'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On a slightly overcast early Saturday afternoon in Manchester, fans wearing the distinct red Arsenal t-shirt trooped into the stately Etihad stadium alongside Manchester City fans. Some of the visiting fans remembered that they had been in Manchester just a little over a month back. That afternoon had been bright and sunny, more reflective of the mood within the Arsenal camp at that time-fresh as they were from defeating Dortmund in Germany. This day in Manchester, once again, the weather gods decided to imitate Arsenal’s mood-which was sombre after the defeat in Napoli.
Trending
However, manager Arsene Wenger arrived brimming with positivity, having set his team a target of defeating City- stating that the pressure was more on City to avoid trailing Arsenal by 9 points after this match. Both he and the visiting fans knew the enormity of the challenge awaiting Arsenal. After all, Etihad had not been kind to visiting teams this season, to put it lightly. But perhaps no one could comprehend at that point that City would smash 6 goals past Wojciech Sceczeny within 90 minutes.
The story of this match is as much about woeful defending from Arsenal as much as intimidating attack from City. Laurent Koscielny uncharacteristically failed to mark Sergio Aguero as the Argentine wonderfully volleyed home after 11 minutes of the start. Alvaro Negredo re-established the lead 6 minutes after Theo Walcott had levelled, the Spaniard also missed out on a chance to double the lead before half-time. City had dominated the 1st half and it was their match to lose.
Arsenal had suffered a major casualty when Laurent Koscielny cut his knee during Negredo’s goal and had to be taken off. Now the leaderless Arsenal defense would be made to look hapless during the 2nd 45 minutes. Indeed it was to resemble a sinking ship being tossed about by a whirling, raging sea storm. The 1st sign was a rare mis-pass from Ozil to Flamini in the 49th minute, when surrounded by two City players near the Arsenal defense. The second half of the mistake was Flamini failing to latch on to the mis-pass with the ball landing safely in Fernandinho’s legs. The Brazilian ran a few yards unchallenged before beautifully curling a long ball into the net to double the home side’s lead. City’s 4th goal in the 68th minute came about when Nacho Monreal unnecessarily fumbled about with the ball instead of passing it resulting in Jesus Navas taking possession and ultimately crossing it for David Silva near the goalpost who made no mistake.
City scored their 5th goal in the dying minutes and this time the culprit was Jack Wilshere who gave the ball away to Yaya Toure near the midfield. Poor man marking and positioning allowed Toure’s cross to meet the unerring Fernandinho. These goals were initiated by terrible moves from Arsenal players- completely avoidable and these were mistakes they had avoided throughout the season. As brilliant as Fernandinho’s effort, Jesus Navas’ s speed and pinpoint cross and again Fernandinho’s finish were, these goals were equally Arsenal’s making. Yaya Toure had similarly gifted the ball away to Aaron Ramsey in the 1st half resulting in a move ending with Walcott’s goal. But defensive generosity was evident more in Arsenal than in City in this game. Wenger’s decision to play Wilshere on the left-flank was a strategy which had been unsuccessfully tried earlier in the season. The lesson should have been learnt then. Instead one had to watch Wilshere failing to check City’s Zabaleta from thrusting forward down the flanks.
Not that everything was negative about the Arsenal performance. Hardly so. The Gunners began the 2nd half with intent, intensity and vigour. Notwithstanding City’s 3rd goal, Arsenal continued to push on, continuously digging in. Within 20 minutes of the 2nd half- by the time Walcott had brought Arsenal to within one goal of City, it was the visitors who controlled 2/3rds of the possession and not in wasteful areas. Their best passage of play came between the 50th and 55th minutes when they came close to scoring thrice, all opportunities involving Olivier Giroud. Jack Wilshere, who had done almost nothing right till then, lofted a beautiful cross from outside the box. Giroud who was a split-second late in anticipating the ball could not get a positive hold on to it and a chance was missed.
A couple of minutes later an Aaron Ramsey throughball found Giroud near the City goalpost. Giroud had only to nudge the ball leftward beyond goalkeeper Pantilimon towards a waiting Walcott who was most certainly in a great position to score. But this too the overworked striker failed to deliver. The third chance was a breathtaking cross from Bacary Sagna. This time Giroud’s anticipation and positioning were spot-on but he could get little head on the ball. Another goal scoring opportunity had been spurned. Finally the relentless Gunners were rewarded in the 62nd minute when a well-controlled chip from Ramsey found Walcott on the left-edge of the box. With great precision, the ball was fired into the right corner of the net. After City scored a 4th time 5 minutes later, the Gunners could no longer control the game despite creating three realistic chances- one a blocked attempt by Pantilimon off a Wilshere shot, a disallowed Nicklas Bendtner goal and a Sagna cross which was converted by Mertesacker. Even their bitterest critic will give them credit for continuing their pursuit till the very end.
Despite the humiliation suffered, Arsenal should not leave room for despondency. Perhaps the result has come at the right time- on the eve of the New Year and the start of the month long transfer window. Arsene Wenger will have to cop a share of the blame for failing to prioritise defensive strength. Not since the departure of Sol Campbell has the Arsenal defense looked like withstanding fierce onslaughts. The successful pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker has finally given an air of solidity this season but Saturday’s result has once again provoked the doubters. The lack of bench strength in this area as also the absence of cover for Giroud is all too evident. These deficiencies must be urgently addressed in the transfer window. Also, Wenger must consider getting players on loan to cover up the weaker areas.
Still, Arsenal can take credit for having survived a difficult group in the Champions League and sitting top of the Premier league 4 months into the season. The picture can change dramatically towards the new year and even further down the line. But Arsenal’s present status as Premier League leaders is no accident. The attacking prowess of the team is still intact. The side has displayed greater steel and resolve compared to previous seasons, Saturday’s drubbing notwithstanding. And they have in Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott two helmsmen who can change the course of any game by their individual brilliance. The versatile Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and the explosive Lukas Podolski are yet awaiting return. The possibilities are still open. If the Gunners can add an exterior of steel and ruthlessness to the interior of beautiful link-up play, they might just walk into doors of opportunity.
