Five things Arsenal fans are absolutely furious with after limp defeat against newly-promoted Sheffield United
SHEFFIELD UNITED snatched a 1-0 win over Arsenal on Monday night to leave many Gunners fans apoplectic. For some there is a sense of apathy about just the latest example of a ‘Typically Arsenal’ defeat but others are enraged by a number of issues going unresolved. Lys Mousset poked home a simple winner in the […]
SHEFFIELD UNITED snatched a 1-0 win over Arsenal on Monday night to leave many Gunners fans apoplectic.
For some there is a sense of apathy about just the latest example of a ‘Typically Arsenal’ defeat but others are enraged by a number of issues going unresolved.
Lys Mousset poked home a simple winner in the first-half, standing unmarked as a corner was knocked back across the six-yard box.
And the Gunners were left ruing a number of turned down penalty shouts having failed to create many major chances.
Therefore there are problems in both defence and attack.
From Unai Emery’s team selection to decision making on the pitch, there are plenty of fixes required at Emirates Stadium before a proper push for the Champions League can be maintained.
OUT OF LUC
There was no place for Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, Dani Ceballos, Mesut Ozil or Lucas Torreira in the starting XI on Monday night.
Fans are fed up with coach Emery’s reluctance to bring back the injured defensive trio given the backdrop of sloppy goals being conceded on a weekly basis.
Perhaps the most baffling decision is the one to drop Torreira.
Matteo Guendouzi has upped his game this season but remains inconsistent whereas Granit Xhaka seems to only get in the team because he is captain.
Torreira’s arrival appeared to be a breath of fresh air in North London – finally a player who based his game off hard running and sheer willing – so why has he disappeared?
DEFENSIVE IMPLOSION
The last time the Gunners possessed one of the league’s best defensive records was 2015/16 – and things have gotten progressively worse since then.
David Luiz and Sokratis are both out of form while Sead Kolasinac and Calum Chambers are limited as defenders.
The aforementioned absence of Tierney, Bellerin and Holding does need explaining but their return alone will not end this mess.
Mousset was able to stand by the goalkeeper and pick up the loose ball without a marker within three yards of him on Monday.
No organisation, no discipline, and no surprise Arsenal have kept just two clean sheets in 24 Premier League away days.
ONE MAN ATTACK
Other than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, no forward has made a worthy contribution this season.
Emery has been hampered by Alexandre Lacazette’s injury but no one has stepped up in his absence.
Youngsters such as Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson and most impressively Bukayo Saka are filling gaps without setting the world alight.
Seven goals in his first seven Prem games meant Aubameyang carried the team and now he desperately needs support.
Perhaps that could come from Nicolas Pepe?
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SAINT NIC
New £72million man Pepe was gifted a chance in the early knockings as Kolasinac laid it on a plate across the six-yard line, only to see him miskick the shot out for a throw-in.
It was a defining moment for the 24-year-old’s first few weeks at Arsenal, in which he has completely failed to live up to expectations.
However it was Pepe who started the otherwise superb counter-attack by beating two United players and passing the ball forwards.
Such a glimpse makes the case for keeping the Ivorian in the side so he can learn the Premier League and make steady improvements – the alternative being to take him out the firing line completely.
Emery choosing to substitute him as his side chased the game, and then criticise him after the final whistle, showed he doesn’t really know what to do with his record signing.
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DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
Arsenal have no God given right to finish in the top-six, let alone the top-four.
So when Emery comes out and claims his side “didn’t deserve to lose” in Sheffield, it comes across as arrogant – that he believes Arsenal should win no matter what.
In fact, the Blades were comfortably the better team in the first-half and scored a perfectly good goal before defending like stallions.
By the half-hour mark they had won six corners and taken the lead before finishing with only one less shot than the visitors despite only 31 per cent possession.
Arsenal’s performance wasn’t good enough, and that Emery thinks it was might just be the most worrying aspect of Monday’s defeat for Gunners fans.
He really said "we didn't deserve to lose"!!!!!! kmt
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) October 21, 2019
