Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
There are a whole lot of stats doing the rounds this morning after our 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth yesterday.
That loss, a sport by which we went forward by way of Declan Rice, signifies that now we have dropped 21 factors from successful positions within the Premier League this season. That makes it joint-most ever in a single marketing campaign alongside 2019/20. In 10 matches, now we have both drawn or misplaced having led. There’s additionally a transparent fragility from set-pieces, and after we conceded from an extended throw and a nook, it means practically 40% of the objectives we’ve let on this season have come on this method. Do we want a defensive set-piece coach?
What about this one although. In 17 of the 35 league video games now we have performed, Arsenal have scored simply 0 or 1 objectives, which accounts for 30 factors which have passed by the wayside. In 4 of these video games, we received 1-0; we misplaced 4 of them (0-2, 0-1, 0-1 and yesterday’s 1-2), and the others have been attracts.
To me, that is our massive drawback, and when Mikel Arteta talks afterwards about not taking probabilities and killing the sport, he can’t have been stunned as a result of it’s been taking place all season. It occurred earlier than we had that glut of accidents to gamers in ahead positions (7 events earlier than Bukayo Saka’s damage in opposition to Crystal Palace), and considerably understandably has occurred with extra frequency since, however for me that is on the core of our underwhelming season within the Premier League.
It’s most likely additionally value stating that we went out of the FA Cup as a result of we couldn’t rating multiple objective at residence in opposition to 10 man Man Utd, and misplaced two EFL Cup semi-finals with out scoring a single objective. I do know soccer generally is a sport of positive margins, however we’re making them razor skinny for ourselves, and while you do this, you allow your self extra open to the randomness of soccer. Unable to deal with a foul resolution, a fluky opposition objective, no matter. You possibly can’t management these issues although, however how usually you place the ball behind the web is definitely extra inside your grasp.
Yesterday was a basic instance of that. I feel we nearly deserved the lead on the break, largely as a consequence of Declan Rice whose first half efficiency was very good. He had a few probabilities to attain earlier than he made it 1-0, and seemed our most threatening participant by far. The cross to him from Martin Odegaard was very good, and he rounded the keeper and completed nicely to place us forward.
Bournemouth had some moments, not least an Evanilson header which he contrived to place over the bar from 8 yards out. That was a let-off. David Raya nearly gave them a objective with a wayward cross that Evanilson lobbed over, and the Arsenal keeper didn’t transmit an aura of calmness and safety yesterday, one thing which grew to become extra prevalent within the second half.
You knew we’d want a second objective, a minimum of, to win this sport. We grew to become jittery, maybe minds elsewhere, but additionally simply missing a little bit of frequent sense. When issues aren’t going completely on the ball, typically you simply must play percentages. We gave it away, we received caught in possession, and Bournemouth smelled blood.
Saka had an opportunity to make it 2-0 however curled simply large along with his proper foot, however that was about all we needed to provide from an attacking perspective. Their first objective was tender, an extended throw from Antoine Semenyo was headed into the far facet of the web by Dean Huijsen. No person challenged within the air, Raya seemed small as he dived (not his fault, however typically having a comparatively small goalkeeper is uncovered). The massive challenge was the shortage of an aerial problem within the field, and the convenience with which we have been uncovered down our left within the build-up which led to Saliba having to concede the throw.
At that time it felt more likely they’d rating once more than we’d discover one other. There wasn’t so much on the bench however Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri have 8 and 9 objectives every respectively this season. The Spaniard got here on within the 74th minute for Rice, Nwaneri received a couple of Hail Mary minutes on the finish as a part of a triple sub with a bit-part left-back and participant whose mortgage signing has been little in need of a catastrophe this season.
Their second got here from a nook we may most likely have prevented conceding, flicked on on the close to submit after which put in on the again submit by Evanilson as Raya fumbled it from shut vary. I would ask why the job of marking their centre-forward doesn’t go to an precise defender reasonably than Odegaard, who maybe may have been stronger. The ball additionally appeared to go in off the ahead’s elbow, however VAR checked and the objective stood. It seems fairly apparent to me, however that is what I imply about how not scoring leaves you uncovered to the issues you may’t management.
That objective felt fairly typical of our season. Our faults are our personal, they’re issues now we have to right, however a bloke who received despatched off final weekend and had his pink card overturned so he may play in opposition to us scores a winner along with his elbow and VAR decides that it could possibly’t determine so the objective is allowed to face. One other a type of barely weird moments that has gone in opposition to us since August.
However that’s an commentary, not an excuse. Finally, we misplaced as a result of we have been sloppy and careless, and since we don’t rating sufficient objectives. That, to my thoughts a minimum of, is a direct consequence of what we’ve executed within the final two switch home windows. It’s not the one issue although. Whereas we’ve had accidents however that beginning XI yesterday – kind of as sturdy as now we have – ought to be capable of beat Bournemouth at residence. And I say that with a whole lot of respect for them, as a result of they’re workforce who’re very nicely coached and trigger you issues with their excessive press.
So, whereas recruitment and lack of firepower is a giant challenge, I feel it’s good to additionally take a look at how we play. I perceive the context for this sport is sort of distinctive due to what lies forward on Wednesday, and this squad might be stretched very skinny bodily, however this isn’t only a latest challenge. 17 video games with 0 or 1 objectives, 30 factors. We’ve received simply 3 of our final 10 Premier League video games, which isn’t ok, and you’ll’t pin that on a Champions League semi-final.
Afterwards, Arteta spoke in regards to the efficiency and the end result, and stated:
Nicely, we definitely needed to create a extremely good vibe, a optimistic end result would actually assist us to construct what we needed in the direction of Wednesday. So what now we have created now could be a whole lot of rage, anger, frustration and a foul feeling within the tummy. So be sure that we use that for Wednesday to have a large efficiency in Paris, win the sport and be within the last.
You possibly can solely hope that focus issues in methods we will’t put our finger on. Within the grand scheme of issues, yesterday’s sport was very end-of-season, and that may play an element in focus and dedication. Wednesday is a chance to do one thing particular, and that must be mirrored within the efficiency, as a result of if it’s not, it’ll be one other ‘practically’ second for this workforce and this supervisor, one thing which is perhaps quickly seen as our trademark it’s occurred that always.
I’ll depart it there for now. Have an awesome Sunday and you’ll be part of us tomorrow for an Arsecast Additional and extra.
