Kevin Whitcher
There was hope before the game, but resigned acceptance at the end of it. Arsenal were defeated by a far better team, playing at a level they can currently only aspire to. I, amongst probably the majority of more realistic Gooners, expected defeat, but wanted to see something different from Unai Emery’s Arsenal.
At times, we did. There were moments when the high press proved effective and regained possession deep in City territory. Unfortunately, City’s use of this tactic proved even more effective, but they have been using it far longer, and so are logically better at its execution. Arsenal’s lines were far tidier – a noticeable 4-3-3, with Mkhitaryan and Ozil taking turns to make up the third midfielder. Aaron Ramsey was often in the front three, I imagine because of his superior ability to harry the man in possession when the Gunners did press City’s defenders. However, he struggled to find space when his team were in possession, except for an early chance which he meekly volleyed to the City keeper.
There were attempts to play through City’s lines, but it wasn’t coming off. The movement of the advanced players to find space was an issue that needs plenty of work. The defence and midfielders who dropped to take possession, either Guendouzi or Xhaka, too often did not have an obvious option to pass the ball on to, where City, in similar circumstances, often had two. Here, we had two sides playing relatively similar tactics (although with the physicality of Aguero, City could mix it up a bit more), and one of them being better drilled and far superior.
Nevertheless, Arsenal did create some fairly decent chances. The aforementioned Ramsey volley was followed by attempts by Bellerin, Aubameyang, Lacazette and a mix-up between Ozil and Lacazette (when the latter wrongly believed he was offside) which should have ended up in the back of the net. City had more, granted, and in terms of his keeping, Petr Cech had a very good game. In possession of the ball, not so good. This is not his game, and one imagines he will give way to Leno before too long unless either the tactics change or his use of his feet improves dramatically. Both scenarios seem unlikely.
Arsenal playing the ball around too much in their own third was a weakness of the team in the latter years of the Wenger era, and I suspect the idea is for them to move it forward a lot more quickly than they managed yesterday. To get it out of the danger area so that if possession is lost, the team have the time to get back into shape. This is quite obviously a work in progress, and as such, painful to watch at times.
It was an eye opener to see Emery select Guendouzi and Xhaka in midfield, leaving Torreira on the bench. Arsenal looked better when the Uruguayan come on to these eyes. Additionally, Lichtsteiner looked as capable of playing left back as the injured Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and may even keep out the two previously currently injured incumbents if he continues in the role. He added something to the team, although was guilty of losing his man for City’s second goal.
Guendouzi was mainly responsible for the first, although both were created from Bellerin’s flank. Guendouzi had a mixed game. There is plenty of potential there, but a lot of lessons that need to be learned very quickly. It was interesting to see Ramsey hauled off early in the second half. The Welshman was visibly unhappy, but his status as a favourite passed away with the departure of the previous manager. Now, if you don’t perform, you are in danger of demotion. One wonders if he will be on the bench against Chelsea. Given his decision not to sign for a further spell at the club, there seems no reason to keep him sweet.
Ultimately, City won this match because they were more clinical and executed their gameplan much better. Their full backs were far more aggressive in attack and created a lot more danger than the home side’s. One can see what Emery is trying to do, but in terms of the opposition, this would have been a better contest three months into the season. The same can be said of the visit to Stamford Bridge next weekend. Arsenal, in all likelihood, will lose their first two matches, but their season starts for real with the fixtures that follow, against West Ham, Cardiff, Newcastle, Everton, Watford, Fulham. Leicester and Crystal Palace. Things should look healthier after ten matches have been played than two.
I’m willing to give it until Christmas before hitting the panic button, and I don’t think anyone is anywhere near that yet. There is an understanding that the club’s status has sunk significantly from the days when it moved stadium, as fans have become accustomed to the reality the club is no longer capable of challenging for the major prizes. The rebuild, if it is possible (and it is, assuming the club are run the right way), was always going to take time. I am not anticipating a genuine title tilt until the 2020-21 season myself. By that time, a lot of the squad that played in Wenger’s last season will have been moved on, and we will be seeing a very different Arsenal. It’s not an overnight process by any means, but the important thing is that things move in the right direction.
Sadly, the drift was allowed to continue for way too long, so although not irreversible, it will now take longer than it might have were the change made in 2014. Arsène told us last season that he had lots of offers and would be coaching somewhere this season. That it’s all gone very quiet on that front tells you how much the game left him behind. Emery has to change years of comfort bubble complaceny, on and off the field. Old habits die hard, and it may take a complete change in playing personnel to eradicate them altogether. I’m prepared to wait.
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