Posted by The Team
Arsenal made two changes to the side that faced Norwich last Sunday, but didn’t alter the shape, playing a 4-2-3-1 for the entirety of the game.
When Nicolas Pépé came on to start the second half, Ozil shifted inside to the #10 role. Martinelli’s introduction allowed Aubameyang to move to the #9.
The Game
I can’t think of a worse Arsenal performance since the 8-2 loss away to Manchester United nearly a decade ago, all things considered.
After sacking Unai Emery, everything was supposed to be different. The Spanish manager had been holding Arsenal back by tinkering with the lineup on a weekly basis, confusing the players with his poor English, and worse man management. His removal was the first step towards what would hopefully be a short road back to Premier League relevance.
Two games into the Freddie Ljungberg era, it’s clear that Emery was far from the only issue at the Emirates.
Arsenal have been outshot before. They practically made a habit of it during Emery’s 18 months in charge. But for the first time that I can remember, Arsenal were also out-possessed by a team fighting against relegation.
If things don’t turn around quickly, Arsenal might be joining them. The Gunners have picked up 19 points from 15 games, one more than the team that just beat them, and the same as Newcastle and Sheffield United, They’re on pace to finish the season with 48 points, their lowest output since 1978-79 when wins were only worth two.
Prior to kickoff the Telegraph reported that Arsenal had begun interviewing candidates to take over full time. They’d better hurry. Arsenal’s top four chances are surely gone, but they could still back-door their way into the Champions League by winning the Europa League. If they qualify for the knockout stages, that is. They’ll need a point away to Standard Liege next week; no guarantee on current form.
Let’s see the chart…
It’s not pretty. Arsenal put up a collective -22, with three players (Xhaka, Luiz, and and Bellerin) putting up -9 or worse.
Ozil earned -8.
Watch his defending here (#10, to the top of the GIF):
He’s in position to defend the Brighton CM, but inexplicably jogs towards the ball, forcing Xhaka to come off his man. The result is a pass to the newly vacated area, and Brighton advancing the ball into the Arsenal third.
He’s in the team because of his ability to unlock defenses on the other end of the pitch, but he put up a -4 offensive score to go along with his -4 defensive one:
There’s so much wrong with Arsenal at the moment, it’s almost not even worth pointing out individual players. I mean, what’s even the point?
These sequences are happening against Brighton, a team that might not even finish in the top six in the Championship. For a team favored to finish the Premier League season in the top four, it couldn’t be going worse.
Were there any positives?
Just one, I think. Nicolas Pépé.
His +5 amounted to the highest score of any Arsenal player on the day, despite playing only half the game.
He’s had no trouble beating players 1v1 this season, but the ball into Aubameyang here represents the first time he’s been able to finish a play off. Aubameyang should score.
I think he’s done enough to start on Monday.
What does it mean for West Ham?
I understand why Ljungberg keeps selecting Lacazette and Aubameyang together, but doing so removes the balance from the side. Lacazette’s recent performance don’t justify playing Arsenal’s best player out of position, and hopefully the manager’s learned his lesson.
I have similar thoughts on Joe Willock’s inclusion as the #10. Two games into Ljungberg’s reign the teenager has been among the worst performers in the team. His athleticism allows Arsenal to press better, at least in theory, but the Gunners were markedly better when Pépé came on for him in the second half.
The bottom line: For the love of God Freddie, pick your best players!
Prediction: West Ham 2 – 3 Arsenal