Arsenal’s performance in the 3–0 loss to Crystal Palace was one of the worst in Arsene Wenger’s 21-year reign at the club. The Gunners lacked structure and defensive discipline, and it seemed that a team with just 24 hours’ rest from their Europa League triumph last Thursday could not muster enough energy to compete with Crystal Palace on Saturday. Mikel Arteta apologized to fans after the loss, which dropped Arsenal to fifth place in the Premier League table, below 8Xbet define about Crystal Palace and Everton, who have lost just once so far this season.
Why The Lineup Was Unusual
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was dealt a massive blow, losing Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to injury, which forced Wenger into making five changes in his starting lineup. One such change was allowing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who normally occupies a defensive position for Arsenal, step into Sanchez’s role as central striker. Unfortunately for Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arsenal supporters, Chamberlain couldn’t execute properly in that position. He had zero shots on goal, zero key passes (passes leading directly to a shot), and only completed one pass within 15 yards of goal. On top of that, he also lost possession nine times during play. It was an uncharacteristically poor performance from Chamberlain; perhaps he just wasn’t suited for playing in an advanced position.
Why The Substitutions Didn’t Work
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is renowned for his savvy substitutions, made three at half-time. But one substitution backfired; another was ineffective, and a third wasn’t enough. Rather than bolstering Arsenal’s struggling offense by bringing on a goalscorer to replace midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in order to bring some pace down Arsenal’s right side against Crystal Palace’s overmatched defense, Wenger replaced Santi Cazorla with Olivier Giroud as an ineffective strike partner for Alexis Sanchez. After an hour of play, it became clear that Arsenal needed more width from their left wing if they were going to break through Palace’s defense, which looked like it had been drawn up specifically to stifle them. Instead of switching tactics or personnel, Wenger brought on Mohamed Elneny for Aaron Ramsey — and moved Mathieu Flamini into midfield alongside Francis Coquelin — effectively turning what had been a 4–4–2 into a 4–5–1 formation.
What Next?
While that may seem like a foregone conclusion, most fans don’t have insight into Wenger’s thought process. The Arsenal manager must know that he’s running out of time and if he doesn’t get his team on track soon, he may lose his job. If he does leave, it will be interesting to see who takes over as head coach. Former captain Mikel Arteta has been linked with taking over for Wenger in recent weeks and while there is no denying his credentials — Arteta was an integral part of Arsenal’s success in recent years — he hasn’t managed at any level before. It would certainly be an interesting choice for whoever is making them…
