Oh what could have been...as a great start with a quick goal was slowly squashed into a dithering mess as a disaster night in France finally ended at 3-1. Yes, a vital away goal is in the bag but ultimately it's another suspension and another potential mountain to climb at home next week.
It was a tale of two halves in the main as Arsenal's footballing dominance stood front and centre from the off. Rennes were always in the game mind but as the Gunners stuck their foot on the gas early, the early goal came through a speculative cross-shot from Alex Iwobi. 1-0 and in control. It didn't last though as it was back to same old Arsenal who, with plenty of possession, created plenty of half chances and a few bigger sniffs too but no one could convert. At 1-0, Rennes were always in the game, and they knew it too. They knew it and showed it, as they possessed the weapons to hurt Arsenal's leaky defence - and it showed. Mustafi was walking a tight line early as he was pulled for two fouls in quick succession whilst in the midst of running of a knock. Sokratis then joined in the cluelessness as he recklessly slid in for a challenge with a needless attempt at winning the ball. Yellow card to the Greek and the hosts spotted a dangerous looking free kick. Fast forward a few minutes later and the same happened again. An even more pointless foul from Sokratis saw him red carded - and with well over a half to go in the game (plus a 2nd leg), and with Koscielny on the cover, it was absolutely reckless, pointless, stupid and he really let his team down. Up steps Ben Arfa who's attempt failed but it rebounded off Arsenal's wall and was fired into the top corner past the diving Cech. 1-1; a stupid foul, an even more pointless red card and a frustrating equaliser.
The half time break probably came at a good time for Arsenal as they could regroup and reassess what they needed to do to get back to the standards they set in the opening fifteen minutes. One would have thought a change was needed, with winger Mkhitaryan filling in at right back for the final minutes of the first half. It didn't happen and Arsenal looked a mess. It took twenty minutes of end to end football before Rennes went ahead for the first time. Monreal deflected a cross into his own net - a goal that really summed up the evening as a whole. Ozil was barely in the game, Mkhitaryan and Iwobi faded, and Aubameyang did very little at all. It was clear that the team missed Lacazette's unselfish running and high energy. Ramsey too, he could have been a better option to start with but with United in the league on Sunday, Emery's eyes are likely to have been looking at that one too. And in his defence, Sokratis' stupid fouling really was the difference between the two teams. A 1-1 draw or even a 2-1 defeat heading back to London was more than manageable. However, like Arsenal always do, they've made it more difficult and conceded a third late on. Three-one and game over, and the tie could be over too...
Ratings and Talking Points
Unai Emery: 5
It may look harsh as his starting XI wasn't too far off what everyone would have liked, the exception being Mustafi at right back but that it was as good as it was going to get in terms of talent. However, the Head Coach absolutely let himself down with the substitutions he made. With Sokratis' red card and the game then sat at one-one, he should have solidified the defence by bringing on Maitland-Niles in the right back spot. Regardless of anything else, the back line needed sorting as Mkhitaryan is by no means an option let alone a deputy. Kolasinac for Aubameyang was also a pointless substitution, especially as even as a defender, the Bosnian's introduction had no baring on the defensive shape. Emery has it all to do ahead of Man United on Sunday followed by a big tie next Thursday in London. A 2-0 win would do it though, and the team is more than capable but without Lacazette again and now Sokratis too, Emery needs to find another ingredient or two to get the win and progress into the last eight.
Petr Cech: 6
Shkodran Mustafi: 4.5
Sokratis: 2
Laurent Koscielny: 5.5
Nacho Monreal: 4
Lucas Torreira: 5.5
Granit Xhaka: 6
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 6
Mesut Ozil: 5
Alex Iwobi: 6.5
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 5.5
Subs:
Matteo Guendouzi: 5
Sead Kolasinac: 4
Aaron Ramsey: 4
Mustafi is Not a Full Back
The German spent time as a right full back in his younger days but has shown of late that although he may be able to do a job at full back against a reserve team or someone way below average, against anything more he is a liability. Within the first ten or fifteen minutes, he was in trouble. Lunging in, diving in and getting conned into fouls and tackles that are so needless. At centre half he comes up against a different style of player, in the main, so he isn't sucked into tackles anywhere near as often. At full back, he gets tested for pace, and pushed all ends up by tricky wingers who can go either way. Last night was no different and he's proved that whatever the condition of Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the bench, the Englishman is the far safer option for Unai Emery. The Head Coach needs to accept that and move on for the sake of the team, the fans and Mustafi himself.
How Many Mistakes Until These Players Learn?
Regardless of Manger, Head Coach, formation, opposition or anything else, these players need to start taking responsibility. Sokratis last night was a prime example of not thinking and letting his team down. He isn't the first and if things don't change, he won't be the last. It's needless and completely pointless with another half and another leg to play. Even if the player were to score, it's not a huge issue as at eleven vs eleven, the Gunners should still fancy it. Careless and thoughtless play shapes outcomes and reactions, regardless of player, position and reputation. Much like Lacazette last week, it's irrelevant whether there's a justification for it (which there isn't), cards and fouls cost in more ways than one. Arsenal's defence now has to go without a centre back for next week's crunch second leg. How much prettier does no foul, eleven still on the pitch and a potential shot on goal from the Rennes attacker sounds? Because that's all it was going to be...a shot, not necessarily a goal with Koscielny on the cover and Cech in goal. Thoughtless and pretty clueless from the defender who really cost his team.
@craigbennett10
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