Morning all.
We lost and blew the chance to overtake the Toots. We might get another chance if they drop points but looking at their fixtures, I’d say they’re now favourites to secure third place. Fourth is still very much up for grabs, especially as Utd flunked at Goodison Park. What will be will be but I wouldn’t write us off just yet. With Chelsea at home to Burnley tonight, it’s likely we’ll drop to fifth so we must win at Wolves on Wednesday if we’re to keep up.
Unai Emery clearly doesn’t play the blame game. Mustafi was awful yesterday yet during his press conference after the game, the Spaniard preferred to look back on his better performances rather than single him out for his errors which pretty much gifted Palace two goals. He’d have to be a fool to believe the German is a good defender, a player who he can rely on next season. Emery is no fool. Far from it I’d say. Mustafi really has to go 8n the summer.
The halftime change which saw AMN replace Carl Jenkinson would no doubt have upset the older of the two Englishman. He’s an Arsenal man through and through but it’s likely that he too could be playing his football elsewhere next season. Mavropanos was off too with Alex Iwobi replacing him. Elneny doesn’t do a lot wrong when he plays but sadly for him and Arsenal, he doesn’t seem to have the quality to do something special. Guendouzi is still raw and putting the two together in midfield doesn’t work. It didn’t against Everton and didn’t again yesterday.
Perhaps looking back, Unai Emery will realise that seven changes to the side which did so well on Thursday, was four or five too many. More importantly, he’d have taken on board that some of those we have in the squad really aren’t good enough to be playing for Arsenal. I totally understand why he made changes, he had little choice really with so many games in so little time but when he makes wholesale ones, our performance drops and we suffer.
As far as the possession stats go, we were in control of the game but the reality is, when it mattered, we failed dismally. Perhaps Iwobi’s weak effort at the end summed the performance up. Weak, insipid and lacking discipline in defence. Despite the two goals, we were similar up front. Especially in the first half.
Ozil, Elneny, Lacazette and Mustafi had chances to score. They didn’t. Moss was being Moss, biased and useless. A penalty shout was waved away yet it was a clear handball on the end of a Kolasinac cross. Somewhere in there Benteke opened the scoring with his first goal in over a year. That man Mustafi could have done better.
Ozil brought the scores level soon after the second half kicked off and it was game on. Although it wasn’t really because Mustafi again helped Palace to go ahead. He clearly thought Leno was coming out to collect the ball but he wasn’t. Mustafi was weak, he made no attempt to stop Zaha. 1-2. I wouldn’t care if I never saw that man in an Arsenal shirt again. 1-2 became 1-3, a goal with a hint of offside to it I thought but regardless, it was awful defending yet again. Aubameyang pulled a goal back but that was as good as it got. Mustafi picked up a booking for a dive, not even a good one and as previously said, Iwobi saw a soft shot saved.
A dreadful afternoon at The Emirates, but a telling one. We missed Sokratis, Monreal, Torreira, Xhaka and yes, perhaps Ramsey too but he’s going anyway. The first 12/13 players in the squad are good but as soon as rest are called upon, our depth, or rather lack of it is exposed. Some of the academy players will no doubt step up next season but we need a good summer of transfer business too.
In the meantime, our next test is against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night. Sokratis is back thank goodness, Xhaka could be too although I doubt Ramsey will. I’d imagine Unai Emery will play a stronger team for this match.
Enjoy your Easter Monday guys, I’m off to break another one of Cadbury’s Easter Eggs up…..
Have you forgotten we’re away for the next game? Against Wolves who love playing the big teams! Our away form is just about better than Huddersfield and even the win at Watford was somewhat fortunate in the end.
Cech, Jenks, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Monreal, Elneny, Iwobi & Miki can all leave as far as I’m concerned. We miss Ramsey greatly and he’s one of our best players this season! He’ll be playing with Ronaldo and challenging for trophies next season, AND he’ll be in the Champions League!
This was a massive opportunity to go 3rd and allow ourselves a little cushion, in case we lose away from home again! But no, Emery got the team wrong and it clearly showed how inept some of our squad are.
Spurs could finish 3rd and be in a CL final, not exactly anything for us Gooner to be gloating or laughing at is it?
Morning Rico and all.
I only caught the game on decent quality stream but I saw enough to confirm what most of us have been saying for a long time. Mustafi is a massive flop and will always let you down. He’s done it ever since Wenger decided that £30 odd million was a good buy. That was a real nightmare move, coming a while after he turned down Virgil VD and apparently thought that Maguire was too slow. Arsenal, it seems, always have to have a nightmare defender on the books and Mustafi is it at the moment. Elneny and the increasingly naive and flakey Guendouzi, who still gets ‘sacked’ about a half dozen times a game before falling onto the ball and clutching it, are a midfield pair who are never going to frighten any opposition and yesterday they both showed exactly how good they are. Iwobi? Jenkinson? I don’t think so myself. The list goes on. Perhaps I should look at ‘the bigger picture’ but was there really no alternative to that horrible team yesterday?
Morning all.
There really is no defending Mustafi, but equally, we can not defend playing Guendouzi and Elneny together.
We will never win games if those two start, and I’m not sure how Emery thought we could.
The scene was set as soon as the starting line up was decided.
Hi Rico dead on as usual.
I don’t blame Unai for the rotations, the match on Thursday was a huge effort, much bigger than it looked, and the team he put out was perfectly capable of winning with the usual exception. I think Mustafi has cost us four or five wins this season, it is surely time to play Zech Medley if a defender is needed. He can’t be any worse.
There’s still hope for a top four finish and the cup if we don’t have any more injuries, but it’s borderline, Unai has done a great job with what he has, but like you I expect a big clear-out this summer..
Brian
Brian, you do make a good point and that is Emery has done very, very well all things considered.
We always want better though 🙂 🙂
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico.
It’s great to have Laurent Koscielny back, his recovery from a career ending injury has been nothing short of stunning. He might be 33 going on 34 but I’d like to see him get a new contract – maybe a new 2 year deal, that’s if he doesn’t want to return to France to see out the autumn of his career.?
His return has been one of the most positive things about this season, so much so that many among the fan base, seasoned observers on blogs and podcasts, have said that he’s our best central defender once again.
But he isn’t, is he?
He was also a part of that ramshackled defence that lost at Southampton.
Our best central defender is Sokratis – and we really missed him yesterday…
Now I’m not digging out Kozzer because he’s been great, it’s just I think that Papa is key to our defensive revival.
Take the first goal Palace scored, yeah Jenkinson played Benteke onside, but either side of Benteke was Mustafi and Mavropanos. Both of them fresh as they hadn’t played midweek so no issues of fatigue.
Sokratis would not have allowed Benteke a clear run on goal, he would have been all over him, Mavropanos is rusty and still has a long long way to go before he is anywhere close to the level we require and Mustafi is just a shit footballer who we simply cannot trust and should only be used as a full back from now on and moved on in the summer.
Sokratis would have been on Benteke for the 3rd Palace goal not allowing his the header that McArthur finished off. As for the goal Zaha scored, I don’t know, but Mustafi is shit and I’m fed up with seeing him in our team.
Happy Easter
Kev, it’s a little harsh for you to expect Mustafi to wave his hands calling for offside AND track the run of the striker.
Very harsh.
Trouble is Adam, this is what Wenger left and Emery couldn’t sell them all at once because the club are too tight to shell out the kind of money needed to replace them. He couldn’t do everything in one summer imo and January isn’t always the best time. I know, sounds like excuses.
This summer will be the telling one imo, he and the powers that be will have had the entire season to prepare for this one, Emery has seen first hand how they perform over an entire season. If he keeps the majority of under performers etc, he’s no better than Wenger imo. I don’t think he will though, I think he has ambitions to do well at Arsenal.
Not sure what you’re getting at Geoff. Of course I know we’re away at Wolves etc etc, but who’s gloating? I’m certainly not in the post but I don’t see the point in ranting about stuff I’ve been ranting about for what seems like forever.
I’d written off this season because of what Wenger left so in a way, where we are is a bonus and plenty to build on in the summer and seasons ahead.
As for Ramsey, ultimately it’s been his choice to run down his contract. The contract offer was there, he didn’t like it so he’s leaving.
Totally agree Kev.
Good morning Rico and all.
A quote or three from this morning’s Telegraph…
“Carl Jenkinson and Shkodran Mustafi, in particular, committed the sort of errors you would not expect to see in the third or fourth tier”.
“Calamity stalks Mustafi like a shadow and the sorry truth for Arsenal is that his mistakes here could prove to be critical in the race for the top four.”
“On the weekend that Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United both suffered defeats, Arsenal’s attempts to capitalise were undone almost single-handedly by a defender whose heavy-footed incompetence seemingly knows no bounds”.
“There can be no denying that Mustafi’s fingerprints were all over this near-criminal defeat, Arsenal’s first at home since the opening day of the season. It was hard to believe, as Mustafi ushered Wilfried Zaha through to score the second for Palace, that Emery’s side had won their last 10 home matches in the Premier League”.
“Benteke’s strike, his first of the season, was one of the easiest he will score. Jenkinson played him onside from Luka Milivojevic’s free-kick and Mustafi simply ambled back with his arm in the air, rather than making any attempt to challenge for the header”.
“A reminder that the defender cost the club more than £35m, back in the summer of 2016, is enough to send shivers down an Arsenal fan’s spine.”
….I think that says it all, don’t you?
Morning Cicero. Says it rather well really.
Absolutely right Scott, I should know better expecting a clot like Mustafi to be able to defend like a World Cup winner – what a joke that is….
But all the same Mustafi is wasted in our defence as he really should get a job on an aircraft carrier, helping the planes land…
Morning guys,
You’re right in your analysis Rico, that most of us thought that this season would be an abject failure due to Wenger having had ANOTHER two years of 2nd rate football.
UE inherited a bunch of players that, to be honest, has done better than we had anticipated. I put “we” (hopefully we all agree?)
There;’s no magic wand but he DOES appear to have generated something that has elevated us to closer to the top of the league than I for one would not have expected.
I didn’t see the team selection until after the match (Just watched the Highlights this morning) so was also surprised when I saw it.
SURELY, there must be a saviour in the rest of the squad who can play better than Mustafi?
Most of this season he has been the grit in the oil – scoring a header now and then, timing the odd tackle with aplomb, BUT, overall, as Cicero reminded us >>> “A reminder that the defender cost the club more than £35m, back in the summer of 2016, is enough to send shivers down an Arsenal fan’s spine.”
Which brings me to the point of our owner – spending zillions in the US of A but apparently has short arms and deep pockets. Does his son actually love football and the club or is he like his father and the Glazer brothers who will ultimately milk the club and not help in the financing of players?
Love your comment Allezkev….I spilt my coffee I laughed so much!
Sounds like a future employment plan is in place, Kev 🙂 🙂
🤣 Kev.
Andorra, you’re right. Who’d have thought we’d be in the Europa semifinals and still in with a chance of 4th, not me for sure. One of the most odd things Wenger did during his last couple of years is to spend £35m on Mustafi yet let Gabriel leave on the cheap. The latter was and still is quicker, more aggressive and a much better all round defender. Imo.
Perhaps Mustafi thought he was joining Fly Emirates…….
I know it’s hair splitting but Benteke was as offside as was Lacazette against Stoke . Blame has been apportioned to Jenkinson but really it should go to whoever was organising the line which was split into 3 sections . We have known for years that koscielny is not a vocal captain and we know Mustafi cannot be trusted but neither jenks or Mavropanos were being organised by the experienced players . A move out when the ball was kicked would have had 3 players offside and had the ball been played to the far post where Jenks was covering it would have been easy for Leno to come and catch.
I don’t know who was meant to be sorting the line but it was so far from the 18 yard box that someone has to make the call , sometimes I despair.
Afternoon all.
A post which cannot be disagreed with, spot on.
As soon as my son told me Jenks, Elneny and Not so Mustard were playing I thought to myself……………………….HELP!
Three players who would not get on the C Palace bench is the way I looked at it, yet I understand that with so many games coming up Dick had to rotate, but surely there are some other ways to to get around not playing the afore mentioned trio …………………
Not so Mustard surely one of the worst defendes we have had and all at a snip of £35M ………………………never thought I would say this, but………….Jeff Blockley come back ! hahaha
Rico,
I’m getting at the fact that we had the chance to go 3rd playing Palace at home, we had a fantastic chance and we blew it! I know at the start of the season we thought 4th place would be great, but yesterday after the way we have been playing at home we should have been taking the opportunity to win this game and give ourselves a huge chance of finishing 3rd.
Most of us knew as soon as we saw the starting line up that we were going to struggle, as Scott said, the scene was set. We had Torreira available, AMN and Monreal who would’ve been a massive improvement on Jenks, Mustafi & Elneny. We saw at Everton what this sort of line up brings.
Please don’t start me on rotation, Emery picked the team, but most players are perfectly capable of playing 3 games, plus continuity and cohesion brings victories and confidence. If someone is tiring, then bring them off with 15/20 minutes to go, as being ahead with your best team is certainly easier than being behind with your worst and expecting the subs to turn it around when your 2 goals behind.
I didn’t say you were gloating personally, but I know many Arsenal fans thought we would capitalise on Spurs losing to Man City thus giving ourselves a great chance of finishing above them this season.
As for Ramsey, we withdrew his contract and decided to let him go rather than negotiate. I just hope Emery is given the funds to purchase some quality players to replace Ramsey and the deadwood we need shot of. However, this is Kroenke we’re talking about and that’s another problem altogether.
In a nutshell, we should know in this league you can never get away with playing a weakened team and the opportunity was there for the taking to go 3rd.
I respect your views Rico, but this team and performance really did leave me dejected.
I’d say it should be our captain Potter. Not only is he captain but he’s the experienced guy, a seasoned French international defender. I agree with his return has been a big bonus to the team and without him, we wouldn’t be where we are I’m sure but if he stays, he should be a squad player. Holding, Sokratis and AN Other should be first choice as long as their levels continue. Imo anyway.
Whether that other is Medley, Mavropanos, Ballard or a signing is a different question.
Geoff, I get what you’re saying, I really do but surely the amount of games they’ve played factors in. If he’d started with AMN and he’d got injured, we’d be stuffed. Same with Torreira and with Xhaka out, to play him again could be a risk. Perhaps I’m sitting on the fence, or trying to see things differently but yes, the team selection was not right and that was obvious from the off. Everton proved that.
I was surprised to see so many changes and I think he should have prioritised getting three points yesterday over Wolves on Wednesday.
The result surely goes some way towards explaining why we lost. Too many changes with a meagre squad, devoid of quality in depth. Problem for me is that Emery has done this before. After a good run of results he always makes a mega cock-up. I thought he would know that points on the board is everything in this league.
I guess it’s and buts don’t come into football so yes, looking back he should have played the strongest team available. But we’d still have a Mustafi in there making the same mistakes.
He has to offload a few in the summer surely.
Rico, “a seasoned French international defender” and a seasoned German international defender, between them they couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery.
Let’s not forget a centre back who was becoming a star until injury intervened, hopefully Holding will be fit to start where he left off in the new season.
Rico,
I think that’s what I was getting at, get the 3 points in the bag from the home fixture and then have a go at Wolves, as a loss away would’ve been no surprise at the end of the day. But knowing Arsenal they’ll probably go and surprise us all with a win on Wednesday!
My only worry is that we’ll finish 4th and Chelski beat us in the Europa Final!
The first goal is more of the responsibility of Jenkinson or of the one who commands the defense or the coach. The defense must be synchronized to put the players offside; if it’s not, it’s too risky to play in the offside. This is done in training. 1st question: this defense trained together before the game? 2st: Did they know each other before the game? Who controls the defense? If they do not know each other, no one knows the area they will mark or how they will act accordingly. So it is better to cover man to man in the free kicks and corners..
The second goal is a little consequence of the previous one – Mustafi covered the ball well but had an obligation to perceive and to realize that, if the goalkeeper is “far away”, he only has to dispatch the ball (out, corner, to the stand…).
The third goal also seems to me the fruit of what I said back. No one knows who was going to score ou cover it..
In short: put a defense, is not to join 3 or 4 or 5 players and say, you play to the right, you to the left, etc. Players must know each other, be synchronized, complete and be in tune with the goalkeeper. And for this you do not need crab defenses. Defenses must be completed wirh a confident goalkeapper. It’s the most important.
I wrote here before the game with Everton, that the line-up of that game did not work. We lost. Yesterday I only saw the game later but I followed the game. When I looked at the line-up, I was apprehensive. Again, I got it right. I continue to say that Ghendouzi is a reasonable player but neglects the defense or the positional sense to defend, in addition to other things. The midfield (which I call the “engine room”) has to function to defend, to attack, to press, to circulate the ball, to “endure”. These actions are not only carried out by 2 players.
Contrary to all of you, I soon realized that we would hardly finish in the first 4. It is not impossible yet.
The main question for me is that it is easier for the other teams to score points than the other five. Especially in the away games, where the team is “soft”, physically and psychologically weak, not very confident and especially, that any opponent feels more confident playing against Arsenal than against any of the others.
In home games, as they habitually play in another system and we are mentally superior, we overcome each other. Losing these 3 points should be vital not to reach the top 4.
I hope so too re Holding Cicero.
Geoff, we got there in the end..lol
I think one thing we all agree on is we have too many players who simply aren’t what Arsenal need if the club wants to be ambitious.
I wouldn’t bet against us winning at Wolves either, especially if Emery has stuck a rocket up their backsides but we’ll have to be at our best to get anything from the game..
Sorry about the coffee Andorra…
Tbh, I think that Emery missed a trick in not resting Koscielny, unless that’s what he has planned at Wolves, because if Unai keeps on playing Kozzer, you just know that he’s going to do a thigh muscle or a hamstring…
So don’t be too shocked if Mustafi is in the starting XI at Molyneux..,
That’s a depressing thought Kev.
It’s only a game guys! Be happy you weren’t at church in Sri Lanka!
Mustafi is a German international. It’s one those footballing enigmas I suppose.
Or Mavropanos at Wolves?
Mustafi is also a World Cup winner…
I’m not sure that little fact says about the so called biggest competition in football?
Maybe that it’s an overblown, bloated money making exercise for a bunch of FIFA crooks…
what that fact 🙄
Is Mavropanos more of a risk than Mustafi?
I’d risk him Rico…
As would I Kev.
Brilliant Burnley 2 – 2
Nobody wants too four it seems.
The Spuds look safe, just about, but everyone else is just staggering to the line, I wonder if Emery is simply a lucky manager because I’d take a lucky manager every time…
Mavro it is then Rico… 🙂
Alongside Papa, that’ll do for me at Wolves…
Isn’t Sokratis available after his suspension? A back three of him, Koscielny and Mavropanos would be better than playing either Mustafi or Monreal in the middle. Maitland-Niles and Kolasinac to make it a five would work for me. Xhaka and Torreira with Ozil, Aubameyang and Lacazette. Oh! Plus Leno of course. 😉
New post up now.