On one hand, we find ourselves in third spot – only goal difference keeping us off second – ten games into the season.
On the other hand, it exposed our true ability to compete. Lying first on the table, Arsenal are objectively the toughest test in the Premier League. It was a difficult task going in and it was one that we did not cope at all well with.
Our formation was the typical 3-5-2 that we have opted for in recent weeks. For a team with three bodies in the middle, we did not at all keep the ball well. This is an issue that has plagued our season thus far, even in games we’ve won with ease.
There was no sign of pressing, or effective marking, of Arsenal’s midfield. We didn’t seem to sit back properly either, and there were many occasions where Arsenal played one-twos and ran rings around us.
When we had the ball, there seemed to be no counter-attacking plan in place, and the movement of the strikers was sub-par on the day.
Arsenal’s defence, in the first half, had very little compactness and were there to be gotten at. Indecisive passing and an apparent lack of strategy meant we did not use this space whatsoever.
The introduction of Phillipe Coutinho at half time added some creative spark, but it was too late as Arsenal seemed a lot more conservative in the second half.
Overall, it was a poor show from each and every player. Gerrard and Lucas continue to be a rather lethargic central duo, with very little invention on the ball or willingness to press. The central midfield also completely loses itself when Henderson is moved – something we saw yet again when he went on the right wing after half time.
The defence seemed incoherent and were not their usual selves. Kolo Toure looked as if the pressure had gotten to him and made a few errors. Whilst Flanagan operated our right flank admirably, we once again felt the hit of not having Johnson. Once again I can go on about our lack of suitable replacements.
The loss showed us that we still have work to do if we want to challenge for the title. To put it bluntly, we were outclassed by Arsenal. To add insult to injury, our performance was completely listless.
These issues with the team – especially with the midfield – are very concerning. We have seen these issues in every game so far this season, and if we aim to make a real push for top four, we have to account for some weak points.
We should not lose sight of our ambition this season. To finish in the top four would be a huge achievement in light of the past few seasons. Seeing that we find ourselves in there at this stage of the season shows that the early wins was no mere flash in the pan. All we have to do now is accept this loss as a battering from a superior team, re-assess, and focus on picking up points against teams that we should be beating.
The next five games are Fulham, Everton, Hull, Norwich, and West Ham. These five are very much winnable games and will test our ability to bounce back.
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