Extra Highbury Spy: Five Talking Points after Arsenal’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester City

Ahead of the launch of issue 300 of the Gooner Fanzine and our return to 68 pages in full colour next week here is a bonus online piece from legendary print columinst Steve Ashford on Arsenal's 4-1 loss to Man City 

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Read the Highbury Spy in the new issue of the Gooner Fanzine, where, to celebrate our 300th edition our much-loved print columnist has recalled the glorious early days of our publication with a heartwarming in-depth feature, as well as his must-read take on all things Arsenal

Pre-order your issue 300 here

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1 Tactics and attitude

We definitely didn’t get enough width into our play on Wednesday night. Mikel Arteta probably knows he’s not got things right so hopefully his tactic book now has an extra chapter. 

I think the team has to take the learning from the defeat. We were so passive in our attitude, we never really looked like we believed. Probably because we knew we weren’t good enough. 

Now they must be even more aware how every game has to be played.

We’ve cost ourselves this title. It wasn’t last night it was the six points lost in draws … and the two VAR robbed us of. 

Really hoping City get slaughtered by Real Madrid… 

2 Problems with the backline

We'll be lucky to win another game without William Saliba. The title has gone. If we finish second that will be an achievement without him. He's the best defender we've had since Tony Adams. Total cruelty to be without him for the run in. 

I'm starting to think the last four games are on Arteta and how he doesn't adapt/compromise his high intensity pressing game.

With defence sitting deeper after Rob Holding came in for the injured Saliba, we're giving up far too much space in midfield, we're becoming stretched as a team and our normal wingplay weapon loses element of surprise.

There are greater distances to run forward and press forwards then recover backwards. City's attacks last night were mostly long balls to bypass our high press. We got totally done tactically.

I never thought we’d get much out of the match, but six points chucked away in previous three is poor.

We now have to stop this run. We need to start winning again.   

3 Where Are The Leaders?

A big criticism from Wednesday is where are the leaders? Where are guys who should lead on the pitch? 

Martin Odegard was poor, Granit Xhaka started being the old Xhaka, Thomas Partey played ok but seemed close to a red. 

I can only see City maybe drawing one or two games. It might happen considering all the games they have to play – which means we have to win all our last games. 

Can we do that? It’s 50/50 we can. City are good but what got me at the Etihad was the simple ball down the middle - and each time we could not deal with it.

The occasion seemed to get on top of us – our midfield could not cope and we gave the City keeper most of the night off. What a shame we could not give them a game.

4 - Summer transfer window  

We need four or five new faces next year to boost our squad. Not least because we need a bigger squad to cope with the extra games from the Champions League and the fact that others in the Premier League next season will get better. It won’t be as easy for us next season – two games a week and the cups, let’s enjoy this year, because, somehow, I think it will be a lot harder come August.

Surgery is needed all over the pitch. Midfield is the biggest issue for me though - which went missing again against City, as it has done for the past month. 

Partey and Xhaka both need upgrades - Rice and A.N.Other.

We also need some physicality up front but that may also involve a change in formation.

At the back Holding has to go - great servant, terrible player and we need to stop wasting money on bits and pieces players – Jakub Kiwior, Fabio Vieira etc. The elephant in the room is Olexsandr Zinchenko - not quite good enough in the big games.

5 – Squad Game

The two squads are chalk and cheese we’re clearly not ready to win the league – but, let’s be positive - last season has been righted, and they will learn from this one.

I feel Saliba was one too many injuries because it stretched us unbelievably, because of the lack of quality in depth - which is why we still concentrate on our development of the squad which in effect is a continuation of the process.

Look at Brighton pulling up trees and yet they lose to Forest convincingly…

Summary

We need to build on this. Good but not good enough is the summary and the ‘bar’ is getting forever higher..

City smothered us with high press from start and we had no answer. Couldn't get our attackers involved. No shame as City are a slick outfit and currently we need all our first team to have any chance. Need to add depth to squad in summer.

It was always a long shot and did well to stay in until now. Never say never but I just can’t see City dropping five points. Equally I can't see us winning all our remaining games…

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Read the Highbury Spy in the new issue of the Gooner Fanzine, where, to celebrate our 300th edition our much-loved columnist has recalled the glorious early days of our publication with a heartwarming in-depth feature, as well as his must-read take on all things Arsenal

Pre-order your issue 300 here