As defeats go, a 3-1 away defeat is bad enough but when you consider it is to a mid-table side Ligue 1, it’s even more annoying. The main reason for this defeat was the dismissal of Sokratis, who on a yellow card went ploughing into Sarr and off he went. However, there were other factors that were evident for all to see.
The amount of careless free kicks given away in the Gunners own half in key positions, was always likely to catch up with them. There’s no excuse for three things at this level, sloppy play, lack of concentration and the inability to take chances and Arsenal were guilty of all three.
It all looked so good in the early stages and the Emirates club were given a dream start. Just 4 minutes in and Iwobi received a ball from a useful exchange involving Xhaka and Monreal. He turned and offered a low curling cross, come shot, which deceived everyone and ended up in the back of the net.
From that point Arsenal looked good for two or three, with Ozil finding space at will, Iwobi leading the French defenders a merry dance and Aubameyang appearing in the right places. Around the 33rd minute Sokratis tangled with Ben Arfa and earned his first booking, within another 7 he’d be out of the game altogether and the Gunners would have to swap personnel to stop the rolling tide.
Emery wasn’t to know but his adjustments wouldn’t work and his side seemed intent on crumbling under pressure. The Sokratis sending-off free kick was taken by Bourigeaud. It was an innocuous effort that went straight into the wall but then came back to him.
Danger over or so it seemed. His second effort was a right-footed scorcher that flew into the top left corner and even if Cech had a twin minding goal with him, neither would have been able to keep this rasping effort out.
At this point, Arsenal still tried to make a game if it, Ozil manufactured some space and picked out Aubameyang, who quickly realised Mkhitaryan was the better option but the Armenian fired over from distance. It was quite bizarre from that point, Mkhitaryan somehow drifted into the right back position. It’s not clear if it was his own decision or Emery’s but it was a bad call.
Half time and 1-1 wasn’t a total disaster, all Emery had to decide was how best to play out the remaining 45 minutes. My own preferred option was to park the bus and hope that Aubameyang could be fed the occasional ball to score another. At kick off, it was noticeable that Mkhitaryan was still at right back when surely Xhaka would have been a better option if all felt disjointed and inevitable.
Rennes obviously sensed that the reconfiguration and player shortage, would be to their advantage and looked purposeful and energised with Zeffane, Ben Arfa and Bourigeaud fancying the job at hand. Guendouzi was drafted into battle at the expense of Iwobi, who had been Arsenal’s biggest threat and best player up to that point.
Then Sarr began to find his game, tearing down the right as if he was fuelled by the wind, placing the fear of God in the heart of Arsenal’s defence. Only Koscielny looked as if he could cope with the brewing onslaught. On 59 minutes, Cech was required to make a save from the emerging threat of Sarr. It looked more likely at this point that the veteran keeper would be much busier than expected and one just hoped it was one of his better performances.
The pressure had been mounting and Arsenal were starting to look slightly ragged, with Mkhitaryan having been turned inside out and Monreal off the pace. It was almost inevitable that another goal was coming and in the 65th minute, the North London club assisted Rennes in every respect to increase the deficit. Bensebaini hit a directionless ball forward which it appeared the Arsenal players thought would go out of play.
Zeffane gave chase and whipped in a dangerous looking cross from the right which deflected off Monreal and past Cech. The big keeper would have more luck from Ben Arfa minutes later after a failed Mustafi clearance. It came at the shot-stopper from a good 20 yards out and was destined for the left corner but Cech showed his class with a sprawling, fingertip save.
Ramsey came on for Ozil. Who due to the changes wasn’t getting the opportunities or space that he had before Rennes equaliser and there was a growing feeling that Arsenal just weren’t capable of damage limitation?. Arsenal had been giving away free kicks all night long and had taken to surrendering space with every attack. 2-1 wouldn’t have been that bad a result considering but if it were more than that, it could make for uncomfortable viewing at the Emirates.
Then in the 79th minute, Emery made his last bid to keep things heading in the right direction by replacing an out of salts Aubameyang with Kolasinac but it would count for nothing. Silicki surged forward and provided the perfect cross for the unmarked Sarr who powered the ball past Cech. It was no more than the Rennes player deserved for all his commitment and endeavour and Arsenal now have it all to do at the Emirates where two goals are the minimum requirement without reply but with no Sokratis, that job may be even more difficult than usual.
