Hm. This was not the script I was handed. I had been led to believe that RC Lens, having sold talismanic striker Openda and stalward defender Fofana, would simply roll over for us. Instead, we seemed to do the rolling over despite Arteta naming a squad as close to full strength as he could. Lens were brighter, more incisive, and more determined throughout the match, fueled on by a boisterous, roiling atmosphere. Even after jesus’s opener, the home crowd inspired their lads through relentless chants and cheers. The atmosphere was really quite something, and we just weren’t up to the task. Losing Saka after just 34 minutes was far from ideal. We were so desperate for an equaliser that Raya joined the fray for two corner kicks in stoppage time. Feck. Well, let’s rate the lads.
When will Arteta give Kiwior an opportunity at LB. Zinchenko didn’t have the pace and lost possession at least 3 times. Our left side was vulnerable from kick off. It was clearly visible before the second lens goal that our left side was struggling in defence midfield and attack. Really poor tactical and personel decisions from Mikel tonight.
tough but fair. Zinchenko is very good getting up the pitch, but he’s always been suspect at the back. It might have been wiser to play more cautiously in such a hostile environment, at least from the start. Kiwior has shown himself to be an adept defender, but maybe Arteta didn’t anticipate the need for that skillset. Subbingt White in late on felt like too little, too late.
It looked to me as though the Lens player who intercepted Raya’s throw to Tomi, controlled the ball with his upper left arm.
Which I now understand is quite legal.😜
Legal or not, it was sloppy from us all around. We really have to tighten up because we’re conceding too many easy goals from our own mistakes like this.
They wanted it more and on the night were a better team. A good wake up call.
Aye, the energy inside the stadium was electric. Their fans were definitely up for it, and they earned this one by being the better side. They’re far better than their current Ligue 1 position suggests.
Jon, was it really?!?
I suggested in my preview that this had the potential to be a banana-peel. While they’re barely keeping their heads about the relegation zone waters, they’re not that far from the side that finished second to PSG last season. I don’t think we underestimated them (Arteta’s XI suggests that we didn’t), but we didn’t have any answers for their energy. We could point to the absences of Partey & Martinelli, plus the knock that Saka took, as excuses, but we really didn’t look like we were going to win this one. Even the goal we scored was fortunate, a result of a clever interception from Saka rather than from us outplaying them. In the end, the result isn’t fatal. Saka’s fitness might be the bigger concern what with Man City’s visit to the Emirates on Sunday.
I have only seen the highlights or, rather, the low-lights, but this does seem as result of a number of factors none of them good when looking forward:
1) Underestimating the opponent even while fielding a very good side (maybe the kids might have tried harder and expended ore energy?); 2) An opponent that wanted it (victory) more, which is not a good sign for a side that should be composed of professionals; 3) weaknesses that have been and may continue to be exposed; 4) An injury that could have been avoided by allowing the player to rest even if replacements might have been weaker; 5) A squad that may still be thinner than we anticipated or expected this year.
Thus the questions: a) Given that we have MC this weekend, might it been better to risk playing some of those on the bench and accept a possible loss (which happened anyway) and allow those you need to have a full week of rest? b) While we are short due to critical injuries to some “starters” we also knew we had CL plus various cups to play for aside from the PL. Did we, in fact, assemble a squad capable of that schedule and grind?
some good points P43, but when you properly ignore all the usual nonsense being spewed by his most ardent admirers, some simple truths emerge:
(1) MA’s still a one trick pony, who has neither the tactical nous nor the requisite hiring practices required…how many times must he be outmanaged by supposed lesser lights before this finally sinks in?…somehow he’s spent another 200+M yet we’re a lesser side for it
(2) we’re hardly a deeper squad than last year, except in goal and at the DM position, if and when Partey’s fully healthy…we signed absolutely no one of consequence up top, instead he opted to re-up Nelson, who he doesn’t trust, rightly or wrongly, and retain depth pieces like Vieira and Tross, who are being deployed in a nonsensical manner, like today…don’t even get me started on what might have been had he not wasted 70M on another one of Cheksea’s sloppy seconds…we needed someone who could pick a pass in the final third and/or clinically finish, instead he thirstily wooed someone who has neither in his toolbox…does this unbridled arrogance remind you of anyone? I’ll give you a hint, it rhymes with Farsene Fenger