The typical Feb or Mar meltdown is in full force in April. Christ. In the league, 2 wins and 4 losses this month. Arsenal usually crashes out of Europe at the same time, so Valencia will probably put 6+ on Arsenal over 2 legs.
The last few games are a good reason why we need to move on from Ramsey. When he's on, he is the engine of our team. But he's been injured far too often and when he's out, we can struggle. The only difference between this year and years past, he made it longer in the season before picking something up. Typically he's out earlier and comes back around this time to lead us to making top 4 or an FA cup. I understand we need plenty of signings, but Emery still needs to do better with the squad. Great managers are able to pull something out of their players when the going gets tough.
Personally I ain't that mad. For one I said after the Palace loss that I didn't expect Arsenal to win any of these last 4 road games. They're in a mental rut epitomized by lack of defensive resolution. Coaching could help this but lack of quality players is the biggest issue here, I feel. The other thing is I think the ref sank Arsenal today. Not only were the yellows against AMN harsh and directly affected the match but he also was pretty inconsistent in managing physical play. Torreira was visibly frustrated with this aspect because he was victimized often with no calls for the kind of stuff that got AMN yellow. Could Emery be doing better during this stretch? Arguably, but at this stage in the season how much can you get differently out of Xhaka, Mustafi, Guendo, etc? (Though credit due I thought Granit has tried to be a leader on the pitch lately.) Bottom line, today wasn't one to decide the table position as much as the lost points vs Palace or at S***s. I'm disappointed but not angry.
Losing this league game is perhaps not the biggest thing. But its impact on Thursday's semifinal first leg is my big concern.
Mate, the only league game we've scored more than 1 league goal in our last 5 was at home against Palace, when they were already up 2. Defense isn't our only issue. As bad as it has been, our offense is also at fault. This is what is frustrating, when the different aspects of a team are all failing together. That falls on the manager as much as the players.
In the first half, most of which AMN played, Arsenal completed 61 percent of their passes and had about 30 percent possession. They had a similar performance away to Napoli, except they didn't go down a man and thus were able to weather the onslaught. If this is tactical genius, I fail to see it. I'd rather Arsenal lose to Wolves away while completing 85% of their passes to go with 70% possession, than to lose to Leicester while completing 65% of their passes to go with 33% possession. Arsenal don't have the personnel to consistently be successful playing conservatively on the road.
Play 2 strikers can't score, play 5 defenders and defensive midfielders can't defend. Can't pass, can't shoot, can't defend. The whole team has completely quit.
And when Emery subbed a forward off, it was Lacazette, who with an 89% pass completion rate, was the only starter to complete more than 72% of his passes and who had 3 or Arsenal's 6 shots to Aubameyang's 0 shots. I understand that Emery was hoping Aubameyang would pull a Vardy and outrun the defense on a counter attack. But he's done less of that this year than I expected he would.
So Chelsea and ManU drew so now we know essentially what has to happen for Arsenal to get top 4: - ManU has Huddersfield and Cardiff remaining, so even with their woes I can't see United losing or drawing either. Thus, Arsenal needs to win both remaining matches. - We'll need Chelsea to either lose once or draw and hope to beat them by goal differential. Best odds of that are Chelsea's match with Leicester. Technically still possible but dependent on some significant help.
the home loss to Palace remains the epic blunder - these road games were already going to be difficult for this team
We hired a poor man's Rafa. Leicester City vs Arsenal Running xGThe less said the better for right now pic.twitter.com/iI9fMYJ3EO— Scott Willis (@scottjwillis) April 28, 2019 YIKES
You might be insulting Rafa, Newcastle beat Leicester City at King Power Stadium two weeks ago, with a defense that was much better organized than Arsenal's was today.
Lacazette actually completed more passes than Sokratis and Mustafi, one fewer pass than Torreira and two fewer than Kolasinac.
I don't know what Emery does. At the bare minimum, a new manager is supposed to improve the team. No one can honestly say that this team that is on the cusp of giving up 50 goals this season has improved. I didnt realize we lost more games this season than we won. edit: I didn't realize we lost more games this season than we lost last season.