Kevin Whitcher
So with the Barcelona game in mind, nine changes to Arsenal’s starting line-up from the victory last weekend against Leicester. That the centre backs both played was more a matter of necessity than anything else, with Gabriel injured and the options for right back limited.
I wonder what the mindset of certain of the players who might have hoped they would be picked for the Barcelona match was? Perhaps a bit subdued. Mitigation for a relatively low tempo Arsenal display might have been provided by an element of unfamiliarity in terms of the selection, but that could be countered with the fact they were playing a second string Championship team selection. I could be wrong, but only two of Arsenal’s eleven had not played international football.
It was a case of defence against attack. Hull’s massed ranks gobbled up most of Arsenal’s attempts to play their way through. Going wide and getting crosses in was the most likely source of a breakthrough, although with only Welbeck as the likely target, this option was by and large dismissed. It made for a generally unenthralling 90 minutes.
There were decent penalty shouts in each half – for Elneny and Chambers respectively. Danny Welbeck tried to win one before the interval with a less convincing attempt to do what Jamie Vardy did last weekend. There are few angels in top level football.
Laurent Koscielny diced with a suspension for the visit to Old Trafford when, on a yellow already, committing a foul and then shoving a player a yard from the referee in the aftermath. He got away with it, but needs to keep his head in such moments. Astonishing that he did not react to Diego Costa’s provocation and yet he acts like this on other occasions.
“We lacked quality in the final third,” said Arsene Wenger after the game. Goals have not exactly been flowing of late for Arsenal. Six in the last six fixtures – two of those matches against lower league sides at home in the cup. If ambitions are to be fulfilled this season, that needs to change. It’s a worry. The entrance of Giroud and Sanchez made no difference, and third sub the Ox has never been what you’d call prolific in that department. Perhaps it may need to become a case of 1-0 to the Arsenal for a while. Focus on not losing games and wait for the chance that wins them, just to rack up the points.
In terms of the squad’s commitments, a replay is not a worry in terms of exhausting the players. The playing time will do most of those who will be selected the power of good. However the timing of it is going to be interesting. If it is accepted that both sides will put out shadow teams, then they might well play it on the Monday night after Spurs away. I was unaware of the UEFA edict that domestic matches should not be played on the same nights as Champions League football, for the simple reason that this has happened before. The fine involved is relatively trifling, as indeed most of UEFA’s fines are.
The other aspect of this, is that, even if played on Monday night, it gives the victors only a few days to sort out distribution of tickets for a quarter final. The sixth round weekend, Arsenal are due to host West Brom in the Premier League. I have a feeling that, with the replay being away from home, playing on the Monday night before the quarter final weekend would give Arsene Wenger the excuse to put out a side stuffed with Under 21 players and effectively sacrifice the tie, meaning the West Brom game could go ahead. Yesterday was his 100th FA Cup tie. He does play lip service to the competition, and his record in it is pretty good, but there have been occasions over the years when it is clear where it lies in his list of priorities, and although it is harsh to say games have been thrown, the team selection has been an indication that the towel is there to be thrown in if the players do not feel like giving their all without feat of comeback in the dressing room. 2004, 2008 and 2009 spring immediately to mind, and there have been other occasions.
Anyway, an afternoon to forget. One suspects the club’s next two fixtures will prove more memorable, hopefully for the right reasons. Certainly, there were a good number of season ticket holders who did not bother filling their seats yesterday. Somehow, I think they’ll manage to make the journey on Tuesday evening.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
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