If there was any team that could make you miss the international break and long for the next one, of course it would be Arsenal. Failings of new and old were on display again as we fell to yet another away defeat. Where's the copy and paste button?
Besides the goal it's difficult to separate either half of football, particularly from an Arsenal perspective. Pre-game when the line ups were announced the same pre-international break questions were being asked: Where is the creativity going to come from? Why no Ozil in the squad? Why isn't Tierney starting? What does Torreira have to do to get a start in his favoured position?
Those fears proved justified as it was a predictably slow start and Arsenal struggled to put any kind of fluid movement together. Pepe looked a threat when on the ball and wanted a goal but he was the sole attacking impetus, a peculiar feeling among Arsenal supporters. Down the other end there were more of the usual failings we have grown used to, zero defensive nous. Mousset was afforded the freedom of the 6 yard box from a corner that was nodded back across goal in his direction and just like that, he taps home the easiest goal of his career for potentially one of Sheffield Utd's biggest days in their season.
The second half was more or less identical and more of the same. Hope was somewhat restored when Emery withdrew Xhaka for Lacazette, the team went up a gear and Lacazette linked well with Pepe and gave the Utd back four more to think about. Unfortunately that only lasted 10 minutes because Pepe was hauled off for Martinelli who didn't have an awful lot of time to get into the game and make any real impact. The game petered out and that was that. Little more can really be said or reported....
Ratings:
Emery - 3
As mentioned, there were a number of questions surrounding the line up yet again and all of which proved well founded in the end. He must get some credit for removing Xhaka and replacing him with Lacazette however obvious a call it might have been, but that's about all he got right all game. Particularly frustrating when he left Tierney on the bench because Kolasinac hadn't warranted dropping in his eyes, and our biggest goal scoring threat was removed for a young teenager in a tricky (albeit winnable) away game.
Leno - 6
Left horribly exposed for the goal and nothing he could do for it. Otherwise had little contribution to make but did do the basics well enough.
Chambers - 5
Lost his man for the header back across goal that they scored from, though not the only one guilty of failing to win the first header. Didn't provide much attacking threat going forward but otherwise defended well enough going the other way.
Luiz - 5
Wasn't tested often defensively but long balls over the top provided little threat.
Sokratis - 5
Also not really tested defensively, not at fault either for the goal. Should have had a penalty when pulled down early on from a corner.
Kolasinac - 5
Struggling to really see what he offers. Doesn't contribute much going forward, but still finds himself caught out frequently cause he's too high up the pitch.
Xhaka - 5
Not his best game, not his worst either. Gave away some silly needless fouls that didn't exactly help the team. Feel some sympathy though as he's being exposed.
Guendouzi - 6
Looked like he wanted and tried to make things happen but just didn't quite have the final 3rd quality to make that happen.
Willock - 4
Really struggled to impose himself on the game. But not helped playing out of position, struggling to see the logic of a box to box player who arrives late in the box to score being played as the guy who's meant to make that kind of chance.
Saka - 6
Showed some neat touches but didn't pose much threat in the end. Harshly deemed to have dived and booked in the 1st half. Probably would have been more threatening in the second half if he continued to pay on the wing instead of being moved to central midfield....
Aubameyang - 5
Anonymous throughout the whole game but I do feel some sympathy as he can't produce magic every single week and do it on his own, he has to be given some sort of service. Not his night.
Pepe - 7 (MOTM)
Comfortably our biggest attacking threat. Looked renewed after the international break and very close to scoring his first from open play in arsenal colours. A good performance with the exception of a missed sitter.
Ceballos - 6
Made little impact when he came on. Clearly works and tries hard but sometimes comes across as though he's looking busy more than making a meaningful contribution. Lacked the final 3rd guile needed to break down a stubborn defence.
Lacazette - 6
Changed the game for the better when he came on. Linked with Pepe very well and gave him opportunity to look even more threatening. Gave their back 4 something else to think about and was a nuisance.
Martinelli - N/A
@groningergooner
Besides the goal it's difficult to separate either half of football, particularly from an Arsenal perspective. Pre-game when the line ups were announced the same pre-international break questions were being asked: Where is the creativity going to come from? Why no Ozil in the squad? Why isn't Tierney starting? What does Torreira have to do to get a start in his favoured position?
Those fears proved justified as it was a predictably slow start and Arsenal struggled to put any kind of fluid movement together. Pepe looked a threat when on the ball and wanted a goal but he was the sole attacking impetus, a peculiar feeling among Arsenal supporters. Down the other end there were more of the usual failings we have grown used to, zero defensive nous. Mousset was afforded the freedom of the 6 yard box from a corner that was nodded back across goal in his direction and just like that, he taps home the easiest goal of his career for potentially one of Sheffield Utd's biggest days in their season.
The second half was more or less identical and more of the same. Hope was somewhat restored when Emery withdrew Xhaka for Lacazette, the team went up a gear and Lacazette linked well with Pepe and gave the Utd back four more to think about. Unfortunately that only lasted 10 minutes because Pepe was hauled off for Martinelli who didn't have an awful lot of time to get into the game and make any real impact. The game petered out and that was that. Little more can really be said or reported....
Ratings:
Emery - 3
As mentioned, there were a number of questions surrounding the line up yet again and all of which proved well founded in the end. He must get some credit for removing Xhaka and replacing him with Lacazette however obvious a call it might have been, but that's about all he got right all game. Particularly frustrating when he left Tierney on the bench because Kolasinac hadn't warranted dropping in his eyes, and our biggest goal scoring threat was removed for a young teenager in a tricky (albeit winnable) away game.
Leno - 6
Left horribly exposed for the goal and nothing he could do for it. Otherwise had little contribution to make but did do the basics well enough.
Chambers - 5
Lost his man for the header back across goal that they scored from, though not the only one guilty of failing to win the first header. Didn't provide much attacking threat going forward but otherwise defended well enough going the other way.
Luiz - 5
Wasn't tested often defensively but long balls over the top provided little threat.
Sokratis - 5
Also not really tested defensively, not at fault either for the goal. Should have had a penalty when pulled down early on from a corner.
Kolasinac - 5
Struggling to really see what he offers. Doesn't contribute much going forward, but still finds himself caught out frequently cause he's too high up the pitch.
Xhaka - 5
Not his best game, not his worst either. Gave away some silly needless fouls that didn't exactly help the team. Feel some sympathy though as he's being exposed.
Guendouzi - 6
Looked like he wanted and tried to make things happen but just didn't quite have the final 3rd quality to make that happen.
Willock - 4
Really struggled to impose himself on the game. But not helped playing out of position, struggling to see the logic of a box to box player who arrives late in the box to score being played as the guy who's meant to make that kind of chance.
Saka - 6
Showed some neat touches but didn't pose much threat in the end. Harshly deemed to have dived and booked in the 1st half. Probably would have been more threatening in the second half if he continued to pay on the wing instead of being moved to central midfield....
Aubameyang - 5
Anonymous throughout the whole game but I do feel some sympathy as he can't produce magic every single week and do it on his own, he has to be given some sort of service. Not his night.
Pepe - 7 (MOTM)
Comfortably our biggest attacking threat. Looked renewed after the international break and very close to scoring his first from open play in arsenal colours. A good performance with the exception of a missed sitter.
Ceballos - 6
Made little impact when he came on. Clearly works and tries hard but sometimes comes across as though he's looking busy more than making a meaningful contribution. Lacked the final 3rd guile needed to break down a stubborn defence.
Lacazette - 6
Changed the game for the better when he came on. Linked with Pepe very well and gave him opportunity to look even more threatening. Gave their back 4 something else to think about and was a nuisance.
Martinelli - N/A
@groningergooner
Comments
Post a Comment