After providing his first assist since last year in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Benfica, Martin Keown reckons Willian’s Arsenal career might finally kick on.
The Brazilian joined the Gunners in the summer for free after leaving Chelsea.
There were reservations when Arsenal offered him a three-year deal, something he couldn’t get at Stamford Bridge.
He started by setting up two goals against Fulham in the first Premier League game of the season.
However, his assists quickly dried up and he made just one more assist since that time until his effort last night.
The Gunners have been heavily criticized for the signing and the Brazilian hasn’t helped his cause as he continues to deliver below-par performances for them.
However, after coming on as a sub in last night’s game, he set up Kieran Tierney for Arsenal’s equalising goal to make the game 2-2.
Keown says that assist can be the start of something good for the forward and hopes that he can finally start delivering the performances that Arsenal fans have been wanting.
He said on BT Sport: “This could be the making of Willian, tonight. He’s been a bit gloomy since he’s been there.
“But this is a big moment for him – he’s just come on and been a part of success and hopefully he can perform better going forward.”
I really do hope that Willian comes good for Arsenal, although I doubt it he will.What interests me is the way certain elements of the media, including the writer of this article suggests that Willian “set up”the goal for Tierney and has been credited with what is now known as an”assist”. It may be an age thing, but to this seventy three year old all I saw was a simple pass from Willian to Tierney, who proceeded to beat his marker and scored with an excellent shot.If this constitutes an “assist” it just shows how misleading stats can be to my mind.
I just want Him to succeed at Arsenal. First, he needs to up his game and be brave. To be in positions where he can influence games and score.
What baffles me is the lack of intent he displays. While at Chelsea, he fight 4 balls & plays with much greater intent, not in Arsenal. Here, he’s way 2 comfortable making mistakes & getting away with them with Arteta backing his mistakes. I hope he improves.
Not just William, many of the current team players lack intent. We won befinca but I am not impressed at all. The team is getting boring to watch
I listened while Keown made that statement on TV and thought straight away “what a triumph of mere hope over real expectation”. I like Keown a great deal but he does let his club bias colour his opinions I find!
To be fair, so do most TV pundits and studio guests when their own team is being discussed but it does not help. Though many on JA want nothing more than to see their own biases supported.
I do think that saying Willian set up Tierney is stretching it a bit, just because he passed the final ball to Tierney, it means nothing. Tierney had to move the ball and himself left and right, beat a player and rifle the shot. It was 100% Tierneys goal from nothing.
Saying that simple pass was an assist was laughable