Tag Archives: She Wore

Match Report: Liverpool 5 – 1 Arsenal

1 Reply
Liverpool (4) 5 Arsenal (1) 1
Premier League
Anfield Stadium, Anfield Road, Liverpool L4 0TH
Sunday, 29th December 2018. Kick-off time: 5.30pm
(4-2-3-1) Leno; Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Mustafi, Maitland-Niles; Torreira, Xhaka; Kolašinac, Ramsey, Iwobi; Aubameyang.
Substitutes: Čech, Elneny, Koscielny, Lacazette, Guendouzi, Willock, Saka.
Scorers: Maitland-Niles
Yellow Cards: Xhaka, Sokratis
Referee: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 53,326
That time again, to stand up and be counted at one of the truly great football stadiums in the world. Of course, we don’t need to be reminded (but it is good to reminisce) about the events of Friday, 26th May 1989, when against the odds, Arsenal beat Liverpool by two goals to none, to chalk up our first championship win since 1971. Who can forget Michael Thomas running through and scoring the winning goal in the very last minute of the match? Let’s hope we can replicate that score here in Liverpool today.
Fat chance of that, I’m afraid. Although we started well, quite brightly it seemed, with a goal in the eleventh minute from Ainsley Maitland-Niles that silenced the Anfield crowd, albeit rather briefly, unfortunately. Alex Iwobi got the better of Andrew Robertson, and sent a low cross over into the Liverpool penalty area, where Ainsley Maitland-Niles run in behind the Reds’ defence to score a well-taken goal. After that it became a sad litany of collapse. Little more than three minutes later, Roberto Firmino equalised, then Sadio Mané got another to increase Liverpool’s lead. We simply turned into marshmallow footballers right throughout the team; by half-time, Liverpool were ascendant, dominant and in control – and they were 4-1 up as well.
Shkodran Mustafi was substituted for Laurent Koscielny after the break, but overall, it never made much difference. Agreed, we did have our chances, but they were very few and far between. After Roberto Firmino completed his hat-trick on 65 minutes, the game had already passed us by. Despite the substitutions of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sead Kolašinac for Alexandre Lacazette along with Mattéo Guendouzi by Mr. Emery within a ten minute period, we couldn’t get any rhythm going throughout the team, and when Michael Oliver blew the final whistle it came as much as a relief as putting a dying animal out of its misery.
This match, more than any other that we have played in the Premiership this season, has truly showed the team up for what they are; good, but nowhere near the powerhouses of Manchester and Liverpool. All the matches of the season where we won (and won well too) such as West Ham United, Fulham, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur mean very little after today. There are some serious issues that Mr. Emery desperately needs to address, and the only way to do that is by signing new players in the January transfer window rapidly; not has-beens or nobodies, but proven, top international class footballers. If the intent is not shown over the next few weeks, then I fear that the rest of the season could be quite a difficult one, after the psychological damage that Liverpool inflicted on us over the course of ninety painful minutes. In the week that we heard about the passing of Peter Hill-Wood, our former chairman whose tenure presided over some of the most brave and progressive decisions in the history of Arsenal Football Club, it seems to be a tragedy worthy of a Shakespearean play that we fell apart so easily and so quickly at Anfield today. Mr. Emery certainly has a mountain to climb with this squad to pick them up, dust them down and start all over again for Tuesday’s home match against Fulham; but make no mistake about it, he has to do it, and quickly too, otherwise we could finish the second half of the season cursing our unfulfilled potential – again. This match could be a turning point for us, pray God let it lead to positive outcomes in the New Year. Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as these early days are going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Victoria Concordia Crescit.
Steve

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon.

Arsenal need a return to 4231 to stand a chance against Liverpool

Leave a reply

In recent games, Unai Emery’s thinking has clearly been a bit muddled.

Faced with a defensive injury crisis and unsure how to fit Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette into the same team, we have seen a chopping and changing of formation and tactics.

We saw this against Brighton where we started with 3 deep lying central midfielders in an attempt to give the leaky defence some cover; and finished with 3 at the back.

With Shkodran Mustafi back in full training and available to start this evenings big game, Emery needs to return to 4 at the back.

Emery must avoid picking the tempting pace over Ainsley Maitland-Niles; and instead stick with the experience of Stephan Lichtsteiner. The message to Lichsteiner should be simple – do not bomb forward.

If the Swiss man stands up Sadio Mane, he wins the battle. If he allows Mane to run in behind him, the game is over. Stay positionally strong.

In defence We must see Mustafi return (if fully fit) alongside Sokratis.

Mustafi can provide the protection to Lichsteiner and the partnership with Sokratis was looking good prior to his injury.

Sead Kolasinac will play left back. Some might see this as a risk as he is so attacking – and facing Mo Salah – but he really is the only option.

Also by Lichsteiner not bombing forward; Kolasinac will be freed up to get forward knowing that there are still 3 back.

Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka must play in the middle of the park.

Liverpool tend not to play through the middle, but they do press high. The pair will give the defenders 2 options when playing out of the back and will enable Arsenal to transition from defence into attack quickly. With those two, Arsenal could dominate the midfield.

The majority of Liverpool’s attacking play comes from the wide positions. Sane and Salah, supported by the full backs.

Due to this Arsenal need to avoid 3412 – which gives very little cover on the flanks. If Emery goes for this, Arsenal will find the ball in behind the wing backs too often; and Kolasinac and Lichsteiner doubled up on too often by Andrew Robertson and whoever plays right back.

Alex Iwobi and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang need to play on the flanks.

This will enable Arsenal to pin back Liverpool’s full backs, whilst also providing cover for Arsenal’s full backs.

I would be tempted to go Iwobi left and Aubameyang right, as Kolasinac will need that bit more cover.

In between the pair Aaron Ramsey should start.

Ramsey’s mobility and work rate will be key. He will be able to press higher – and more consistently – than Mesut Ozil (note: this was written prior to the announcement of Ozil’s “injury”). He will be able to put pressure on Fabinho or Georgino Winjaldum. Hopefully stopping them playing those long balls over our full backs.

Alex Lacazette must start up front.

The Frenchman is our best finisher and we need to take advantage of our chances when they come.

So my starting XI:

Leno

Lichsteiner Mustafi Sokratis Kolasinac

Torreira Xhaka

Aubameyang Ramsey Iwobi

Lacazette

Up The Arsenal

Keenos

Half-way through: How is Unai Emery performing?

Leave a reply

19 games in; we are half way through the season. Won 11, drawn 5, lost 3. So how is Unai Emery getting on?

“Very well” is my simple answer.

He has come in for some criticism in recent weeks after a couple of poor displays, but this is from fans who forget that this is a rebuilding season. We surely weren’t expecting him to build a title winning side in 6 months?

A 58% win ratio in the league is not to be sniffed at. It is the first 6 months of the new era.

There has been some brilliance. The 22 game unbeaten run. Some fabulous goals and attacking football.

There have also been some disappointments. The home game v Wolves. The away games against Southampton and Brighton. But in a rebuilding phase, you have to expect some poor results. Just look at Chelsea.

At times Emery has looked a bit muddled. A lot of chopping and changing.

It feels he does not know what his strongest XI is; or what formation he wants to play.

We have seen 433, 4231, 343, 3412 and 4222 this season. He is clearly a man still trying to work things out.

Emery was not helped by pre-season. Missing half his first team who were at the World Cup hampered the progress.

Injuries have then caused him to chop and change. Mainly injuries at the back.

The only time Emery was able to consistently play the same back 4 saw a huge chunk of that unbeaten run happen. Consistency is important at the back and Emery has not been able to have it.

We have played 11 different players in defence this season in a multitude of combinations. You build a team based on a solid foundation and Arsenal have not had that solid foundation this season.

I actually feel the defensive problems has caused Emery to become a little bit negative.

He realises that we are conceding too many, so make the decision the play Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi against Brighton – hoping that they would give the side more defensive cover.

Against Liverpool maybe he should go the other way? Go all out attack. See if we can outscore the Premier league leaders.

Liverpool doing well is actually a positive for Arsenal.

Yes, if they win the league we will see the media go OTT, that Liverpool fan in the office who never go’s celebrating, and it will be annoying. But what it will show is that with good coaching, staying loyal to that coach, and good recruitment, you can build a title challenging team.

That is what Arsenal and the fans need to keep an eye on.

Jurgen Klopp finished 8th in his first season. Before this year, Liverpool’s highest finish under him was 4th. He has yet to win a trophy. But they trusted he was the right man.

It took him 3 seasons to build this team. Emery has had 6 months.

If we finish 4th this season – and 4th must be his minimum target – we will be ahead of where Liverpool were when they invested in Klopp.

Between now and the end of the season we will fail to win games we should win. Emery may continue the battle to find his strongest XI. But that is part of rebuilding.

It is going to take about 6 transfer windows and another £350m to fix our squad.

One reason Emery is struggling is there are so few players in the squad that he trusts. That he believes are the right quality. That will change.

We have already had 2 transfer windows since Sven Mislintat became Head of Recruitment.

In the time we have seen the club sign the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lucas Torreira, Berd Leno, Sokratis and Matteo Guendouzi. All have been fabulous signings.

If we sign similar level players over the next 2 transfer windows, that will be 40% of the squad turned over in 18 months. Emery needs that support.

In the second half of the season we have the Europa League, FA Cup and chasing Chelsea for 4th to look forward too.

Like when building the Shard, you will not see an instant change to London’s skyline. That does not mean work is not happening.

You have the enabling works and the groundwork’s. You can only see these up close. They are the beginning of a building project. And then the foundations go in. Without good foundations the building will collapse.

Arsenal is a bit like that at the moment. We might not see the huge change want straight away, but there is plenty changing.

Emery has got the players fitter, installed a team spirit not seen in a decade. Now he just needs to sort out the foundations of the team. The defence.

I would grade Emery’s first 6 months at Arsenal as an A- Most agreed that a good season would be a return to the top 4. 3rd place would have been an exceptional but realistic finish.

We are in a battle with Chelsea for 4th. We get that and it will be a solid A at the end of the season. Finish 5th and it is a B.

Keenos