Abysmal, weak-willed, unwatchable, disgraceful, no desire: these were just some of the terms used to describe last Sunday’s performance from Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield.
Arsenal’s showing was summarised by Robbie Lyle and most fans on ArsenalFanTV as “embarrassing”. That is probably the most accurate term for it.
For fans, it’s never good to see your team lose, but the manner in which Wenger’s men were dismantled is a cause for great concern for the season that lies ahead.
The losses against the big sides have gradually gotten worse year-on-year. Maybe it’s a good thing they’re in the Europa League, they’ll avoid another 5-1 hammering against Bayern Munich.
How could Arsenal be here, yet again…
The last thing Arsenal needed was a humbling at Anfield before the international break, but it was what they got. With a showing like that, they were fortunate that it was only four goals conceded (eight goals in three games now).
Yet, once again Wenger has failed to adapt his team for his opponents in a big game and his team was soundly beaten accordingly.
This, on paper, is Arsenal’s best set of personnel since the departure of Henry.
However, they look just as ill-equipped to mount a title challenge as when they had Djourou, Senderos, and Andre Santos. How?
In the attacking areas, Wenger has Lacazette, Ozil and Sanchez: continental and World Cup winners plus one of the top five strikers in Europe. Yet, they could not muster a shot on target: there is an underlying problem here.
This is a team with no balance, shape, identity or adaptability. Arsenal exemplifies everything wrong with a tactically out-of-touch manager and shaky board who lack either awareness or desire to see this club become a success again.
Questionable personnel
Trying three at the back a few times is an experiment. But playing left backs in at back, a right wing-back on the left, it just makes no sense.
Wenger had the best-left back in the Bundesliga last season on the bench and had his £50 million striker come on as a substitute when the match was already done as a contest.
Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey as a duo only work against smaller sides.
Pragmatism is the way to avoid humiliations like these; where was Elneny? Liverpool has problems with defending set pieces, why not play Giroud?
Klopp’s front three is one of the most dangerous in the league; the decision was to play Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal against Sadio Mane and Mo Salah: madness.
What happens after a game like this?
The #WengerOut brigade returns, former players find it hard to watch and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain moves to Chelsea. To address the Ox, Wenger adamantly said he’s staying, and yet here we are.
Is this what Arsenal fans have to look forward to, an exodus of players in the final year of their contracts?
If so, it’ll be a sad, sad way for Arsene Wenger to finish what has been a tenure spanning over three different decades, multiple trophies and a move from the iconic Highbury to a new 60,000-seater stadium.
- Culled from It’sroundandit’swhite.co.uk