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Post Match Review
Home›Post Match Review›Three Things We Learned from Wolves 3-1 Arsenal

Three Things We Learned from Wolves 3-1 Arsenal

By Michael Price
April 25, 2019
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Arsenal were soundly beaten last night by a team hungrier than themselves. Wolves outplayed Arsenal in every facet of the game. They were better organized and more committed to the game plan they wanted.

We weren’t. It was about as abject a performance as you can remember from a team that wears the Arsenal badge. We may be the only team that can have the lion’s share of possession and still come away with nothing.

The fight for top 4 has been in Arsenal’s control over the last two matches and, during those last two matches, Arsenal have failed to seize on that opportunity.

It may be painful, but there are some things we have learned from this match. So here they are, Three Things We Learned from Wolves 3 – 1 Arsenal.

Lack of preparation

 When Unai Emery was signed as the head coach of Arsenal, one of the overriding factors in his hiring, we were told, was his tactical preparedness. We got story upon story of how much video he made his former teams watch in preparation for their upcoming matches.

As you watch last night’s match, you have to ask yourselves where was any of that? Arsenal looked devoid of any idea of how to handle the Wolves’ low block.

When we played Wolves at the Emirates, they set up exactly as they did last night. Wolves set up in a 3-5-2 (5-4-1 off the ball) and were intent to let Arsenal have all the possession.

Wolves-Arsenal-Premier-League-Post-Match-Analysis

With about 71% possession, the only time Arsenal were effectively a threat with the ball was during set pieces. None of the chances created from open play were of any threat and that has to be in part to how committed the opposition were in their defensive set up.

For their part, Wolves created a high number of chances relative to their low possession. For 29% possession Wolves managed 11 shots with 3 on target.

How Emery could not be prepared for this remains a mystery. He had to have known that Wolves would commit to the low block and look to take away the middle channels and half spaces from Arsenal’s attack.

For most of the night, Arsenal were then limited to putting the ball out wide looking for a crack back or driven cross – that at often times was effectively blocked. If the ball wasn’t sent in for a cross or crack back often times it was simply recycled on the periphery of the Wolves defensive set up.

Wolves-Arsenal-Premier-League-Post-Match-Analysis

Off the ball, Wolves established a low-block that took away the middle from Arsenal and forced play around the edges of the final third

To make matters worse, Emery waited until the 58th minute to switch to a back three and then we simply went from creating no chances in the final third to creating nothing over the entirety of the whole pitch.

In reverse ties this year we have looked remarkably unprepared for the opponent, whether it was the loss to West Ham at the Olympic or the recent loss to Everton we just don’t look prepared for our opponents and that is a damning indictment on a coach who’s primary attribute was his preparedness.

Defenders? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Defenders

I am waiting for the next lineup to essentially be a mix of 10 forwards and midfielders and forgoing any central defenders or defensive minded players. Given how bad we are structurally at defending, it wouldn’t be any worse, right?

Last night, Mustafi, he of the epic goof ups was left on the bench and Emery opted for a back 4 with Sokratis and Koscielny anchoring the defence.

In front of the two Emery had Torreira and Xhaka. In all respects, it should’ve been better than the disaster we saw against Crystal Palace.

It wasn’t.

Part of the issue is the kind of centre backs Arsenal currently have. With maybe the exception of Rob Holding, Arsenal have a wealth of front-footed defenders who are great at intercepting the ball and making that first pass to set the attack free.

What we don’t have in any of our defenders, save for the aforementioned Holding, is a defender who can sit back, read play and act as cover as the front footed defender bombs forward.

The results, regardless of who is defending, are comical.

Take a look at Sokratis for the third Wolves goal last night. With the attacker bearing down on him he does a lot of things wrong – first he is square to the attacker – he’s already lost this duel at that point – but to make matters worse, he pretends he’s a matador and sidesteps the attacker.

Wolves-Arsenal-Premier-League-Post-Match-Analysis

Sokratis sets up to defend 1v1, except he is square to the attacker making it easier for the attacker to turn him.

Wolves-Arsenal-Premier-League-Post-Match-Analysis

Sokratis, already in a bad position, can’t defend the attack and actually side steps him, sticking out his leg in a last-ditch hope to either foul the attacker or toe-poke the ball.

Koscielny tries to cover but he’s not in a position to really do so because he doesn’t read the game all that well.

Once past Sokratis, the goal was inevitable.

People want to blame personnel for our defensive issues and that certainly is part of the problem, as we’ve pointed out but so is the coaching. We’re not any better on the road than we’ve been previously and in fact, you could make a case we actually look worse.

Additionally, the individual blunders don’t seem to be addressed in coaching – whether it’s Mustafi’s absent-minded defending techniques or Sokratis poor technical qualities in 1v1 situations, these aren’t be fixed and it’s costing us.

If we’re not going to defend what’s the point of having defenders on the pitch anyway?

Aaron Ramsey sorely missed

What should worry everyone about this down turn Arsenal seem to be encountering is that it coincides with the absence of one Aaron James Ramsey.

Since he left the squad with his most recent injury Arsenal have been unable to create any real threatening chances in attack.

Its also had an adverse effect on how Mesut Özil plays. With Ramsey in the squad, teams have to account for both of these midfielders and they typically can’t. Because if you double up on one, the other is free and making runs that will hurt you.

In Özil’s first season, it was no coincidence that Ramsey had arguably his best season in an Arsenal shirt. His runs off of Özil and combined with the German’s vision on the field.

Yesterday, when were stuck passing sideways and backwards, there was no drive in the midfield to force Wolves even deeper into the final third. Özil tried, just like against Palace to come deeper to get the ball but that’s not his strength. He’s not going to drive a team back through dribbling – he opens up space with his movement and passing.

Ramsey isn’t perfect but he does help this team in the creation of chances. Not having him has dried that up and if a suitable replacement isn’t found we could find ourselves in similar situations next season.

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