Arsenal were humiliated yesterday in their 5-1 defeat against league leaders Liverpool. Liverpool were favorites for the match, having one of the best attacks in the world, and possible even defense in the world now as well.
The game began and Arsenal had a dream start at Anfield, scoring the first goal in the 11th minute of the match. Alex Iwobi gave a perfect cross to Ainsley Maitland-Niles who scores, after this everything started to go downhill. Liverpool level it in a matter of just 3 minutes, and then take the lead at the 16th minute! Both goals were scored through Liverpool’s brilliant attack, but mostly thanks to Arsenal’s shambolic defending. The first goal was scored by Firmino and he could have literally walked into the net if he wanted to. The defenders all went the opposite direction of the ball, as well as goal keeper Bernd Leno. The whole back line had no communication what so ever. Firmino scored again and he just literally dribbled past the defense with no difficulties at all.
I didn’t expect us to win this match, in my match preview I predicted Liverpool to win the game 3-1, well by half time it was already 4-1! Now I know Unai Emery just began so I don’t want to get on to him too much. On Boxing Day Arsenal faced Brighton & Hove Albion, and in this game Emery should have known not the start Stephan Lichtstiener against Liverpool. Lichtstiener was being torn apart from Brighton winger Locaidia, no disrespect to Locaidia but if Lichtstiener can’t handle him, what makes Emery think he’ll be able to handle the speed and agility of Salah, Mane, and Firmino! Emery has made it clear that he wants to play with a 3-4-3 formation but was that a smart move versus Liverpool? Especially with the injury crisis that Arsenal is going through. There were two out of position players in the defense, Maitland-Niles is a central midfielder being forced to play right wing back, and Lichtsteiner is a right back playing at center back! Why not just put a flat four with Kolasinac, Sokratis, Koscielny, and Jenkinson? Every game Carl Jenkinson has played at right back this season he has done well, he’s impressed more this season than Lichtstiener who was brought to the club for experience. Well the experience clearly isn’t helping.
It was a wrong decision to start Mustafi, he’s barely recovered from injury, I’d rather play Koscielny who’s more fit or even Zack Medley from the youth academy who’s impressed in the under-21’s. Now something I also want to talk about is how did our defense just crumble, now I know we’re going through an injury crisis but why can’t our defense be organized. Fulham and Huddersfield lost respectively to Liverpool 2-0 and 1-0 because they’re whole team worked as a defensive unit, well organized to avoid an embarrassment. Looking at their defenses, I wouldn’t trade any Arsenal defenders who started versus Liverpool for any of the defenders in Fulham or Huddersfield. Why are they allowing 5 goals to be scored, the defensive structure needs to fixed and be organized the way these teams face Liverpool.
I hope this result was a wake up call to the board, because the Arsenal defense is probably worse than the defense from last year. Arsenal have only completed 2 clean sheets the whole season, Liverpool have 12! Arsenal are currently 5 points away from fourth, and United are behind Arsenal by 3 points. The board needs to give Emery the players he wants, we 100% need a center back possibly even two. As much as I hate to say it, Koscielny is finished and needs to be sold or retire. I believe our backups should be sold, and starters dropped to be backups. Only defender I’d keep in the center backs as starters are Sokratis and Holding, Mustafi can be a back up and can play in rightback, he did it with Germany when he won the World Cup. Lichtsteiner I believe was a given a one year contract, I wouldn’t extend it and instead buy a right back to compete with Bellerin. Monreal contract expires this year, I’d go buy a new left back in the summer as Kolasinac is a great wingback but not a good left back.
Look at Jurgen’s Klopp Liverpool team right now compared to the one he had at first, it has been a complete overhaul of the squad. The Arsenal board needs to do the same with Emery in order to compete for the title once again. The Europa League is now our best chance to make it into the Champions League next season.
Alex's Soccer Blog 