So the near-impossible didn’t happen despite my somewhat elevated expectations and we went down to City at the Etihad. However, while I do not feel particularly upbeat about the loss itself (no one ever does, do they?), yesterday we didn’t see a capitulation akin to that at Anfield.
There’s a lot of talking points to get your teeth into, so I’ll just get to these.
Squad and tactics
‘In the build-up to the game Wenger promised to attack City and the starting XI reflected that. Arsene went with a pretty unusual 4-3-2-1 formation (otherwise known as the Christmas tree formation). Although it is not his preferred and, arguably, more direct approach of a 4-2-3-1, it was also not a more defensive 3-4-2-1.
Moreover, the changes to personnel reflected Arsene’s thinking before the game. We played with two 10s in Ozil and Iwobi, Ramsey was also kept on, Kolasinac and Bellerin resumed patrol on the wings and Monreal paired Koscielny in central defense. Sanchez was left to plough a lone furrow up top, but this plethora of players is as front-footed as it gets.
Iwobi got the nod
Despite being in a shape which allowed for more defensive security and considerable leeway going forward, it is the former we were doing for most of the game. It is obvious Wenger tried to win the midfield battle by crowding it both numerically and quality-wise, however we were not successful in dictating the tempo of the game. Much like I feared prior to the game, City simply had too much quality in midfield to let us rule over the proceedings.
Nonetheless, this is the part where I tip my hat to Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman didn’t set out his team to hide, he clearly adjusted personnel and tactics to deal with a particular opponent and this approach paid off to an extent. We limited City to their lowest number of shots in a single league game (9), while almost matching it ourselves (6).
No, we were not hopeless. Which brings me to…
Officiating
I usually have trust in Michael Oliver’s abilities. Trust which no other ref in the league enjoys in my eyes. Clattenburg came closest to being competent, everyone else is just a varying degree of awful on a sliding scale.
However Oliver made one mistake which cost us the game: he awarded the penalty to City. Sterling dived under the slightest contact from Monreal, Oliver thought it merited a foul and pointed to the spot.
Oh Michael…
To our credit, we recovered. Lacazette came on to score and spark a revival in our hearts, but then another awful refereeing decision knocked the wind out of our sails. The linesman failed to see a clear offside both Silva and Jesus were in and the latter converted from close range from a former’s pass.
Arsene Wenger rightfully lambasted the refereeing standards afterwards:
“I feel they don’t work enough. The referees don’t work enough, their levels drop every season at the moment. Overall, it’s unacceptable what happens.
“The physical level is very good, the decisions…the third goal, at 2-1 we are in the game, but he gives a clear offside goal. That kills the game for us. Last year, if you look back, we conceded two offside goals as well. Of course, they are a top team but that makes it even more difficult for you. The decisions were just wrong.”
If you read my articles you know I don’t usually hide behind refereeing mistakes. This is the part where I say that City are a better team, they were a better team yesterday and they deserved the win overall.
However this is also the part where I echo the thoughts of a friend of mine, who said that if City are that good, they shouldn’t need refereeing help in any shape or form. The truth is quite simple: we had City under pressure after scoring with 25 minutes to go. We could have got an equaliser, but we didn’t get the chance.
Lacazette almost sparked a comeback. Almost
All too often in football, matches turn on one moment. Teams had luckier escapes than we would have had, had we got that equaliser. And today we would be talking about how Arsene got his tactics spot-on, how we restricted City from showing their true potential and how this can merit a draw.
Instead, we are left with two big refereeing blunders which tarnish the overall picture. No one forced City to miss their chances in the first half. Go on and score if you are good enough. I do not have a problem per se with City winning if they show they are worthy of it; I do have a problem with the way it was accomplished.
Alexis Sanchez up front
Whatever reasons Wenger might have had for putting Sanchez up front, it’s fair to say this was one of his less inspired decision yesterday. I also maintain starting Ozil was a mistake, but not nearly as much as starting Sanchez, especially as a lone striker.
Simply put, he was awful. He took a grand total of one shot (off target), completed no dribbles, got into three offsides (how?) and was dispossessed at least 11 times. The contrast was all the more vivid when Lacazette came on and scored. Just like that. No fuss.
And don’t get me started on the Chilean’s nasty temper. The tantrums he throws, the constant swearing at teammates, the sulking after games. Right now Sanchez is the definition of a disruptive influence and I would like to see him benched until his behavior improves or until he is sold.
Probably taking his only shot
Alexis’ antics, coupled with his non-existing output yesterday, should give plenty of thought to Arsene. I do hope he stops pandering to our “stars” and stamps his authority with an iron fist. It’s about time, and it’s what this particular situation requires.
By the way, for some extra reading on Sanchez’ audition to City yesterday, I highly recommend this piece by JIm White from the Telegraph. It is behind a paywall, but you can get a free account which will allow you for one free article per week. This week use your quota on this particular piece.
Final thoughts
You can rarely take heart from a defeat, however you can’t deny we were not bad at all yesterday. If largely nullifying City comes at a cost of playing less expansive, spectacular football, sign me up. You probably understand yourself that even more defensive approaches can look quite spectacular if done right. Think about Atletico’s successive wins over Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the Champions League a couple of seasons ago.
What I have seen yesterday was far from a meek surrender, and that’s all I could ask for. We were visibly shaken and deflated after conceding the third, and whilst we seem chronically incapable of playing to the whistle, overall it could have been so much worse.
We demonstrated tactical maturity and flexibility rarely associated with Arsenal sides recently and we didn’t get the rub of the green. Who knows how it would have ended otherwise.
I’ll leave it at that. It’s the international break for the next two weeks, so I will see you for the North London derby right after it. Take care.
Russian Gooner. No, it’s not always cold in my home country 🙂
A staunch Arsenal supporter since 2004. Started writing about the Gunners in 2013.
Currently in London to get a degree in journalism.
4 points from six away games is appalling at this stage, but on the plus side, we’re yet to drop points at home, and I hope that run continues against our North London rivals! (I hope I haven’t jinxed it there)!
I must agree. yes, we lost. But Wenger DID show some will to change things tactically. And we didn’t fold like in other big away games.
You have to be kidding with this? City completely battered arsenal and it was a blatant penalty and there was a blatant penalty and resulting red card in the first half that was missed on syerling… the third goal was offise but in reality, it should and could have been 5/6 to city by then…
get serious man!
“However Oliver made one mistake which cost us the game: he awarded the penalty to City” – He didn’t award the one he should have given in the first half, so you’re right, he was a bit crap. He didn’t send the frog-eyed one for the kick from behind on silva – again a crap decision. The penalty he did award was a correct decision. Ask any non-gooner or some of the slightly less myopic ones amongst your own number.
you were slightly hard done to with the third goal but you were beaten by then anyway.
As for the old git in the sleeping bag, remarkable recovery in his ocular performance in the sedond half, apparently he sees everything clearly…
what goes around comes around – Monreals handlball (NBA like) save last season, City perfectly good winner diasallowed in the cup semi-final etc. The old frenchman appears to have forgotten those.
The truth is only the most Bias of Arsenal fans think it wasn’t a penalty, even their own ex players force to say it was a clear penalty. Yet because the manager wants to take the heat off his own failings he attempts to deflect them by talking rubbish, funny he and you don’t mention the officials errors when they were in your favour isn’t it? Sane shove, should have been a penalty and the seconds later a clear push in clear view of the liner on Sterling, even out by an offside, all even and fair.
The only complaints about the penalty decision are from Arsene and Gooners, every commentator, pundit, ex-ref and supporters of other clubs agree with Oliver’s decision. Having said that, I fully accept Silva was offside by a leg for our 3rd goal.
I note Arsene made no comment about the push on Sterling by Kolasinac in the 10th minute, as he was about to put the ball in the net, as commented on by The BBC’s commentator and a number of pundits. Nor has he commented on the 5 yellow cards given to Arsenal players for hacking down our players when on the break, at least two of which could easily have been red.
Again, Arsene and Gooners see everything through red glasses and moan and whinge when your team loses rather than admit you were outplayed.
Sadly I was travelling back from a Euro trip but listened on Talksport where both Houghton and Mattaface said it was not a pen. That said I never use referees decisions as an excuse and am embarrassed by Wenger’s comments.
Sky pundits never critisise the referee’s, they are all part of the same product – BBC has never had a good word to say about Arsenal. They know if they attack the money machine that pays them it will stop. These people are not independent. It’s like saying the Tory’s disagree with Labour.
Do you remember the Arsenal don’t like it up em?? promoted by the media – yet Ramsey, Diaby, Eduardo, Wiltshire and others had career ending injuries due to this without punishment. Was that the media being fair and unbias? No it was Arsenal being soft.
Take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Arsenal have a 20% win ratio with Michael Oliver, this used to be Mike Dean – but they rotate. The EPL is the only league in the World still to use the same refereeing system (thrown out by all other leagues) that was the root of match fixing in the Italian league. The PGMOL is a limited company (Why?), has no account ability, no transparency, refuse technology… basically a self regulating organisation in a multi Billion pound industry – and industry sponsored by gambling firms and Oligarch’s and the Media. What could possibly go wrong.
Better to remain humble after a loss or a win. Venga should take a leaf out of Guadiolas book.
City had played the same players just days earlier against the best Italian team.
I wonder if some supporter use to forget there eye at home when watching football,Oliver have make his awful decision & dthis match show that he is not simply good enough again and I think he should be punish for this offeciating because this is unacceptable, if u want to prove me wrong go and watch the replay and stop posting rubish