It felt like the ‘Arsenal of old’ on Monday night. by Benedict
Arsenal looked drained and out of ideas on their Monday night football as they got thumped 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, a huge blow to our Champions League hopes.
Consistent performers this year Saka, Smith-Rowe and Odegaard didn’t seem at the races and even Mikel Arteta putting on two attackers (Martinelli and Nketiah) for both full backs could not re-ignite the side.
It was possibly one of our worst performances this season as the gunners looked more like Norwich than the exciting team fighting for top four.
What has the international break done to the team?
Conceding to a set-piece for the first Palace goal is a bigger blow than it sounds, reminding me of the ‘old Arsenal’ as it seemed like a defensive area that we have hugely improved on this season, Gabriel missing his header was uncharismatic for the Brazilian.
To make matters worse Thomas Partey, a key player in our recent run of form, unfortunately came off injured in the 72nd minute during the lead up to Zaha’s penalty.
I just really cannot see us beating the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea, West Ham and Manchester United with an in-experienced Lakonga in centre defensive midfield in the business end of this season.
We did have chances to get back into the game with three decent chances from Smith-Rowe, Odegaard and Nketiah’s crossbar attempt, but it really wasn’t our day and to be honest it would’ve felt unfair to snatch three points against a fantastic Crystal Palace team.
We even couldn’t seem to play out from the back well with Viera’s well drilled press.
News of Kieran Tierney needing knee surgery adds to our bad luck as he is suspected to be out for the rest of the season and leaves the boss with a huge issue at left back for some crunch games.
Do we play an out-of-confidence Nuno Tavares or out-of-position Granit Xhaka in this vacant position?
It really shows us the lack of depth that this current Arsenal squad has, it was calling out for some extra investment in January especially with so many key departures and nobody coming back in.
So, with all this negativity, where does it really leave us?
We have lost a place to Sp*rs by goal difference but still hold a game in hand and are technically still favourites, as Arteta said in his post-match interview, we need to “not feel sorry for ourslves”.
After Southampton we are finally expected to have Tomiyasu back which will be a welcome boost since his injury in February.
We will have to hope that Partey’s injury is not too long-term as it is assessed in the next few days, and a re-shuffle of tactics may be coming.
The team is young, and we need this loss to be used as a warning to remind the players of the reality of the situation we are in, far from our goal of top four which will still contain many twists and turns.
Results like this is what makes the Premier League the league the most competitive league in the world and we have this yearly tradition of Crystal Palace beating top four sides.
It is not about the loss it is how we now react, three points against a well-run Brighton on Sunday is the only option.
We have supported the team well during our wins, now we they need our support more than ever after a bad loss, building a winning run before Manchester United, West Ham and Spurs who will all be pushing for that golden fourth spot.
What do you think Gooners?
Benedict
But seriously what diffence does fan support really make? Man City are said to be the worst supported team in the top 6. They call their ground the Emptyhad. Arsenal is known as the library. Man Ut’s supporters have all but given up this term and the atmosphere is toxic. Spurs fans sacked Nuno and if Spurs miss top 4 Conte may be off. Tuchel will be sacked if he does not make top 4. Only after a big win and prompted by the interviewer do players ever remember the crowd. Significantly after a bad loss players never mention the crowd.
The next match is a must win.
Nketiah should start ahead of Lacazette. We need our forwards to take their chances. We need goals
If we need goals then Nketiah is definitely not the answer. Better if we try Pepe or Martinelli as striker.
Nketiah is likely to continue the same frustrations as Laca as “striker” in name only. That is, if nearly 3 years in the first team is a fair body of work to judge Nketiah by.
Besides, he is off in the Summer, so we should give the opportunity to players who will be with the club after the Summer.
When we analyze, we should be thorough,
Nketiah had almost a whole season and showed no significant improvement, even during his loan spells,
We definitely can’t trust in him,
Lacazette doesn’t bring goals but works his socks off , as joelington is used in the midfield, I believe Arteta can do same with Lacazette, this way we would miss Partey that much,
I’ve said it several time, Oedegaard can’t control our midfield with Xhaka and Lokonga, we need strength to go alongside.
Why not try Smith-Rowe/Elneny -Xhaka- Lacazette, Lokonga and Oedegaard comes in as sub,
Their are massive benefits to derives from home support.
Under normal circumstances home teams receive fewer disciplinary sanctions and are able to create more offensive actions compared with the away team.
The home teams are more likely to win the 50, 50 decisions
Referees gives less fouls to the home teams
Less yellow cards are issued to the home teams .
It is less likely to issue a red card to the home team.
Wenger learned this first hand at the Britannia, probably it was the most pump up atmosphere in the UK on match day, the social pressure put on the referee always leads to referee bias, certainly wasn’t fair play.
For Thierry Henry to get an entire standing ovation at the Britannia, to this day still leave me speechless.
Reply to Fairfan
I have no concerns about Tavares at left back tomorrow or any of the other players that had a bad night on Monday and I think Sambi will have a sensational career at Arsenal that could well ignite in the next few matches but as always scoring goals will be a problem and so I would take a one-nil win against Brighton to keep us in the fight
I think Eddie should come in for Laca but I don’t think he will
By the way Longbenark, Eddie hasn’t been selected to start a League game all season, his 12 appearances so far have all been as sub for the last 20 minutes or so, Monday was probably the earliest he has been brought on and his last and only loan was for the 19/20 season with Leeds
Apart from the Forest FA Cup game his form in games that he has started has been very good, 5 goals in 5 Carabao Cup matches
I agree that reaction is a must now and hopefully the CP loss shouldnt prove costly in the long run. That said, the lack of squad depth should have been addressed in the winter transfer window and now we have difficulty in filling the places of Tierney and Partey for the remainder of the season. Hope Partey is fit and fine soon.