A lifeline to Europe?
Arsenal have beaten the League and European champions. I repeat Arsenal have beaten the League and European champions in arguably our worst season of living memory. The game in which many had casted the Gunners out, they went on and did the unthinkable. The whole thing was so surprising that Klopp’s image on the bench was something to behold.
Gunners won. That’s one side of the coin. How we won is the another and on that the less we talk the better.
One theme that we have seen so often since the restart is the habit of gifts being given and then dispatched away. Wednesday night at Emirates can easily be classified as a new episode of this series.
Sloppy play
It all started when Tierney played a simple pass to the ever impressive Emi Martinez and the Argentinian showed his first signs of youth when he took his attention off the impending run of Firmino and tried to play the ball forward even though the line was covered. The ball bounced off the Brazilian onto the post and out for a goal kick. It could have been the opener.
That opener soon arrived for Liverpool. After continuous pressure, which saw the Gunners drop deeper and deeper, Firmino instigated a move on the left allowing a simple Robertson run on the inside channel which caused all sorts of trouble to the backline. It allowed Mane to attack the open 6-yard space with no pressure and a simple finish to apply to take the lead.
Number of things went wrong in that little play but none more so than the basic rule of defending which is to always be aware of space around you and the danger. These are the things you coach to young kids, but when you see an international making these kind of errors, then really there isn’t much to talk about.
This theme of sloppiness continued and for a period it looked like Arsenal would be on the receiving end. But midway through the half the tempo suddenly changed. Virgil Van Dijk was pressured into playing a simple back pass, which he made a total mess of. Lacazette was able to intercept, round the keeper and score, putting the Gunners on level terms.
That seemed to have shocked Liverpool and their manager as suddenly the control and authority went out of their game and mistakes started to creep in. Soon afterwards on the brink of the half time, Allision took inspiration and failed to execute a simple pass out to Robertson and Lacazette cashed-in, setting-up Nelson for Arsenal’s second.
I believe a simple thank you note is now in order to Liverpool Football Club.
Managerial control
The second half was all controlled by Arteta as he looked to block off any threat from Liverpool by making Arsenal’s team shape more structured and compact. This included some “odd” tactical decisions including the introduction of Joe Willock as False 9 with Auba and Pepe on either wings but it paid off as it put more focus on blocking the wings of Liverpool and forcing them more central where they often found that extra person with one too many to beat.
Even then, Salah had some decent opportunities, which on any other day he might have dispatched but not on this occasion. Arsenal dropped deeper and gave away any intent of attacking the Liverpool goal, showing how defensively drilled they have preparedto tackle these kind of situations. At times it did look like that pressure will eventually break the backline but in tough times they held on.
- Martinez once again pulled off a stunning save to deny the Reds an equaliser as the game closed to the end, Arsenal themselves had the chance to seal the game but Willock failed to put the chance into back of the goal.
- Holding once again had a spectacular game and kept Mane in check for most of the game. This makes you question why he was consistently being overlooked by Arteta for past few games.
- Tierney continued his rich form and put in another solid performance in a hybrid left back and centre back position.
- Torreira came back after a while and did enough in the 55 minutes that he was on the pitch.
- Pepe once again failed to spark any fireworks and looked rather awkward and uncomfortable playing on the left side of the midfield.
Lifeline to Europe
This was Arsenal’s first league win over the Reds in 5 years. No matter the situation regarding Liverpool being on their honeymoon, after winning the League, the win is significant for Arsenal for many reasons. None the least of which is it will provide a good momentum for us going into the FA Cup semi-final tie with Manchester City. The Cup is now our only chance for Europe next season and for a club the size of Arsenal it is unthinkable to be without it.
Key players were also rested in Liverpool game and I hope they will all comeback stronger to give some strength to our Project Rescue. Let’s revel in the success of this win and hope for the best for FA Cup Semi Final.
Written by Omair Javed aka @omijaved
Tierney had a bad game, he was mostly at fault for the first goal and ended up with 40% passing. He has been ok, but the hype over him is surprising.
Hi George. I can’t comment on the specifics of Tierney’s performance since I saw very little of the game but I share your concern that, as usual, too many gooners are now overhyping our new left-back because he is a young, promising player who is clearly better than the man he replaced, Kolasinac. It is part of the partisanship that comes with club football but it has been aggravated by social media and Twitter in particular where almost all the big and small accounts must join the hype or be left behind. Accounts that try to be objective and go against the grain are left in the dust in the race for followers. Lets hope Tierney doesn’t become the new Bellerin who had a blistering start to his career but plateaued as certain weaknesses in his game was exposed over time which was compounded by his recent injury. I for one think Tierney is too eager to hit hopeful crosses into the penalty area rather than run clever combinations with his midfielders and eventually create big chances in the 6-yard box. No wonder our XG these days is closer to that of a lower level team.
Many things went wrong for the first goal. Tierney alone was not the culprit. But I believe he was solid when it came to defending his side and Liverpool were not able to possess the threat that they normally do through Salah and Trent.
There seems to be a pattern of Arsenal being gifted the ball. I can only conclude that these aren’t gifts but a product of our press. That we do it without seeming like we’re going 100 miles an hour should not count against it, rather it should count for it.
The next step would be to have technical dominance in midfield. It was 2 years ago, watching the Liverpool vs Barcelona UCL semi final that I realised there’s no way we can compete at that level without regaining that ability in midfield. I’d forego any other transfer, including a striker even if Auba leaves, if it meant getting another Vieira. We need someone to build around. It’s clear it isn’t going to be Ozil now.
Combine technical prowess (which includes passing the ball well, so no Ceballos) with a coordinated team press that we’re doing, and our attack will suddenly look a lot better.
Money. Money. Money.
We were the home side and it was embarrassing to watch.
No midfield and barely any attack, we succeeded only because of 2 miistakes, notwithstanding that we have lost plenty of times this season because of simliar errors.
IF that is how we are going to play in the future, then my lack oif interest will be increased.
It was painful watching and unless we can reinstate our midfield, then things will only get worse.
completely agree with every single word you wrote. We were lucky to get the lead but after that we showed how limited we are when it comes to dominating midfield and be the aggressor. We showed good defensive stability to keep Liverpool out but we don’t want Arsenal to be like this especially at home.
We need to build our midfield again!!
Holding unlike Koscielny has been looked after on his return from injury.
Liverpool’s Gomez also not back to best. Two promising CBs who’ve shown top quality not protected by the untalented ones.
COYG
This season’s Cazorla would get into this midfield.
Given the carnage left in Raul’s wake George and Shotts’ concerns are not unreasonable.
But Arteta and this group have shown fight after a derby defeat and that was great to see.
a slim chance against City tonight, hopefully Pep has upset the FA more then the Arsenal of late heh just kidding I think.
COYG.