It can be incredibly frustrating as a football fan watching a game at the ground or from the sofa at home. Being able to see an elevated view of the pitch awards viewers a luxury that those on the field are not afforded.
This was very much apparent from the reaction to the 76th minute shot from Emile Smith Rowe which went straight at Robert Sanchez’s feet. Missing the best chance of the game for Arsenal to score. Had Smith Rowe converted, and the Gunners snatched three points, the talking points of the weekend would have been very different. But that is football.
However, there was a big response and outcry from many Arsenal supporters questioning why Smith Rowe didn’t make the pass to Bukayo Saka.
Off the back of a Thierry Henry analysis of Jordan Ayew’s failure to pass the ball to Christian Benteke just one weekend prior, seeing a similar scenario play out for Arsenal was ironic beyond measure.
However, there were significant differences in the scenarios and evidence to suggest that even the great Thierry Henry may not have squared the ball, although I would have bet on him scoring the chance at the end of the run.
By looking at the run from both Smith-Rowe and Saka, there are three opportunities where the England youth international could choose to pass when looking at the move from the perspective of the television camera.
The first is when the ball first reaches him from Thomas Partey’s through pass. This scenario would have required Smith Rowe to look up, spot Saka, and help the ball on in one movement. Bearing in mind Shane Duffy is slightly ahead of Smith Rowe at this point, the chance of interception is high.
The second opportunity is the next touch along the run and, in my view, the best, if yet still a small, chance to play the pass. Duffy is no longer ahead of Smith Rowe, the ball is in his control although a little under his feet.
The biggest problem is because Duffy isn’t further ahead, he has closed on Smith-Rowe, not only pressuring him but making it more difficult to spot where Saka is for the pass. Instinctively Smith Rowe decides to back his pace and take the ball slightly wider.
This is when the final passing opportunity presents itself. As shown in the below image, Smith Rowe tries to fake out Duffy. However the Brighton man stays true and doesn’t fall for it, any pass would be very risky here and likely lead to a loss of possession and so Smith-Rowe takes a final touch to put him in and clear on goal. A move which, in my view, was the best decision.
Here, a more experienced and accomplished goalscoring midfielder would get more purchase on the shot, getting their foot around the ball to angle it low across the keeper and into the bottom left corner. However, Smith Rowe’s touch after a long run is slightly overhit.
Therefore, as he stretches to reach the ball for the shot, his foot doesn’t get enough around the ball and his strike instead travels straighter and at Sanchez’s feet.
Fans were right that Smith Rowe could have attempted to pass the ball, however, each instance to pass had an associated risk and the midfielder, in the end, took the less risky path and made for himself a great shooting opportunity.
It was just the final touch that let him down and a Smith Rowe in a couple more years I would bank to bury that same chance.
Important to remember that whilst to the viewer a pass may be on, in reality, it is far from a simple ball.
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