Good greetings all,
Fresh from the weekend's fixtures, if you know me, I am of the Arsenal persuasion. Immediately the whistle was blown to end that away match versus Sunderland, you could see the disappointment in the faces of the Arsenal players. A 2-all draw felt much more like points lost than a point gained.
So, why is Mikel Arteta's name in the heading of this blog? Well, it's because he is the chief character to blame for this result.
A Real Madrid fan wrote this immediately after the match–
"When you sit back like that, you give complete momentum to the other team and leave yourself up for the killing. Na wetin happen there[That's what happened there].
I saw Arteta gesturing to his players to come out and press"
I replied to him, "But you set them up to disobey you, when you bring in a defender."
In the 86th minute of this game I posted somewhere expressing concern about bringing in only Mosquera. I said Arteta could give Sunderland the mindset to attack with that sub. Few minutes later, Sunderland scored and I went back there and said, I interprete –
"It's alright, I said it. Don't do a substitution that emboldens your opponent.
What are you afraid of? You have pacy players on the bench, take out Merino and put pressure on that [opposition]defence.
No way this match should end in a draw."
I repeat, there's no way that match should end in a draw.
This Mosquera ONLY substitution, is Arteta in his first two seasons in Arsenal, always seeking to protect a lead by bringing in Rob Holding or any other defensive substitution. I hated it then becsuse, I knew there were choices on the bench.
On Saturday, Arteta also had choices on the bench versus Sunderland! Those guys on the bench have been trained well enough to do a job.
If you must bring in Mosquera, RESPECT YOUR OPPONENTS ENOUGH and also bring in pace.
Nwaneri has pace and could have come in for either Merino or Saka, who was tiring too.
That way, you keep pressing them, making it more difficult for them to attack. That you are a side that is a genius in defending, doesn't mean you should become overly confident. Respect your opponent!
Clearly, Arsenal’s press was weakening before Mosquera came in. It's expected, the game was hectic. People like Adingra had just come in as subs, so they were set to attack obviously.
Two things:
You give a psychological advantage to the other side bringing in only a defender.
Pressing is surely part of defending, so as you bring in a defender, beckon on an attacker on the bench to join in. Trossard was a busy bee, leave him on.
Merino or Saka should go off. YOU HAD ATTACKERS ON THE BENCH WHO HAD PACE.
SIMPLE.
Even a Norgaard was on the bench to replace a tiring Zubimendi.
Don't be overly confident, just because you are so good at defending, forgetting that pressing is part of defending. If the right thing was done, no one will be talking about Raya or Gabriel as being at fault for Sunderland's equaliser.
I conclude that it's just a bad day in the office for Arteta, not a norm. No cause for alarm.
Thanks for reading.