A very sloppy and unorganised start from the Gunners saw Man City score inside a minute through top marksman Sergio Aguero. Still finding their feet in the game and being wholly outplayed, Arsenal grabbed a corner after eleven minutes where Laurent Koscielny headed home from close range, 1-1 and game on. The remainder of the first half mapped an all too familiar pattern with one exception. Yes, Pep's men saw most of the ball and created chance after chance, the difference (for once) was that Arsenal didn't fall over a take - not straight away anyway. Forty-odd minutes of dogged, gritty and energetic work throughout the midfield with players plugging gaps and filling holes where needed. One disappointing lapse late on in the half lead to City taking a 2-1 advantage into break.
In stark contrast, Arsenal fell apart from a footballing perspective in the second stanza. There wasn't a lot of forward football played in the first half but there was hard work, a game plan and an understanding of what we do, and when. However, the metaphorical wheels fell off almost from the starting whistle as City dominated Arsenal in every area of the park. The Gunners barely managed more than three passes in a row, definitely didn't manage an attempt on goal, and looked clueless all round as to how the game had gone so sideways. The issue? Fitness, and work rate. Emery's men looked tired and it's as if the half time break ruined any tempo they had. City bossed possession, chances and everything in between, and scored a third with half an hour remaining as Aguero grabbed his hattrick. In all honesty, it could have been more, and maybe should have been as City were rampant in creating chances but weren't so clinical in finishing. There was a stage in the game, where at 1-1 and even at 2-1 were Arsenal were in a game. Elevating their level to one that can compete on a footballing level for longer periods is the real challenge.
Ratings and Talking Points
Unai Emery: 4
Starting Kolasinac at left midfield in a flat four must have shocked every one. Ramsey, Ozil and new signing Suarez were all left out whilst a LB played in midfield. He wasn't awful but his strengths lie in the wing back areas, with a back three of centre backs behind a two-man central midfield. The team, on paper, looked to be exactly that but it soon became clear that Arsenal's shape was in fact a flat 4-4-2. At right back Lichtsteiner again proved that he's past it. With Iwobi at right midfield, City targeted Arsenal's right hand side, knowing how slack defensively it would be. It proved to be a great avenue of success for the Citizens all game long and Lichtsteiner especially just could not hack it. With Granit Xhaka unavailable, Guendouzi was the right choice of partner for Torreira. They both worked extremely hard and Guendouzi especially had an impressive game putting himself about effectively.
Along with the off starting XI, Emery's substitutions could also be questioned. Not necessarily the who but the when. Mavropanos for Mustafi fairly late on was an obvious choice due to injury but the double change, after going 3-1 down, should have been earlier. As soon as it become clear how flat and deflated the XI looked to start the second half, changes should have been made within ten minutes. A fresh impetus, especially in midfield with Ramsey and Suarez coming on would have created a whole new threat for City to adjust to. As it happened, by the time this threat came, City were home and dry.
Bernd Leno: 5.5
Stephan Lichtsteiner: 3
Shkodran Mustafi: 5
Laurent Koscielny: 6
Nacho Monreal: 5
Alex Iwobi: 4
Lucas Torreira: 6
Matteo Guendouzi: 6.5
Sead Kolasinac: 5
Alex Lacazette: 5
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 5
Subs:
Aaron Ramsey: 4.5
Denis Suarez: 4.5
Dino Mavropanos: 4
Without a Creative Midfielder, There is No Link Between Midfield and Attack
Although Arsenal saw little possession throughout the game, the two forwards were extremely isolated for long periods. It may seem obvious but at times when City were entering the Arsenal half, both Lacazette and Aubameyang sat as deep as our half of the centre circle. How detrimental is that to their strengths? They did these jobs well though but without a Ramsey or an Ozil somewhere in the midfield, any opportunity to break usually came to nothing as it was often just a two-man attack. Midfield naturally sat deep, fine, but the wingers should be taking the risk to get forward and support. Far too often, there was no link between midfield and attack - maybe it is what needed to be sacrificed to stay in the game for longer but I'm not convinced that was achieved anyway.
The Need For An Out-and-Out Winger
It's been clear throughout the season so far that Emery's wide options are limited as he does not possess a true, natural winger anywhere in his squad. Its looks as though Suarez has been brought in to do a job there and maybe he can but he is by no means a natural. In a flat four, and in fact in all midfield shapes, at least one natural wide man would be effective. Someone to travel with the ball and be able to provide some kind of end product would be ideal; its made even worse when it seems as though a left back is filling the left midfield spot to 'do a job'. Even with two forwards in attack, a winger who can support, deliver a ball and counter with some pace would be so much more useful that an out of form Alex Iwobi and the out of position Sead Kolasinac.
@craigbennett10
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