Managers these days are usually only gifted a handful of 'Get out of jail free cards'. It seems Unai used plenty of those during his first campaign and now there do not appear to be any left. Through his own undoing or not, he cannot get a meaningful win that he is so desperately craving right now and Saturday was a further example of what is increasingly appearing to be a man on borrowed time.
On the contrary to last weekends outing, Arsenal started sloppily and Wolves took the game to Arsenal who were perhaps fortunate in some ways to see the Wolves pressure not lead to an early opener. Arsenal started to get more on the ball as the half went on, and despite creating a limited number of half chances, did find the big one that opened the scoring through Aubameyang. Chambers took a quick throw to Luiz who found a yard to aim a low cross at Lacazette. He controlled well and turned to lay the ball off to the waiting Aubameyang who had the simple task of slotting the ball home beyond the helpless Patricio.
It was thanks to some astute goalkeeping from Bernd Leno that the lead was preserved until half time and then again to keep Wolves at bay in the second half with a fine diving save to his left hand side, but there was little he could do to prevent the equaliser and was left exposed once more by poor defending. Moments after Torreira was taken off, ceballos was caught napping in his new role which allowed Moutinho to run onto a throw in and hook the ball into the box. Jimenez was ready and waiting and beat Chambers to the header to nod the ball into the ground and beyond Leno.
1-1 was how it was to finish, again partially in thanks to Leno who stood his ground to block a daring Jota run that managed to evade everyone else beforehand. A point might be better than a defeat but it doesn't do Emery any favours where there is now a very real possibility that we fall 9 points behind the top 4 going into the interlul mid-November. The question on everyone's lips will be: How much longer will the inevitable take?
Ratings:
Emery - 2
The highest possible rating I could give, and that's on the basis that he chose the right personnel to start the game, but beyond that it went horribly downhill. A positive selection was put in a negative system: It made very little sense to set up narrow and defend against a team with pacy wingers and will set up to break from a low-block. The substitutions also made precious little sense with a £72m record signing in good form left on the bench for the full 90, instead opting for Kolasinac to come on for Tierney who was already playing well. The decision to remove Torreira as we began to sit further and further back was equally bemusing and later well founded when we conceded not long after. The icing on the cake though? The press conference after that suggested this was a well executed game plan. Where's the facepalm emoji??
Leno - 8 (MOTM)
As good a goalkeeper Leno is, conceding goals are inevitable when you allow your opposition 25 attempts on your goal. The result could have been worse as well if it wasn't for three separate and equally important pieces of goalkeeping that highlighted his importance to the team.
Chambers - 6
For the most part he defended quite well and was limited in his opportunities to venture forward and provide an attacking threat, his strength though at full back is his ability in the air and to win headers but he didn't cover himself in much glory for the goal, losing out at the time it really mattered.
Sokratis - 5
A little stationary for the goal and didn't seem aware of the threat behind him that a better centre half might have sensed and dealt with better to help out his full back. Also went wondering forward into midfield territory opening up the space for Jota to receive the ball and run at our defence that almost lead to a winner.
Luiz - 6
During the first half, his long raking balls felt like our biggest attacking threat and most dangerous opportunities and provided the cross that lead to our opener. Though arguably let Jota run too far with the ball for the heart-in-mouth moment late on.
Tierney - 7
A solid performance and dealt with Adama Traore's trickery and pace very competently. Unfortunate to be limited in his forays forward like Chambers was on the opposite side.
Torreira - 7
An all round good performance and it was a struggle to work out why he was taken off in the second half. Was good on and off the ball.
Guendouzi - 5
Unusually poor performance from the teenager. Dwelled on the ball a bit too long at times, particularly in the first half and had little impact on the game.
Ceballos - 6
Up until Torreira's substitution he looked a much improved premier league footballer. Rather than turning on a sixpence every opportunity he got, he used the ball well and played the way he was facing to keep the ball moving as much as he could. Was then forced into a more defensive area but he doesn't have the defensive mindset others do which proved telling in the end.
Ozil - 7
Probably the best outfield player on the day. Was the one that you felt could and maybe would make something happen if he could find it but that's difficult to do in a defensive minded set up. But there is more to his game though and he offers an element of control when on the front foot and that showed one of the many elements we are missing at the moment and why he could still have a large part to play.
Lacazette - 6.5
An interesting performance from Laca, in some ways looked still a bit off the pace and working to find fitness, but also like a man on a mission that worked tirelessly for the team. Got the assist for Auba's goal which can't go unnoticed either.
Aubameyang - 6
Where would we be without his goals? The stat I've seen recently is in the relegation zone, incredible with the team we have. Auba continues to show though his importance to the team and that if fed an opportunity, he will take it 9 times out of 10.
Martinelli - 6
The amount of work this kid gets through almost needs it's own superlative. Fresh from giving Liverpool the run around just a few days ago, he hounded the Wolves back 4 to no end from the minute he came on, unfortunately to no avail but his work-rate and hunger is just tremendous.
Saka - 5
Hardly featured when he came on for Torreira. Having said that I do have some sympathy as he was an attacker coming into a defensive set up on the back foot.
Kolasinac - N/A.
On the contrary to last weekends outing, Arsenal started sloppily and Wolves took the game to Arsenal who were perhaps fortunate in some ways to see the Wolves pressure not lead to an early opener. Arsenal started to get more on the ball as the half went on, and despite creating a limited number of half chances, did find the big one that opened the scoring through Aubameyang. Chambers took a quick throw to Luiz who found a yard to aim a low cross at Lacazette. He controlled well and turned to lay the ball off to the waiting Aubameyang who had the simple task of slotting the ball home beyond the helpless Patricio.
It was thanks to some astute goalkeeping from Bernd Leno that the lead was preserved until half time and then again to keep Wolves at bay in the second half with a fine diving save to his left hand side, but there was little he could do to prevent the equaliser and was left exposed once more by poor defending. Moments after Torreira was taken off, ceballos was caught napping in his new role which allowed Moutinho to run onto a throw in and hook the ball into the box. Jimenez was ready and waiting and beat Chambers to the header to nod the ball into the ground and beyond Leno.
1-1 was how it was to finish, again partially in thanks to Leno who stood his ground to block a daring Jota run that managed to evade everyone else beforehand. A point might be better than a defeat but it doesn't do Emery any favours where there is now a very real possibility that we fall 9 points behind the top 4 going into the interlul mid-November. The question on everyone's lips will be: How much longer will the inevitable take?
Ratings:
Emery - 2
The highest possible rating I could give, and that's on the basis that he chose the right personnel to start the game, but beyond that it went horribly downhill. A positive selection was put in a negative system: It made very little sense to set up narrow and defend against a team with pacy wingers and will set up to break from a low-block. The substitutions also made precious little sense with a £72m record signing in good form left on the bench for the full 90, instead opting for Kolasinac to come on for Tierney who was already playing well. The decision to remove Torreira as we began to sit further and further back was equally bemusing and later well founded when we conceded not long after. The icing on the cake though? The press conference after that suggested this was a well executed game plan. Where's the facepalm emoji??
Leno - 8 (MOTM)
As good a goalkeeper Leno is, conceding goals are inevitable when you allow your opposition 25 attempts on your goal. The result could have been worse as well if it wasn't for three separate and equally important pieces of goalkeeping that highlighted his importance to the team.
Chambers - 6
For the most part he defended quite well and was limited in his opportunities to venture forward and provide an attacking threat, his strength though at full back is his ability in the air and to win headers but he didn't cover himself in much glory for the goal, losing out at the time it really mattered.
Sokratis - 5
A little stationary for the goal and didn't seem aware of the threat behind him that a better centre half might have sensed and dealt with better to help out his full back. Also went wondering forward into midfield territory opening up the space for Jota to receive the ball and run at our defence that almost lead to a winner.
Luiz - 6
During the first half, his long raking balls felt like our biggest attacking threat and most dangerous opportunities and provided the cross that lead to our opener. Though arguably let Jota run too far with the ball for the heart-in-mouth moment late on.
Tierney - 7
A solid performance and dealt with Adama Traore's trickery and pace very competently. Unfortunate to be limited in his forays forward like Chambers was on the opposite side.
Torreira - 7
An all round good performance and it was a struggle to work out why he was taken off in the second half. Was good on and off the ball.
Guendouzi - 5
Unusually poor performance from the teenager. Dwelled on the ball a bit too long at times, particularly in the first half and had little impact on the game.
Ceballos - 6
Up until Torreira's substitution he looked a much improved premier league footballer. Rather than turning on a sixpence every opportunity he got, he used the ball well and played the way he was facing to keep the ball moving as much as he could. Was then forced into a more defensive area but he doesn't have the defensive mindset others do which proved telling in the end.
Ozil - 7
Probably the best outfield player on the day. Was the one that you felt could and maybe would make something happen if he could find it but that's difficult to do in a defensive minded set up. But there is more to his game though and he offers an element of control when on the front foot and that showed one of the many elements we are missing at the moment and why he could still have a large part to play.
Lacazette - 6.5
An interesting performance from Laca, in some ways looked still a bit off the pace and working to find fitness, but also like a man on a mission that worked tirelessly for the team. Got the assist for Auba's goal which can't go unnoticed either.
Aubameyang - 6
Where would we be without his goals? The stat I've seen recently is in the relegation zone, incredible with the team we have. Auba continues to show though his importance to the team and that if fed an opportunity, he will take it 9 times out of 10.
Martinelli - 6
The amount of work this kid gets through almost needs it's own superlative. Fresh from giving Liverpool the run around just a few days ago, he hounded the Wolves back 4 to no end from the minute he came on, unfortunately to no avail but his work-rate and hunger is just tremendous.
Saka - 5
Hardly featured when he came on for Torreira. Having said that I do have some sympathy as he was an attacker coming into a defensive set up on the back foot.
Kolasinac - N/A.
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