3 positives & negatives from Arsenal’s 1-0 win over FC Zurich

Positive #2: Elneny returns

Mohamed Elneny made his return to the team after missing time due to injury.

Elneny being back is great. He would have been so useful to have in these group stage matches as it allows for Sambi Lokonga to play a bit higher up the pitch where he’s been better at this point in his career.

Having another option at the #6 position off the bench is hugely beneficial for the club given Thomas Partey’s previous injury woes.

Negative #2: Hate towards players

Speaking of Sambi playing out of position, he played as an #8 and I think he looked solid in the match. Similarly, Nketiah looked better when Jesus came off and he was able to play as a proper #9.

Despite better performances from both of them, there was still a lot of slander and hate towards these two players. If you’ve read my stuff for a while you’d know how much I love these two and I think they’ll be great. They’re both young and they do need to play better than they are but the reactions to their performances have been overblown.

I saw a tweet that Sambi was the worst Arsenal player they’d ever seen. Those kinds of statements are not only wrong but just don’t mean anything. Arsenal are a very good team now; there’s no need to find a scapegoat even when we win.

Continued on the next slide…