Sam Allardyce is big on tactics and those meticulous preparations are normally rewarded handsomely against the Premiership elite. Arsenal’s capitulation to a resurgent Swansea highlighted the Gunners defensive frailties, which then became a template for Everton’s visit to the Emirates.
Yes, he was correct, the North London outfit are prone to incredible and mystifying lapses at the back but in a game of tactics versus talent, Everton came a very poor second. It’s early days, much too early to examine the merits and potential of Arsenal’s attacking prowess but the signs look incredibly good.
Mkhitaryan seemed to be a completely different player in the Gunners strip and provided three assists in a single game and in doing so, took the pressure off Ozil, which allowed the German greater creative freedom.
Ramsey was able to penetrate a limp toffees defence with his typical late runs into the box and the threat of Aubameyang did the rest. If Wenger is courageous enough to play both Lacazette and Aubameyang in the future, it may prove to be a potent combination but for now, we just have to concentrate on the promise of an exciting end to an otherwise patchy season.
The team didn’t miss Sanchez, not one bit and he may have been a major distraction that hindered any idea of progress in this topsy turvy campaign. The team seemed to enjoy his absence and the focus that was attached to him earlier on and they settled into an incisive attacking unit.
How big Sam must have regretted dissecting Arsenal’s obvious frailty at the back whilst ignoring their attacking edge. After the game, the Everton manager was literally seething with his players but he must accept that even if they had played 8 at the back, his team may well have ended up with the same result.
It was always going to be a risk trying to impersonate a Swansea side that are fighting for survival and performed as such. Everton are neither in danger of the drop nor are they about to challenge for a top four spot and its those games that appear to offer little incentive that can do the most damage.
For all Everton’s faults, we shouldn’t just deduce that Arsenal played a team that was poor, but instead, we should look at how Arsenal managed to win the game in 45 minutes. They were cutting, decisive and focused and looked like they might score every time they went forward.
The end score line could have been much higher if they had just been slightly more clinical but let’s not forget that they were coming back from a surprising and dispiriting loss and that this win is a shot in the arm. The only blip in this performance was their inability to add to the total significantly and keep a clean sheet in the process but Petr Čech looks totally out of salts and unusually unstable.
His gaff at Swansea was nothing short of amateurish and must be a source of embarrassment . He has never looked so clumsy and vulnerable and it’s hard to know if he is past his sell by date or is suffering because of the lack of cover. Either way, Arsenal will be adding to the squad in the summer with at least two additions as Wenger plots to get back on terms with the competition and if he were looking ahead, a goalkeeper should now be included on his wish list.
The Carabao cup final is not far away and at least we look like we could pose problems for the Premier League leaders. City and Arsenal are attacking teams, they know nothing else and can’t play any other way which just adds to the excitement of a final that would otherwise be ignored.
