Dominik Szoboszlai has opened this season the way Ryan Gravenberch opened the last one. He has become so dominant to the side that I find myself getting excited every time he gets near the ball, even if it’s a mundane defensive action. Well, there’s nothing mundane about him right now – the man is playing possessed, consistently the best football of his life. Is Dom starting to mature into his full potential? Wouldn’t that be the most happy surprise? At 24 he’s the right age for it, and if he goes on this way, we have our engine for years to come.
And his goal. Oh, his goal.
Around the 60th minute I texted my (repeat appearance in this column) friend Dylan, lifelong Gunners fan, the following words: “This game feels like the breakthrough will come on a set piece…which considering we’re playing fucking Arsenal doesn’t make me happy.” He, of course, was perfectly happy with that prediction for the same reason that I felt so much trepidation. Then came the one set piece, and the Hungarian produced a moment of sheer magic. David Raya was well positioned for it. I don’t think there’s a keeper alive who would have stopped it. That ball was so deadly, an elite military sniper would be proud. The refcam view of it, which came later, needs to hang on a wall.
And so, for the third time in a row, Szoboszlai earns my man-of-the-match, and he is also (easily) my firm leader for man-of-the-goddamned-season.
Beyond that, we had a very tense game but, thankfully, not one that descended too heavily into the world of the dark arts, which this particular matchup tends to do more often than not. It felt like two heavy weights trading blows for 15 rounds before one well-placed uppercut finally lands. Arsenal looked good, very good, and their depth speaks well for their chances to go all the way this season. Liverpool looked good, too, crucially (and finally) at the back…but then, almost predictably, Ibou got himself injured. Signing Guehi now becomes a huge priority, especially if Gomez is to leave for Italy (can we convince him to stay on anyway?)
One concern must be addressed, and that is Florian Wirtz. He’s still getting used to the premier league, and we’re somehow managing without a contribution from him, but even comparing his performance with Curtis Jones once the latter came onboard did not speak well for the German. We know he can be magic, but I’m getting restless to see it on the pitch. Hopefully, by the time October rolls around, he will have adjusted.
Alright. Time for me to go and do some breathing exercises. I think I forgot to take in any oxygen in the last 10 minutes or so. Enjoy staring at the table for the next week, lads.
As for me, I’m still shaking my head in disbelief over that goal.