THRILLS AND SPILLS OF DAVID LUIZ
Arsenal fans better get used to...
Four minutes into his debut, David Luiz decided to properly introduce himself to the Emirates faithful, leaving hearts in mouths and some supporters perhaps hoping Arsenal had kept hold of their receipt. The £8million signing from Chelsea, after mis-controlling a ball and in a bid to avoid conceding a corner, played a sharp pass across the face of his own goal line. The ball flew tantalisingly out of the reach of Ashley Barnes and pinged into the feet of Luiz’s fellow centrehalf Sokratis. Arsenal then played the ball out of defence. ‘Yikes,’ was the general consensus of the crowd, yet that is what Luiz will bring to Arsenal. The Brazilian will inject a much-needed arrogance into this defence.
He will be bold, and the big men of Burnley got as good as they gave on Saturday. Luiz and Barnes barged shoulders so often, it was a wonder the ‘Visit rwanda’ logo on the Arsenal man’s sleeve did not rub off. Amid all the excitement surrounding Dani Ceballos — and what a ridiculously good performance it was in central midfield from the real Madrid loanee — Luiz’s debut may have gone overlooked. The 32-yearold was cool in possession and, playing alongside Sokratis for the first time, they limited a Burnley side that tried to hurt them from set-pieces. Luiz stopped in the mixed zone afterwards to explain why he chose Arsenal, rather than live the easy life of a substitute at Chelsea or move to China. ‘I am a guy with ambition and that is why I moved,’ Luiz said, who had an honest talk with Chelsea manager Frank Lampard. ‘I could choose a comfortable zone and get money and be cool and that is it.
‘But I like a new challenge and new things in my life. This is what gives me oxygen and gives me motivation. one day football will finish. I am trying to be honest with my heart. Everyone knows I was so happy in Chelsea. I won many trophies there and had a real honest conversation with Lamps, and Lamps had different ideas for his plans for the year. ‘So the best way for me to respect the club was to move on and try a new challenge, and give him the opportunity to do his job. This is a big club and I want to be here and see it shine. ‘This is my motivation every day. That is why I left my family when I was 14 to try to do something around the world. I’m going to try to do my best here.’
He may make mistakes. Barnes equalised after a fortunate deflection carried the ball to him on the edge of the six-yard box and it was Luiz who played the striker onside. Arsenal needed a new central defender in the summer and they got one for £8m, while Manchester united got Harry Maguire for £80m. They will have to take the rough with the smooth. ‘In life you have to believe,’ Luiz continued. ‘My philosophy on life is to be positive and to be a dreamer. But understand, to dream is one thing and to achieve your dream, you have a lot to do. I have my health, I can dream and we can fight for something big.’
It was the usual suspects who scored at the Emirates Stadium, with Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helping themselves to goals in either half. until Kieran Tierney beat him by 1cm, Aubameyang held the record for the highest standing jump at Arsenal. The striker is looking to reach new heights on the pitch instead. After scoring the only goal of the game at Newcastle last week, his winner on Saturday ensured Arsenal opened a season with two victories for the first time since 2009-10. Another game, another goal. Aubameyang looked in Thierry Henry mode towards the end of last season and his latest strike would not look amiss in a video montage of the Frenchman’s career. Aubameyang is the closest Arsenal have had to Henry.
If he can grab the goals and Luiz can help keep them out, there will be more cheer than fear at the Emirates this season.