Kevin Whitcher
(Ed’s note – I was unable to catch the game yesterday evening, so my thanks to Charlie Ashmore for writing today’s piece on the match)
I really don’t know how seriously I should be taking this competition. On the one hand, it is a European competition which we have every right to expect to be able to have a decent tilt at winning. On the other it feels a bit like the League Cup has felt since probably around the turn of the century – a bit of a nuisance in the fixture list, an opportunity to play teams we don’t play very often and an opportunity to give fringe players a kick about.
On balance I think at this stage we have to treat it as a bit of fun, a chance to see unfamiliar line ups and what they can do and if we progress further as we should then all get a bit more serious about it.
Certainly the youngsters around the club must love it as a competition as it seems that Wenger treats it as a licence to chuck in any 18 year olds who happen to walk past him when he is picking the squad. To be fair the ones who started did not look particularly out of place and clearly have potential - but they are probably some distance off yet being able to make a real contribution in the more serious business that is the Premier League.
But what of the players who might be looking to show their talents sufficiently to force their way into the starting eleven in important games? The obvious place to start is Walcott, scorer of two goals and you would think therefore an obvious candidate for player of the match. And yet. This was such a typically Walcott performance. In all respects other than the goals, he was generally poor, repeatedly caught offside (and those bemoaning the wrong ruling out of Wilshere’s goal for offside should look at Walcott’s position when the ball was pushed out to him to cross), repeatedly overhitting set pieces, repeatedly making infuriatingly bad decisions (look at Wilshere’s reaction when he failed to roll the ball to an unmarked Wilshere, a reaction which would have been equalled for the same reason by Willock late in the game had Willock had a few more games under his belt). What do we do about a problem like Walcott? His goals suggest she has something to offer. His all round play does not.
Wilshere on the other hand is a player we really need to come good. Every time he gets the ball you can see him trying to find a positive move he can make, looking for that pass that opens things up or a gap to run into and through. Before he tired the best bits of our forward play involved him. His contribution to Walcott’s first goal was delightful as were a number of his contributions. If only we could get him fit and crucially keep him fit, there is no doubt in my mind the team could benefit from the spark he provides.
As for the others, well Cech won’t feel threatened by Ospina, who had an average game. Holding, who I feel has been mistreated this season, enjoyed his first goal but had a mixed game defensively and that of course is his job. Mustafi still overcommits for me but appears to have forced his way back to the starting eleven despite the transfer window shenanigans. Mertesacker will never let us down but seems to have adapted to his elder statesman role and is happy being in the background as he winds down his playing career. Elneny remains a fine back up and did nothing last night to suggest he will force his way past Ramsey or Xhaka in the current midfield line up. Giroud finally got his 100th goal, confidently converting the soft penalty we were given. I like his attitude and the fact that he has stayed to fight for his place. He is a fine player but did not have his greatest game last night, drifting in and out. He will however as he has always done make a valuable contribution to our season – he has goals in him and continues to offer a different option which we will need at times.
Overall, a reasonably entertaining night. I like watching us going forward. I hate watching us defending. How we can look so solid against Chelsea and then so fragile against West Brom and Bate Borisov, God only knows and the roller coaster that is an Arsenal season these days will continue over the coming months. The good bits remain good. The bad bits can be very bad and will ultimately cost us as they always do these days. Last night taught us nothing new but there is I think nothing new to be learned about Wenger’s Arsenal. If, as I have, you resign yourself to that, you can sit back and enjoy the good bits, laugh knowingly at the bad bits and wait for things to change.
In the meantime, it’s roll on to Red Star…
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