'%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)
Arsenal have been in awful away form recently and that continued at Goodison Park on Sunday. Phil Jagielka was not supposed to start for the Toffees but he started and scored the only goal of the match much to the dislike of the Arsenal fans. Arsenal again slipped back to fourth in the table and are behind rivals Tottenham.
At home, Unai Emery’s side have collected 44 points from 17 matches but it is away from home that they have suffered and lost important chances to seal a place in the top 4. Away from home, Arsenal are 10th best in the Premier League and have not kept a single clean sheet. Of Arsenal’s remaining six matches, four will be played away and it seems difficult for Unai Emery’s men to make the no 4 position their own.
Here are the three reasons why they lost to Everton.
#1. Lack of appetite
Arsenal’s history is full of matches where they looked destined to win due to current form but somehow did not turn up for the match. Same happened yesterday. The forward line of Lacazette, Ozil, and Mkhitaryan looked completely disjointed and there was no coordination with the midfield. Arsenal are badly missing Lucas Torreira and lack of legs in midfield was the reason they were out run by the Everton midfielders.
Ozil tried hard but did not have players who would anticipate his timely pass and start running. Aubameyang’s absence had no reason and it is a pity that the highest goal scorer for the Gunners is not a regular starter anymore. Ramsey’s inclusion in the second half did give Arsenal the much needed energy but by then Everton had got the clue about how to keep the Gunners quiet. A bit more urgency, especially from the front three would have benefited Arsenal and maybe even enticed a few mistakes from Everton.
#2. Ineffective midfield
Emery was missing midfielders Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira due to different reasons and that created a vacuum in the midfield. Matteo Guendouzi and Mohamed Elneny are good runners but are not creative enough to play quick passes and that meant that the Everton midfielders were always on their toes giving them very less time to play a pass.
Aaron Ramsey had a calf injury and that meant he was not included in the starting lineup. Torreira will be back for Arsenal against Napoli but Xhaka’s return is still a doubt. For people who have been vocal about Elneny’s inclusion in the team, they got a perfect answer that he is just another squad player and the Gunners should not expect something extraordinary from him. Andre Gomes and Idrissa Gueye were simply outstanding and played according to the plan of stifling Arsenal for space. Marco Silva's team did not allow Arsenal to play its free flowing football.
#3. Poor day for the wing-backs
Sead Kolasinac has had a resurgent career under Unai Emery. He has been the assist provider from the left but his crosses were pathetic against Everton and never did he find his feet to deliver good crosses. His understanding with Ozil also lacked momentum and the passes were too slow to create any good chances.
On the right, Ainsley Maitland Niles, was constantly under pressure from Lucas Digne and so he was not operating on full throttle but still he had a few opportunities to put in good crosses for Lacazette. He failed to do so and he lost the ball too many times in crucial areas. Emery’s brand of football relies heavily on the wing backs performing well and it is to be seen how both of them comeback against Watford and Wolves. Hector Bellerin’s absence is giving Unai less options to try out but given his coaching methods he will surely find a way out.
