In a real must win game, Arsenal came up with the sort of performance that most Sunday League teams would be ashamed of to gift Manchester City a way back into the title race and to leave me personally wondering, if they a really serious about winning this title. Arsenal were completely ineffectual in attack, ponderous and clueless in midfield and absolutely abhorrent in defence, in a true back to front horrendous performance.
Arsenal did the hard part by getting their noses in front the first half through an own goal from Lisandro Martinez and that was as good as it got for the Gunners as they completely went to pieces from that point onwards. Manchester United were deservedly level soon after as Arsenal allowed them back into the game in general with sloppy play across the board to invite pressure. Martin Zubimendi then went one further and actually gifted Manchester United a goal, which Bryan Mbeumo gratefully accepted.
At this point, I was praying that we would get through to half time with no further damage as Arsenal were all over the place and the next goal certainly wasn’t likely to come our way.
We managed to go in level at the break and then things got much, much worse as Arsenal were chasing shadows in midfield again which allowed Patrick Dorgu to have a clear shot at goal on the edge of our box, which he finished superbly, to be fair. Bit of handful in there but not enough to rule out the goal for me.
Mikel Arteta then turned to his bench in an act of sheer desperation, bringing on 4 substitutes in almost wholesale changes in attack, which just doesn’t work does it?! When has Arteta made more than 2 subs at once that actually yielded a positive result. It’s just too much disruption and as expected, Arsenal failed to improve, as United out-smarted and out-ran them all over the pitch.
Arsenal did get an equaliser, another scrappy goal from a corner and at this point, I was over the moon with a point, as I felt we scarcely deserved one and this was a chance to get out of jail with a point on a truly horrific day.
Cue the sucker punch I truly feared as a little over a minute later Arsenal were out battled and out thought in yet another midfield scramble with United then working the ball well to Matheus Cunha to have a free run and hit at our goal. The rest was predictable as despite the emphatic finish, when you give a player of that quality, that kind of space, there was only going to be one outcome.
No heroics, no last gasp drama, just nothing from the last goal until the final whistle as Arsenal lost at home for the first time this season in a game where they weren’t good enough to be called second best. Here’s how the players rated:
David Raya – 7
One of very few players to come out with any credit. No chance on any of the goals as the clowns in front of him left him completely exposed. Did well on corners and should be really angry with his defenders.
Jurrien Timber – 5
A poor performance from Timber. Loose touches, bad passing.
William Saliba – 7
Really did his best to push the team forward. I’d go as far as to see a lot of our best attacks come from Saliba running with the ball. Defensively not great, as he watched on as we shipped three goals for the first time in over 100 matches. Didn’t react quick enough.
Gabriel – 5
A surprising 5 out of 10 performance from the big man. Struggled with Mbeumo far too much. I know he’s clever but look at the size of him. Eat your dinner, Gabriel!! Nothing from corners again. Went up front late on and caused a bit of havoc but the damage had already been done. Too slow out to Cunha for the winning goal.
Piero Hincapie – 5
First game back, he gets a pass, of sorts. Did reasonably well defensively but offered nothing in attack and always looks panicked with the ball at his feet. Can’t help playing behind the tempo destroying Leandro Trossard. It was his deep cross that led to the first goal, but it wasn’t a great cross, let’s be fair.
Martin Zubimendi – 4
Oh dear. What a game defining mistake that was. He wasn’t amazing before that point, although not truly awful however, that goal really started a waterfall of crap that rained down on all Arsenal fan’s Sunday afternoon and he is lucky to receive a 4. Should have scored the opener as well.
Declan Rice – 4
I really don’t want to hear any more about what a great performance Declan Rice has put in. I think most people rave about him without even watching the games sometimes. Rice is a seriously good footballer but he’s been completely clueless in attack in the past few games. He’s a real symptom of our inability to get any tempo into our passing as he just doesn’t know what to do with it when teams drop deep. A few driving runs here and there but not enough.
Martin Odegaard – 4
Big game, where’s your Captain? Where’s your star playmaker?! Answers on a postcard. Lucky to last 60 minutes. Did nothing. I take that back, he pressed pretty well. We need more and if this team is going to win the title, we MUST have more.
Bukayo Saka – 5
Huffed and puffed without ever really looking like making anything happen. Felt like Shaw had his number today. Another performance without a goal or an assist. That new contract isn’t looking great right now. I’m hoping that will change soon. Was ineffectual on the left as well, following a late switch.
Gabriel Jesus – 5
A few bright moments here and there, but I was expecting so much more. The Jesus from Wednesday must still be in Milan. Didn’t keep the ball well enough and was another who was lucky to last 60 minutes.
Leandro Trossard – 4
Drop him. Drop him now. Also, if Gabriel Martinelli is worse than Trossard, we should sell him. He slows attacks down…deliberately!!!! Every time. Why?!? Why does he do that?!! Contributed nothing positive all game. Kept the ball well, but for utterly no purpose at all. Awful.
Subs:
Ben White – 3 – I honestly think he might have had a bet on United to win. He was that bad. Either the throw-in coach needs to go or Ben White just shouldn’t ever take one ever again. Soooo slow, so bad. Crossing was awful, defending was awful. Good lord, he was bad. So bad.
Viktor Gyokeres – 5 – I actually thought he battled quite well and his hold up play was improved. Bit stronger as well and generally put himself about a bit. What was that pass at the end though?! I know the whistle had gone, but wow, that was bad!
Mikel Merino – 6 – Got the equaliser, I think, and was the only sub to have any sort of impact on the game. That said, he was caught on the ball a number of times and just looked too slow for the United press.
Eberechi Eze – 4 – I remember him coming on. I definitely remember that bit. After that, it’s a bit of a haze. Hope Ethan Nwaneri’s loan has a recall clause.
Noni Madueke – 3 – Similar to Ben White, but with more urgency at least. Just inexplicably kept running the ball out of play.
Final note – It just wasn’t our day was it?! We were bad. Sure. In fact, we were appalling in the second half. Yet it felt like the bounces and those little bits of luck went against us today and the outcome was always going to be the same. Need to make this a catalyst now. The rest of the season starts here.