Against a team that play like Burnley we were actually very successful at finding space and creating overloads. It was poor touches that let us down so often. Pepe, Saka and ESR were all guilty of a heavy touch or the wrong pass when we had space and numbers. Very frustrating.
Overall I was really happy with that performance though. For us, against a team like that, away, it was an excellent showing in my eyes.
Gabriel was immense. But I'm surprised no one has mentioned Ramsdale! What a performance from him! He did things Leno is completely incapable of. Obviously the commanding of the area and getting up to take the ball on set pieces, but what about the distribution?!?!?! It was amazing, he's got it all. From the long strafing goal kicks to find forwards to calmness on the ball under pressure and playing out, instead of panic lumping. And I love the passion and desire, he f*cking loved that clean sheet at the end there. This is my keeper, I'm completely sold on him after that game.
White had a bit of a shocker with Barnes, he's not great in the duel on that evidence, but you could see the value he brings with his feet. A very classy distributor. For the first time this season, despite only winning 1-0 and scoring it from a free kick, I really thought we saw in parts how this is all supposed to work. The way we played out from the back, the skill sets of Ramsdale, White and Tomiyasu, I was seeing the vision of how this could all go when we've got the first choice team on the pitch, fit and firing.
The next game is going to be huge. If we could play well and win this one in front of the home crowd it would kickstart the season.