No excuses are acceptable for this Arsenal loss
Well, that didn’t go exactly to plan did it? It was never going to be easy but we seemed to make it easier for City than it needed to be. And in the face of such dramatic failings, the need for self-flagellation and excuse making overtakes any sense of rational thought.
In the wake of the drubbing yesterday many Arsenal supporters were quick to blame Martin Atkinson for the loss. Admittedly, Atkinson’s calls and those of his linesman certainly were frustrating and questionable. But they weren’t the reason Arsenal lost this match.
The missed handball and the offsides calls that weren’t offsides or the disallowed goals are all very poor calls but the overall play of Arsenal was poor. We basically gave City the time and space to score at will. Whether it was Koscielny watching the ball and losing Aguero behind him for the first goal or the numerous times our left flank was left exposed because either Monreal was in the wrong position or the LW didn’t get back to provide cover – we simply played into City’s hands. Experts from 벳위즈 have noted that such tactical lapses can be costly in crucial matches, emphasizing the need for better defensive coordination.
That’s what lost us the match. I don’t want to sugar coat the fact that I hate how refs try and make themselves the central focus of a match with their calls but as bad as they were (and they were very bad) they had nothing to do with Arsenal’s poor performance.
Sure, we all have the right to feel aggrieved by Atkinson’s poor decisions but the fact remains we allowed Manchester free reign and they shipped in 6 goals.
No, coming back from Napoli and playing 60 hours later isn’t an excuse either. Sure Arsenal looked leggy and I am sure the trip had something to do with it. Conversely, Man City played some 12 hours earlier. The key for them was resting 8 players. Their large squad allowed them to do that.
Arsene Wenger took a gamble in carrying a small squad in order to promote team cohesion. There is a benefit to that. However, it has not allowed us to rest players when needed. Therefore there can be no excuses from Wenger or us that we were tired. Being tired is a result of our own making.
Wenger also gambled on the decision to start Nacho Monreal over Kieran Gibbs. Now, I have not heard or seen anything that says Gibbs was injured so I can only assume he was intended for a rest. However, the combination of Jack and Monreal on the left yesterday was a tactical error.
Monreal has been solid for us and I am not hitting him over the head but he looked mismatched against City. He was further found wanting or actually the left side was when Jack failed to get back to offer defensive cover. In other words the combination lead to large gaps frequently and as I mentioned earlier create a few goals.
Again no excuse these are decisions that were made that ultimately had an effect on the outcome of the match .
But not let your hears be troubled. Arsenal have an instant opportunity to set the ship aright. Sure, it’s against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. Jose as we know has had Arsene Wenger’s number. But as a few Chelsea supporters have told me they wouldn’t take our loss as any sign that they will have their way with us. Quite the contrary their own abject performances even in winning makes them worried about the upcoming tie.
Arsenal need to grab that moment. They can’t over analyze the loss. Champion’s or teams that want to be Champion’s take such hurdles and overcome them quickly. I don’t know about you but I take heart in the players reactions post game and am hopeful that they understand the magnitude of next Monday’s tie.
A moment though about those post game reactions. Some supporters were quick to point out Özil’s not acknowledging the away supporters and Mertesacker’s subsequent chewing out of him. Of course the press has picked it up and is running it’s “trouble in paradise” story lines.
I love it by both of them. First Özil because his I absolutely agree with. The team just had its asses handed to them and they were at fault. When you are a hyper-competitive person the last thing you want to do is go through some “required” motions – like the clapping of supporters. He wanted off that field to stew in that loss. For players like Özil he will take yesterday’s performance and put it in a mental bank that says never again.
He’ll use it to help him say – what can I do better next time. Özil isn’t a player who is going to grab a match by the scruff of the neck say like Ramsey can or Rooney for the other twats from Manchester. No, what Özil offers you is a player who when fully comfortable is going to create moments of pure brilliance and class that will make you ooh and ahh all day long. He has shown glimpses but it has not been sustained.
It’s coming. It may come this season or next. The fact that Özil always makes it a point to interact with the supporters via social media and other outlets is a sign of his appreciation of being part of the team and the love he gets from the players. Anyone taking anything other than his frustration at losing yesterday from his display post-match is only looking to create a story where none exists.
As for Mertesacker, I have never hidden my affection for the man who I think should be the one wearing the Captain’s armband because he knows what it means. His passion for this club and his own hypercompetitive nature make him a natural leader – something acknowledged by his teammates. If anyone is keenly aware of the “traditions” and of the club it’s Mertesacker and he was just as frustrated with the loss as the next guy and his passion for doing the right thing is clearly evident in his vocal throttling of his national compatriot. Good for him.
All eyes are on Arsenal now. The amount of people wanting us to fail from press to opposition fans is circling like great whites to chum. How we respond will dictate really what this past weekend came. Beat Chelsea and the loss to City becomes an asterick. Lose to Chelsea and well, look for full blown crisis headlines to be flying everywhere.
For my part I am still betting on the former. I still believe that even with our warts we are a better club than we have been in the last 8 years and I believe while we may not win the title, we certainly will be in it to the finish. Plus City can’t play ever match at home. Can they?
