Many reporters and football
pundits will feel vindicated by the demolition of Arsenal at Anfield today,
affirming their claims that the Gunners just aren’t good enough to win the
title this season. In fact, the 5-1 score line might have been kind to a
Gunners team that was out of the contest after the worst 20 minutes they have
played since the infamous 4-4 draw with Newcastle three seasons ago. The destruction
started in the very first minute, when a soft Mertesacker foul on Suarez led to
a Gerard free kick that was shinned in by Skrtel from point-blank range (though
he may have been marginally offsides). Skrtel then came up big a few minutes
later with a clearance on a dangerous Arsenal attack before scoring his second
from a corner in the 10th minute; where Liverpool appeared to create
space for him with a double screen through the middle. Sturridge almost made it
3 nil a minute later before Sterling did just that in the 16th
minute, when Ozil was dispossessed by Henderson in what could have been a foul,
before pushing it forward to Suarez who laid a perfect cross through for a tap
in. Four minutes later the contest was beyond doubt as a steal of an Ozil pass
led to a counter that Sturridge finished.
The second half wasn’t much
better for Arsenal, though they scorned a few chances to make a game of it in
the early going. In the 51st minute, the embarrassment was made
worse by another counter attack goal with Raheem Sterling making it count after
having his first shot saved by Szczesny. Wenger made a triple switch in the 60th
minute, bringing in Podolski for Giroud, Rosicky for Ozil and Gibbs for
Monreal. Nine minutes later Arsenal finally got on the scoreboard, after
Gerrard fouled Ox in the box and Arteta but the penalty kick away down the
middle.
The game again showed that
possession alone means little, as Arsenal actually had 59 percent for the game,
even as they were outshot 21 to 11 (and 12 to 6 on target). The only good news
for the deflated Gunners was a bizarre 0-0 draw for Man City, who have gone two
full games without a goal, at Norwich. But Chelsea did win convincingly 3-0 and
now head the table by a point. Even as people continue to claim City are the
favorites, I start to wonder if Mourinho might not complete his return to
England with a title. My three thoughts on the game …
1. Set Pieces and Errors: I mentioned
in my last post the fact that Arsenal led the league by many measures this
season, even if Chelsea had let in one fewer goals until today. But where
Arsenal also lead the EPL is in goals conceded from set pieces. And that record
was padded today, as the first two Liverpool goals were on a free kick and
corner. In fact, serious questions must still be asked of zonal marking and its
failures. It has gotten more popular in recent years, but its success rate is
certainly open to debate. The other category that Arsenal lead in is goals off
errors, and while they have done better in this regard the past year, errors
have been behind most of the goals in the 6-3 and 5-1 losses to City and
Liverpool. The game also saw the Mertesacker-Koscielny unbeaten streak end,
going all the way back to January of 2012. Arsenal needs to restore order
quickly at home if they are to beat the worst Manchester United team in recent
memory.
2. Record Against the Top Six:
Arsenal had the best record in the EPL in the last calendar year, but that
included a less than stellar record against the top six. This season, they
might be running away with the title if they had done better against them so
far. There was the late conceded goal to only secure a draw against Everton,
the 1-0 loss to United, the 6-3 thrashing at City, the dour 0-0 draw against Chelsea
in the rain and now the destruction at Anfield. They did have the early
victories over this same Liverpool team and Tottenham, but they will need to do
better in their remaining games against City, Chelsea, United and Everton if
they are to have any chance. Ramsey and Flamini should be back for all of those
contests save United, but others will have to step up and find the confidence
to perform at their best.
3. Ozil Failures: I have been
taking it relatively easy on the German, largely making light of the drop in
form he has been suffering through for a couple of months now. But today was a
horror show and two of his errors led directly to Liverpool goals. Watching him
give up the ball and then jog slowly back is bad enough, but he seems to become
a very average player when pressed up the pitch and seems immune to the notion
that he can actually take a shot inside the box. I expect he will settle back
in, but the Gunners need that to happen now, as they could see their title bid
all but disappear if they don’t comeback quickly from this setback.
Next up is Manchester United
at the Emirates on Wednesday, and the Gunners need to show that they can beat
teams near the top of the table if they want to win the title for the first
time in a decade. Let’s hope they rebound quickly (us fans that is) …
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