Arsenal: 5 talking points from 1-0 win over Norwich

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 11, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 01: Thomas Partey of Arsenal during the Pre Season Friendly match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on August 01, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

2. Thomas Partey Risk Pays Off

A first half in which Ainsley Maitland-Niles struggled to match the qualities needed in positioning and progression to add to the Arsenal midfield, the presence of a certain Ghanaian on the bench was unavoidable.

Starting Thomas Partey would have brought a different level of vision to the midfield but Arteta knows better than any that he can ill afford another injury setback for the 28-year-old. He’s sorely missed whenever he’s out and in order to protect his ankle, being on the bench was the correct call.

When he did come on it was his intervention that changed the game. He sought to feed the ball through the lines unlike others who could only attempt avenues over the top or out wide, with his pass into Saka’s feet in the build up to the goal being exactly the type of ball the display needed.

Now, with those minutes in his legs and another week of recuperation ahead of Burnley at Turf Moor, he can be ready to start and possibly even finish the game.

Many managers might have struggled to resist the pressure of not fielding their best midfielder even if he wasn’t 100% fit, and instead withdrawing him later on.

This worked out.

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