Layth's Take on all things Arsenal as Premier League looms large

Read my latest Layth's Take on all things Arsenal this week including beating Lyon, the new third kit, Martin Odegaard and Karl Hein

Happy Tuesday!

Hope you’ve been enjoying the warm weather this week, as we gear up for the start of the Premier League season.

Mikel Arteta certainly looked relaxed and refreshed when I attended his post-Lyon press conference in the Emirates media theatre on Sunday.

The new Arsenal third kit

Looking tanned and elegant in cream slacks and fitting black top (I’m not sure too many of us could pull off cream slacks, even in a heatwave, I certainly couldn’t…) the Arsenal boss had a ready smile and a breezy fashion, perhaps in recognition that it had been an excellent pre-season.

Where other clubs have picked up injuries, amid general gloom and doom, the Gunners have had an exceptional pre-season.

Certainly in terms of preparations for another tilt at the title.

The America tour - and aftermath - was a huge success (again) for plenty of reasons, not least for the fact that a harmonious squad was given the chance to integrate talented youngsters this summer.

Or that, despite having so many players away at Euro 2024, not to mention Gabi Martinelli at Copa America, the fact their expertly tapered, tailored returns, has seen such top quality footballers of the calibre of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka ease back into the starting XI without too much fuss.

The opening stages of both the Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon matches were a case in point.

Never mind the (deservedly) warmth and genuine friendship shown to Granit Xhaka before the match by so many former colleagues, both games were there to be won.

And win them they did, by blowing their opponents out of the water in the early stages, swarming over them with such intensity and gimlet-eyed clinicality.

No wonder Arteta was smiling afterwards. So was I, sat ten rows from where he was holding court. Especially when he basically said he and his team simply couldn’t be bothered for the extraneous penalty shoot-outs.

I smiled at that. Not least because I completely agreed.

As a purist - and curmudgeon at times it has to be said - needless spot-kicks are something that seems to have crept into pre-season friendlies in the mistaken belief that fans need ‘extra’ entertainment.

We don’t need them.

Just like we don’t need Mexican waves.

Football isn’t a circus. If you can’t concentrate on what is happening on the pitch for 90 minutes, then perhaps sport isn’t for you.

Anyway, don’t get me started on one of my pet hates. No doubt I’ll return to that at some stage, probably when the next risible wave comes around…let’s just hope it’s a long time otherwise I really will tell you how I feel about such inane behaviour at a sporting event.

Anyway, to see Arteta looking so relaxed ahead of what could be such a pivotal season was heartening - because, no doubt, there will be times across the forthcoming campaign where the acclaimed Basque will be under the cosh from many outside our wonderful club.

And the 42-year-old knows more than anyone that he and his talented side will be severely tested across the next nine months.

I’ll be at Arteta’s pre-Wolves presser at London Colney before Saturday’s opener to share more insight.

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Martin Odegaard makes PFA shortlist for Player of the Year (2023-24)

Do I think Martin Odegaard should be shortlisted for the PFA’s Player of the Year award?

A resounding yes, absolutely.

Playing 48 matches from 52, scoring 11 goals and providing 11 assists underlines exactly why the Arsenal captain made such a prestigious shortlist.

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Karl Hein

I think it’s a good move all-round for Karl Hein to move on loan to La Liga for the 2024-25 season. While the 22-year-old keeper is essentially third choice for Arsenal - a not inconsiderably important slot - it is far more vital for the Estonian to glean more experience at this stage of his career. And he will certainly do so with Real Valladolid in Spain.

Having observed Hein on numerous occasions over the last few years with the Arsenal academy, not to mention watching him play on the Gunners recent US tour, I still feel he has far too many errors in his game to be considered anywhere near challenging for the No1 spot.

Football is a cruel business, but at the very top level, it’s a fine line between success and failure, and Hein will certainly benefit from a year in Spain, not least because I can still picture his unfortunate debut against Brighton at the Emirates.

And if a year away means that he will have cut such issues out of his game - or, to be brutal, prepares him for a career away from Arsenal, with the club receiving a decent fee for the keeper who only signed a new, long-term deal in June, then so be it.

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Team GB Olympic pride, closing ceremony in Paris, and er, Tom Cruise, Snoop Dog and Dr Dre…

Take a bow Team GB for such superb achievements at the Paris Olympics.

The incredible hard work and dedication it must take to become an Olympian, let along a medalist is so hard to comprehend for us mere mortals.

So a massive well done to each and every single athlete who competed in the showpiece event, regardless of whether they received a medal (not to mention one of those bizarre maps things the French handed out on the podium, that looked like something from the reduced price section in high street, discount retail chain, The Works…)

My height was catching Keely Hodgkinson leave her competitors for dust in winning the 800m metres final, as well as her endearingly humble and down-to-earth nature. (I’m also a big fan of five time Olympic gold medallist Laura Kenny, now turned BBC broadcaster, for the same reason.)

A total of 65 medals equals the return from the never-to-be-forgotten 2012 London Olympics (what a wonderful summer that was). Team GB also earned one more medal than last time out in Tokyo, and was only two down from Rio in 2016 when we still had a London ‘bounce’. While we landed 14 more than Beijing in 2008.

Of course, we all would have liked to have seen more golds, at 14 we were down eight from Tokyo, 13 from Rio and 15 from our high water mark of 2012.

However, joint seventh - understandably behind powerhouses US and China, as well as the home nation - is certainly nothing to be sniffed at. Not least when you also consider that Japan had their post-Olympic legacy in coming an impressive third in the table.

Although, as a Brit who lived in Australia many moons ago - and got to experience their relentless and tedious one-eyed sporting jingoism that would make our tabloids blush (well, almost) the fact that the Aussies finished ahead of us continues to irritate.

But hey, you can’t have everything - and wasn’t the closing ceremony fun/interesting/strange/far too long (delete as applicable).

Having spent two weeks in boundlessly and mesmerisingly energetic Los Angeles was part of Arsenal’s summer tour, it came as no surprise that the highlight of the closing ceremony actually came seven or eight time zones away on the exuberant west coast of America. The French won’t have loved that. Despite Tom Cruise copying our beloved late Queen in abseiling down from a stadium roof…

Watching on, as I am wont to do these days as I get older, I leapt up, shouting and yelling at the TV: "We’ve been there,” when the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Billy Eilish and, of course, the effortlessly cool Snoop Dog and Dr Dre appeared onstage at Venice Beach.

LA in 2028 promises to be some festival of sport. Not to mention pure and unadulterated entertainment…I for one can’t wait.

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Arsenal Third Kit

I like it. Do you?

I liked it even better when I bought a hooky top, shorts and socks for my youngest daughter for a mere $20 outside the SoFi last month. Just don’t tell anyone…

DAILY LIST

I - Gooner Fanzine duty

II - Head to Bromley FC this evening for my fifth match in four days to cover The Ravens’ first match as an EFL club. And hopefully grab a few words with former Arsenal goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman who has led Bromley with such distinction since leaving the Gunners.

And to keep my numbers at 92/92 after relegation/promotion comings and goings meant I slipped back down to 91/92.

See you tomorrow.

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MATCH REPORTS AND PLAYER RATINGS

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Arsenal 2-0 Lyon match report and player ratings

My official Morning Star newspaper match report: Arsenal 2-0 Lyon

Arsenal 2–0 Olympique Lyonnaise. Report by Layth Yousif

Arsenal welcomed back Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka after their summer exertions with England, as Mikel Arteta’s assured side swept away Olympique Lyonnaise on Sunday. 

In a dominant start, William Saliba put the Gunners ahead, nodding Rice’s in-swinging corner through Lyon keeper Lucas Perri, and into the net to make it 1-0 after only eight minutes.

On a blisteringly hot afternoon in north London, Saka nearly doubled the lead, when connecting with Olexsandr Zinchenko’s cross, but his header couldn’t beat Perri, Lyon’s second choice between the sticks.

However, with the smell of sun cream in the air, Arsenal roasted the visitors in a lively opening by making it 2-0 on 26 minutes – with Gunners centre-back Gabriel following his defensive partner Saliba onto the scoresheet.

In a near-identical goal to the French international’s early header, the Brazil centre-half nodded home another in-swinging corner from Rice, this time through the unfortunate Perri, after the Lyon keeper flapped at the ball.

Lyon fashioned a chance six minutes before the interval, but former West Ham attacker Said Benrehma fired wide of David Raya’s goal from Nemanja Matic’s cross.

Arteta’s side continued to dominate after the break, when captain Martin Odegaard tested Perri, but the Lyon keeper pulled off an excellent diving save to turn the sweetly-hit strike away.

Underlining the north Londoner’s superiority Thomas Party shot narrowly wide moments later, prior to Kai Havertz firing across Perri’s goal. It was then Saka’s turn but his effort was turned onto the post by the increasingly beleaguered keeper.

The club’s new £42m summer signing Riccard Calafiori made his bow midway through the second half, replacing the effective Zinchenko – who appears to have upped his game since the arrival of the highly-rated Bologna defender. As a footnote the 22-year-old became only the fifth Italian to feature for Arsenal, following Vito Mannone, Artur Lupoli and the late tragic teenager Niccolo Galli – which, alongside current teammate Jorginho, also made it the first time two Italians have featured in the same match for the Gunners.

With the match won on an energy-sapping afternoon in the fierce sun, boss Arteta made a raft of changes, including introducing the precocious talented teenager Ethan Nwaneri.

Of course, the real test starts next week when Arsenal’s Premier League campaign starts with a home match against Wolves next Saturday, but Arteta can be extremely pleased with such an efficient pre-season, as his side aim to lift the title for the first time in more than two decades.

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My shot from the Emirates press box of Riccardo Calafiori making his bow in red and white for The Arsenal…

Player Ratings: Arsenal 2-0 Lyon

David Raya: 8/10 - A quiet afternoon in the sun for Spain’s Euro 2024 winner who collected his first clean sheet of the summer, ahead of what will hopefully be many more during 2024-25. Excellent late save when palming away

Alex Zinchenko: 8/10 - Excellent cross into the box for Bukayo Saka, whose header clipped the far post early on. Another excellent performance from the Ukraine defender who appears to have upped his game since the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori. Good to see as Arsenal require a strong squad and competition for every single place during what will hopefully be a successful season

William Saliba: 8/10 - Headed home an early goal from Declan Rice’s cross to put the Gunners ahead. Such a class act. A big season awaits 

Gabriel: 8/10 - Followed his defensive partner onto the scoresheet in a near-identical move, when nodding home another Rice inswinger that flew through Lyon keeper Lucas Perri

Ben White: 8/10 - Solid and reliable

Thomas Partey: 7.5/10 - Fired a shot narrowly wide after the break as Arsenal dominated

Declan Rice: 8/10 - Good to see the England midfielder back in Arsenal colours at the Emirates. Also good to see the £105m man hit the ground running with two assists. Replaced by Gabriel Jesus just after the hour mark with the game won  

Martin Odegaard: 7.5/10 - Tested Lyon keeper with a sweetly hit strike shortly after the interval that forced a good save from Lyon keeper Lucas Perri

Bukayo Saka: 7.5/10 - The attacker looked lively after his break after being on duty for the Three Lions this summer as the 22-year-old eases his way back into match fitness. Clipped the woodwork twice.   

Kai Havertz: 7/10 - Angled a second half shot across goal when well-placed, but another good run-out for the Arsenal striker, even if you do wonder whether the team requires a far more mobile – and prolific – frontman

Gabi Martinelli: 7.5/10 - Powered through on goal but was muscled off the ball by Moussa Niakhate. Teed up captain  Odegaard early in the second half whose shot was well-saved by the Lyon keeper

Substitutes:

Riccardo Calafiori: 7/10 - Arsenal’s £42m summer signing received a warm welcome from the Emirates crowd when making his bow in red and white midway through the second half when switching for Zinchenko 

Gabriel Jesus: 7/10 - On for Rice just after the hour mark

Ethan Nwaneri: 7/10 - Came on for Havertz with Arteta making a raft of changes with the game won on a hot afternoon

Reiss Nelson: 6/10 - Replaced Saka

Jorginho: 6.5/10 - Swapped with Partey

Jakub Kiwior: 6.5/10 - Changed for Saliba

Myles Lewis-Skelly: 6.5/10 - Came on for Gabriel

Leandro Trossard: 6.5/10 - Replaced Martinelli

My shot of exciting young Arsenal prospect Ethan Nwaneri after the talented 17-year-old came on during the 2-0 win over Lyon

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For my fourth match in three days I also covered Luton Town vs Burnley on Monday evening, after Hitchin Town 1-3 Bromsgrove, Stevenage 1-0 Shrewsbury and Arsenal 2-0 Lyon over the opening weekend

Read my official Morning Star newspaper report below:

Luton Town 1-4 Burnley: Report by Layth Yousif at Kenilworth Road 

Scott Parker’s impressive Burnley side blew away lacklustre Luton Town on both sides’ return to the Championship. 

Parkers’ impressive Clarets routed the home side on a warm Monday evening at Kenilworth Road, as the Lancastrians laid down a marker during their opening match in the second tier, following relegation from the Premier League. 

For Rob Edwards fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Luton, it was a night to forget for his disjointed, albeit admittedly depleted, side. 

Speaking after the match, a disappointed Edwards reflected, saying: “Burnley are a good team, and they punished us.”

The Clarets certainly did.

Captain Josh Brownhill opened the scoring and Wilson Odobert doubled the visitors’ lead in a dominant opening half in front of 11,777 spectators. 

A smattering of boos could be heard after Luton’s insipid and underwhelming first display, prior to Edwards side rousing themselves somewhat after the interval when Tahith Chong’s close-range effort gave the hosts brief hope.

However, captain Dara O’Shea emphatically headed home for 3-1, before Vitinho fired in a late fourth following a sweeping move. 

Speaking afterwards a delighted Parker said: “To a man, the players were superb.”