Previous names: Dial Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich Arsenal
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Sunday, November 10, 2013

Arsenal lacked composure, a tall centre back and width (Ratings)


By 1970’s Gooner

They also had several players vastly underperforming.
Remember the home game against Dortmund. The Arsenal players started very nervously. They couldn’t get their passing game going, their usual fluency was not apparent and they hardly created anything of substance until the last minute of the first half. In the second things got better.

Something similar happened against Man Utd but the difference was that United were not going to let their lead slip. They had to win the game to get back into the title race. They were very combative as they always are against Arsenal and it worked.

Secondly Arsenal missed their leader in defence. It’s difficult to say if he would have got to RVP’s header but his domineering presence and combativeness would have gone some way to reducing the nervousness in the rest of the team.
But the most striking aspect in Arsenal’s play was the lack of width and Ozil’s absence as an influence on the game.

Playing Ramsey on the wing was never going to work. Not only did he look tired he offered no penetration.
You can’t put square pegs in round holes.
Gnabry came on and he created so much down the right wing in the few minutes he was on than Arsenal created the whole game before! Thank God Walcott is coming back after the break because we can’t go on without pace and penetration on the wings.
Ozil was a nonentity. He has been so in the last few games but Wenger never rests him or substitutes him. He provided nothing, nothing. Cazorla the same.

In conclusion we got done because United wanted the game more than us, were more combative, we missed Mertesacker, key players did not perform and had no width.

But we will be back make no mistake about it.

Szczesny 7

Sagna 6

Vermaelen 5

Koscienly 6

Gibbs 5

Flamini 5 (Wilshere 6)

Arteta 5 (Bendtner 3)

Ramsey 4

Cazorla 4 (Gnabry 7)

Ozil 4

Giroud 5

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Couldn't agree more. Oil was useless and easily our worst player. So many mis-placed passes. Hasn't shown up in the last few games. We really missed Rosicky and Walcott today

Anonymous said...

why is Gnabry given such a short run when he could easily have taken on united's defence from the off. he is presently our own winger and I know this was a big game but the CM's put ahead of him really seemed to lack drive and ideas.

Anonymous said...

Rosicky give the team argancy

Anonymous said...

I don't know but Arsenal are back to pass and pass. Imho,too many passes and not enough direct attacking soccer to trouble the rd.This type of play maybe ok for the cl but definitely not for the epl.As we all know this game suits the defenders who can anticipate what the next move will be.
Wenger has apoor record against the red face less team.Tactically the rd know his style which is easy for them.
I am afraid the gunners still need a few more back up quality guys if they want to win the epl.Maybe they were tired after the mid week cl but that is no excuse, The rd may have aday longer to rest.
I still believe the gunners canfight for th epl.

Anthony said...

Gnabry should have started. Every time he has played this season he has been excellent. Especially with Rosicky unavailable to inject his usual dynamism into proceedings Wenger missed a trick by not giving Gnabry at least half an hour. We lacked balance in attack today.

Anonymous said...

Sunderland beat MC. How did they do it" Well instead of passing they for the direct pass and antw/three passes and the ball is in the net. Then they were under the cosh.
Wenger needs to cut out the intricate /pretty stuff.