Arsenal's attitude was all wrong. The personnel and lineup weren't ideal and the performance just wasn't good enough either as Everton took a cagey affair one-nil, to leave the Gunners' hopes of a top four finish teetering on the edge.
Other than a threatening opening five minutes or so, where Lacazette could have won an early penalty, Arsenal barely got started in the first half and were second best in every department. It took the hosts just ten minutes to find the back of Arsenal's net as Phil Jagielka tapped home short range following another penalty box melee and everyone in red failing to clear. Sometimes Bernd Leno is literally left with no chance. The first half played out just as badly as the opening stanza, as Mkhitaryan and Ozil failed to grab a hold of the game from attacking midfield. Matteo Guendouzi and Mohamed Elneny alongside each other in a two man central midfield just didn't work and this was changed at half time.
With Ramsey and Aubameyang entering the fray to start the second half, Arsenal's chances of win looked good once again. However, neither really lived up to the billing, as it took Aubameyang way too long to get into the game, whilst Ramsey, although energetic as always, didn't really take the game to the opposition as we know he can. Whether he was fully fit or not remains to be seen but having watched him start on the bench, you'd suggest that the talismanic Welshman was not at full fitness whatsoever. Mkhitaryan and Ozil both grew a little more in the second half with Ramsey's introduction whilst other areas improved generally as Emery had moved to a flat back four at half time. However, it wasn't to be as Everton held out, and whilst Arsenal tried it just wasn't good enough from anyone in any position. Bernd Leno in goal was perhaps the only Arsenal player who could leave the pitch thinking 'I couldn't do much more there'. All other players need to take a look in the mirror and ask themselves whether they are up for the fight or not. With the Europa League to come on Thursday then the Premier League again on Monday, the games are coming thick and fast, and anymore woeful performances like yesterday will leave Arsenal's season in tatters.
Ratings and Talking Points
Unai Emery: 5
In another baffling decision, we saw top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang start on the bench again. This isn't right, regardless of anything else, as away from home the forward line needs pace. Lacazette spent long periods isolated and without his mate up top, he was carrying quite the load, especially as Ozil and Mkhitaryan both struggled. Emery did however stick with the back three formation. No Koscielny meant that Mustafi kept his place in an unchanged three whilst both wing backs remained the same. Emery opted for a Guendouzi-Elneny partnership in midfield and it just didn't work. Without Granit Xhaka as the midfield pivot, Arsenal really struggle. Ramsey starting from the bench didn't help either. Ahead, questionable decisions over Mkhitaryan's inclusion continue today as Iwobi looked better in a fifteen minute spell whilst Aubameyang is clearly a better option too. We are well aware of the important games to come but away from home, the Gunners just aren't the same so they therefore need all of their best players on board to get the job done. Wolves and Watford away to come, currently don't look great either. Emery needs to fix this fast.
Bernd Leno: 7
Shkodran Mustafi: 4
Sokratis: 4
Nacho Monreal: 5
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 5
Matteo Guendouzi: 4.5
Mohamed Elneny: 4
Sead Kolasinac: 4
Mesut Ozil: 4.5
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 4.5
Alex Lacazette: 5
Subs:
Aaron Ramsey: 6
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 4.5
Alex Iwobi: 5.5
Arsenal Need to Sign Ramsey's Replacement Fast
Having seen how bang average our third and fourth choice central midfield partnerships are of late, Emery and the the Arsenal Executives need to identify and sign a replacement for Ramsey as soon as they can. Get the ball rolling now so the deal can be signed on July 1. No messing about as with Ramsey gone, should Xhaka and/or Torreira be unavailable, the midfield will really struggle. And in support of that, both cannot be expected to play ninety minutes game in, game out. It just doesn't happen anymore. What we do know now is that the midfield is looking weak without Ramsey in it. Maitland-Niles could be an option in there for next season, and he's capable of being a back up or alternative, whilst the return of the developing Calum Chambers could also strengthen this area. But to improve, better players are a must.
Aubameyang is Top Scorer for a Reason
For two games in a week now Emery has chosen to start his top scoring forward on the bench. Forget the fact that he's the top scorer and still pushing his way to the league's golden boot award, the relationship he and Lacazette have together is unmatched anywhere and is the main reason why they both need to start, together. One without the other is different, and the whole team dynamic changes, and not for the better. Whether it's a back three or a back four, Emery needs to fit his two strikers in the line up together. It's no coincidence that when he did, Arsenal went from absolutely no chance to third in the table for a brief while. Only yesterday changed this. In order to hunt down a top four finish, Emery needs both his strikers on form, and only together are they both red hot.
@craigbennett10
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