After building much needed momentum on Wednesday night in Italy, Arsenal headed to Old Trafford hoping to turn around their domestic season. Missing key squad members through suspension and injury, the Gunners youth would be on display. Could Arsenal pull off a shock result at the Theatre of Dreams?
It was a shock result, but not the one the Gunners had hoped for. Arsenal suffered an embarrassing loss at Old Trafford, conceding eight goals to champions Manchester United. It was the worst loss by Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.
The last time the Gunners surrendered that many goals it was 1896 and Queen Victoria sat on the throne of England.
Poor Defending Puts the Gunners Behind
Manchester United’s first goal came from comical Arsenal defending in front of the goal. Comical in an “I’m laughing because this is painful” kind of way. Unfathomably, a United chip into the box was allowed to bounce as two Arsenal defenders watched, leaving Wojciech Szczesny in no man’s land. United’s Danny Welbeck had an easy header for the game’s opening goal. The extremely frustrating part is that play came right through the middle of the Arsenal defense.
From there Theo Walcott drew a penalty, and things started to look up for Arsenal. However, Captain Robin Van Persie had his attempt saved by United’s young keeper, and all the momentum was back with United.
Goal number two, though a brilliant shot from Ashley Young, came about as the defense did not close him down properly. You simply cannot give players of United’s quality an inch and not expect them to take advantage of it. The same can be said of the third goal. After a poorly taken foul just outside the box by Arsenal, Wayne Rooney stepped up for the free kick and made it 3-0. Arsenal cannot afford to give away cheap fouls in such a dangerous section of the field against any opponent, but especially not against the champions.
The last real event of the first half was the Walcott goal, a gift from De Gea, as it passed through him as if he were a hologram. It was Arsenal’s first league goal of the season.
Second Verse, Same as the First
The second half offered little for Gooners to be pleased with. I’m not going to outline the other five Manchester United goals here, because they are all basically products of poor defending and lack of quality. The eighth and final goal came as a result of the Arsenal players giving up and not tracking back to help the defenders who clearly were not of enough class on the day. There were few positives to take from this display.
At least that fixture is over for the season.
The Defense Rests…Unfortunately
Defensively, Arsenal were in shambles against United. Sure, Arsene Wenger can sign Gary Cahill, and that would help. The problem is if Arsenal continues to play their line as high as they do, they will continue to get beaten with through balls and over the top of the line. The defensive tactics need improvement as well as the quality of the players. Both need to happen. Too often in the past few seasons the Gunners have been beaten over the top for a goal, and are left standing there holding their hand in the air hoping for an offside call.
Carl Jenkinson was horribly out of position on several occasions during the match. At one point, United’s Patrice Evra actually seemed to be looking around wondering where the defender was that should be where he had the ball. He was so out of position in fact, that he received a tongue lashing from Theo Walcott on at least one occasion.
You know you are out of position when Walcott is questioning your defensive positioning. Manchester United had their way in the middle of the park. Arsenal midfielders allowed too much space and gave the United players too much time on the ball. Arsenal need to get back to pressuring the ball in the midfield. Offensively, there were not many pass link-ups. Something was definitely lacking. Shall we call it creativity?
Ch..ch..ch..Changes!
To be fair Arsenal were without Gervinho, Song, and Frimpong through suspension. Also missing the game through injury were Vermaelen, Diaby, Sagna, Wilshere and Bendtner. Arsenal put out a team that was far from their best, it is true.
The problem was the team they put on the pitch did not have near the quality we expect from Arsenal. In recent years, Arsenal would play their young players in the Carling Cup and still be able to advance to the late stages. The squad against Manchester United was horribly outclassed. The quality simply wasn’t there. Armand Traore isn’t good enough to play for Arsenal, if we are to believe that Arsenal is still a big club. Johan Djourou has had many chances to prove his quality, and at times last season he seemed he would. Yet, he was woefully short against Manchester United yesterday. I would have preferred the young Spaniard Ignasi Miquel to Djourou.
Defensive tactics have to change. Vermaelen has to have a central defending partner he can trust. At times it seems Koscielny fits the bill, but added quality is what I would prefer. The team is in desperate need of a left-back as well.
Englishmen Kieran Gibbs, though he has shown some quality this campaign, is injured too often. He practically needs his own trainer at this point. He cannot be relied on as a first-choice selection. Jenkinson is a nice squad player, but is not yet good enough to be first-choice for Arsenal. The other problem with Jenkinson is that Wenger always plays him on the right, meaning Sagna is moved to the left, out of his normal position.
In midfield a playmaker is desperately needed. I believe Wilshere, when he returns from injury, will step more into this role. He is more naturally talented as an offensive midfielder.
Alex Song needs to remember that he is the holding midfielder. Too often last season Song ventured forward, leaving the already weak defense exposed. He needs to watch some film of Gilberto Silva, and practice what he learns. The occasional goal is nice, but protection for the back is what’s needed from the Cameroonian midfielder.
Arsenal needs to add quality before the transfer deadline for this season not to be a loss. Right now, fourth place seems like a goal too lofty for the Gunners to achieve. For Arsenal, that is unacceptable. This club expects to compete for trophies, not to hope for a chance to be in the Champion’s League play-off round.
These are truly worrying times for Arsenal, as they have started the league season earning just one point from nine, and leave the month of August eight points behind the leaders and sitting in a dreadful 17th place in the Premier League table. The Gunners also have the worst goal differential in the league.
Can Arsenal rebound from the demolition at Old Trafford? Yes, they absolutely can, but not with the current squad. Changes need to be made, and time is running out.
August 31st is approaching.
Follow Jimmy Gossard on Twitter @JimmyGossard
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