Unai Emery says his side paid the price for not taking their chances as Chelsea overcame the Gunners 3-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Read the report and see the goals here.
The Blues raced to a two-goal lead inside 20 minutes before a stirring comeback from the Gunners saw them reach the break on level terms. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi grabbed goals tidy goals, although the Nigeria international and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also missed other gilt-edged chances.
In the end, Marcus Alonso, so often a thorn in our side, squeezed home a winner with 10 minutes remaining, converting from the impressive Eden Hazard who had come off the bench.
After the game, Emery tried to stay positive, drawing attention to the fact that his central midfielders that ended the game, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira, are still very young.
“You win or you lose and we lost,” he told BT Sport. “The result is important. It’s one process. Today, in the first half we started doing, for moments, creating chances to score. And for that, I am happy.
“Our reaction was very good and we had chances to make it 2-2 and we deserved to do more by half time. Half time is good for us, the second half we need to continue this control and to create chances.
“The second half we didn’t push, didn’t keep possession like the first half. We gave them options to score.
“We also had three good chances to score, didn’t do it and they did. It’s one process, our process.
“The second half we played with two midfielders, 19 and 22-years-old. They will improve. They have experience from this.
“Outside of the result, I am happy with this process.”
It leaves the Spaniard with 0 points from his first two games, and although the quality of the opposition is a significant factor, it leaves him under a bit more pressure ahead of next week’s London derby against West Ham.
Sounds a lot like “we showed good character to come back”
Not sure what he can really be happy about. OK we created chances in the first half and finally took them. At 2-2 I was happy we’d come back but overall we’d been poor. Defensively liable and without a functioning midfield. After about five minutes of the second half we began to sit back. I was happy Torreira came out but I wonder whether he was that effective. That aside, what is Emery happy about? Under the press, we can’t pass out from the back. And that is not alone Cech’s fault. We don’t effectively press further up the field… Read more »
There was a bit in the middle of the game I was pretty happy with.
The rest of the time it looked a bit too much like a bunch of guys running around doing stuff individually rather than a coordinated effort.
The fact that we didn’t totally fall apart is something.
It’s going to take time. Remember city at first when pep took over. However, still worried by the high line…
5 Games.
Sounds harsh but if we want to get something out of this season (say top 4), we need to reverse these very quickly.
No one is waiting for us.
We could have taken some points today. We need to find the right balance quickly and grind some results out over the next matches. It is no guarantee that just bc we are not facing City or Chelsea type opponents next that its a cake walk.
We shouldnt have sat back in the second half. We saw what worked at the end of the first half, attack them more.
Stamina and the fear of our back 4 making more disasters.
It’s hindsight. And also take into account Hazard came on who was the most dangerous player on the pitch. I’m sure if we would have gone gung ho and attacked and conceded people would’ve blamed us for being naive and poor game management. In the big games for quite some time our star players like Ozil, Lacazette, and even Aubemayaung are not pulling their weight. They are not making the difference someone like Hazard, De bruyne, Kane, Salah are making. Even if they are not scoring directly they’re being dangerous enough to put the opposition back and create fear in… Read more »
If you’re lined up to sub, the other team should be saying “oh shit”. Like Hazard. We used to have Giroud who was like that, the late-coming difference-maker.
Ozil is loooooooong past that point. We don’t have any true threats, MAYBE Auba.
Don’t know why this is being voted down.
Aubameyang?
He missed a sitter when missing largely second half.
Not sure why some people laud him as world class or golden boot.
He needs to show for the ball so the defense and Cech can play out directly quicker.
Ask yourself why we don’t have game changers.
Or Wingers.
Recruitment is a massive ISSUE and we have not been entirely buying as well as we should.
Wenger gave the half time talk I suppose.
Obviously not as he would have told them to keep attacking as he always did.
Not to defend all the second half and be guaranteed to lose.
I’m gonna say something really weird here……..
That was good…….no superstars…….just squad members. Sure, there was obvious frustrations, but I think this Manager is going to be good for Arsenal FC.
There were superstars, they just didn’t perform
It was a step forward. Lets not forget this is Chelsea away, and last week we played City which won’t have helped our confidence. If nothing else we played with more guts than we did last season.
If Auba had his shooting boots on we could easily have won.
Also you would expect the team to improve (collectively). Still early days.
Problem defense is a washout. Time to rest Mustafi. Combo with Sokratis isn’t working
Mustafi hardly the weakest link.
If anything, people tend to make excuses for some and heap criticism on others.
Case in point granit.
Granted he was poor and did not add value but Torreira coming on although better positionally was off pace and beaten too many times (dispossessed as well and gave away a free kick at the edge of the box)
Now if that was Granit, people would be critical.
Most people lack objectivity.
Emery subs a player, he’s already improved the team. People forget that this team had the second best home record only behind city last season (15 wins, 2 draws and 2 loses). Even in the away loses, Arsenal was the dominant side in a number of the games.
The lack of objectivity is sickening.
Feel for Emery.
A lot of trashy players on this team.
Bet your ass he won’t accept that.
A coach who benches Xhaka in mid time is worth the chance.
fair point. but why start xhaka in the first place?
Did you watch the game after Xhaka was taken off?
We’re a different team with Xhaka, stop the hate
Quite. I think Torreira’s in his honeymoon period with the fans right now. Not sure why it was such a great substitution – he looked susceptible to the press and most of his passing was either bad or too safe (and he also gave away a needless free-kick in a dangerous position). Not saying Xhaka was up to much, but I didn’t see that it was a massive improvement.
“Stop the hate” my ass. Xhaka is a liability and we’re allowed to criticise our own players here. Some of you are just addicted to mediocrity.
Emery had no choice but to take him off because Xhaka uses yellow cards to cover up the fact that he can’t tackle or press properly. If we were worse in the 2nd half without him, that’s his own damned fault.
There’s a reason for that “honeymoon period”. Lucas is 22, basically had no pre-season and is yet to start a game for Arsenal. Xhaka on the other hand is experienced, on his 3rd season with us and is supposed to be one of the leaders in our team. I’m not one of those who thinks he has nothing to offer the team but he did disappoint in more ways than one today.
Well said Lobsta
I don’t think so. Torreira was cleary better than Xhaka. Already made few crucial interception. Also if you looked carefully, his positioning cuts of passing options for the oppostion midfields. He has an instinct for danger that you can’t really train. More tenacious, agaile and also made good forwards passes. And this is after 2 secons half apperances only. Only area of imporvement for him is getting ahjusted to the pace and pressing of premiere league. He got caught taking too long on the ball Guondouzy has the same problem where he got caught. I guess most players have the… Read more »
Torreira caused the goal.he failed to tracl alonso
Obviously watched a different game from me
No offence, but that also had to do with chelsea especially after bringing on Kovacic, and us finally playing it long from Cech, rather than Xhaka being absent
Xhaka wasn’t great, but he was on the pitch during the periods we were trying to press. 2nd half we really dropped off rather than harry them… and Ozil coming off was a big sign of that.
When Ramsey and Lacazette came on, we finally could hold a bit in the centre when the whole second half had Iwobi doing our best transitions on the left
I’m glad he extended his contract. If we don’t like him we can let him rot in reserves. He himself will force a move. Had it been the other way round then he’d be holding us ransom with a year or two left in the contract.
I love emery for benching him at half time
Xhaka isn’t the problem. We lost control with Ramsey up front and Torreira at the base. My opinion is that Ramseys best seasons has been as a midfielder with a deep laying playmaker behind him: Arteta and Xhaka. I would like to see Iwobi in a midfield three with xhaka and Torreira or Gwen.
not to mention Ozil… good on him
I’m going to reserve judgement on the players (and the manager) until the team has chance to gel and get used to the new way of playing. Also we have a lot of new faces.
These are two of our most difficult fixtures this season. Worst possible start really.
Obviously disappointed with the result, but I’m already excited about the next game. Let’s get behind our manager.
It’s a home game and WH haven’t exactly got off to a flyer.
Basically wr played great football the last 20 minutes of the first half and were poor the rest of the match.
We will be in trouble until we get two center backs with pace. Ours are too slow. And not all that good. Not sure why that wasn’t our first priority in the summer, considering kos is old and injured.
I think this is the weakest back four we have had in quite a while.
The problem is buying replacements that are better are so hard to come by that I can understand why we didn’t buy better
I can’t
Agreed, and with Kos being out, one has to ask why send Chambers out on loan? (I know he’s not especially quick…but still.)
In terms of lineup, I’d like to see Torreira and El Neny pair up.
Because chambers is shit
He didn´t do so well today at least.
I thought Iwobi and Guendouzi and Monreal coming in were good. Xhaka needs to sort himself out Mkhitaryan was poor bar his goal and assist he provided very little defensive cover for Bellerin that’s why almost all Chelsea’s attacks came on Bellerin side. We really need a hard working winger too bad we just sold Campbell. When Özil and Mkhitaryan play together we become very open because they don’t track back. Mustafi trying to play the offiside trap in Chelsea’s half is beyond me. He’s another one who needs to sort himself out. I don’t get why we let chambers… Read more »
Emery could have done something about the constant barrage at bellerin.he needed someone to assist him.yet emery dd nothing
What we need is midfielders like Modric and Iniesta. Guys who play real football. Guys who are beyond tactics. This kid Guendouzi is a player and half Imo. We need more players like him to see real change at this club. Not frauds like Xhaka…..
Xhaka would be a fantastic player at a small club.
We should get rid of that guy.
This guy single handedly made us a mid table club…
Our defenders are making us a mid table club. How the hell you can sit there and try to blame just Xhaka is an absolute joke.
You are talking about guys who are out of our league at the moment. Why would they even leave where they are for City never mind us.
I’m talking about the profile of players we need. For a long time we were branded as a team who like to play beautiful possession football. We can’t play guys like Xhaka and El Neny in a setup where we try to build up from the back, do intricate passing. I’m not saying they are bad players. They just don’t have the skill sets required to play for arsenal football club. They both can’t dribble to save their lives let alone dribble out of tight situations. Maitland Niles, Guendouzi are far better than those two at the moment. I’ve had… Read more »
Sorry, this was abismal, totally ripped apart by a new manager 3 weeks into his intergration at Chelsea. Only Cech, Monreal and Matteo can hold their heads high, the rest were dogshit. Fucking embarrassing crap.
Iwobi
Happy he benched Xakha and Özil He knows who is up for it and who isn’t he just hesiny going to bury them in public Look – and here is the reality – if we had Bournemouth and Brighton in our first 2 games and won people would have been praising us and egging up false expectations- we will improve and we will do better – he will know 10 games in who is best team is and we are already getting there with that – thought iwobi was great on the left as was Torreira when he came on… Read more »
Emery with his line up and naive tactics is responsible for this loss. we need a manager like Simeone or Jardim.
Yes, park the bus for the first two games is a notion one might embrace together with the monday morning quarterback. Being brave and implement your football ideas and your vision from the beginning against two of the toughest opponents is IMHO admirable. 0 points I know, nonetheless – admirable.
Yawn….
I thought we looked shaky when Xhaka was on the pitch. Torreira made us slightly better. Will be good to see some stats as well as to how we performed defensively with and without Xhaka. Laca was awful, but you can’t blame that on Emery. The only thing I wish was Emery to be slightly more okay with a draw. Get on Liechsteiner instead of Laca, and help us defend the 2-2 because the momentum was shifting when Hazard came on. A point today would have felt good. And it’s extremely worrying that both City and Chelsea decided to attack… Read more »
Hard not to feel for Emery. You watch 2 guys miss the clearest of chances. People making imbecilic mistakes. Players making bad choices repeatedly. Got to be frustrating for him. Still a last-season waft of idleness in the team. Xhaka was bad last Sunday and was worse today. He’s too slow of thought and movement. Sure he completed a few safe passes but the kid is making him look bad. Perhaps it was telling that Emery made reference to Guendouzi and Torreira during the interview as they have to be the starting pair for next week.
I really feel like we might have to cash in on an attacking player so that we can do what Liverpool did and sign someone of the Van Dijk calibre. Someone who can come in to our defence and immediately make the players around him better because of his ability and stature.
I’m not convinced that Sokratis was the right buy. We probably need a huge signing. Of course they don’t grow on trees by any means but we need to take the first good opportunity we get.
Should have cashed in on Ramsey but that’s too late so Ozil would be my choice. Just not fit enough to play in this system.
I’m hoping Emery isn’t hinting that those two are too young to start together, which is why he insists on Xhaka. They would be my choice in there. Guendouzi has shown he’s ready against 2 of the toughest teams he’ll face and Lucas has Serie A and WC experience. What’s done on the pitch speaks louder than age.
I really think that Emery should be given time.
Every game is massive pressure.
It’s going to take him time.
Positives so far are:
1. Rambo subbed last week and benched this week.
2. Xhaka subbed half time
3. Ozil subbed
4. Guendouzi = Baller
5. We got players in the box on the end of crosses.
6. Emery is going to create a competitive environment, and couldn’t care any less about reputation
7. Thought Mkhitaryan had a good game
8. Emery seems to know what he wants and what he doesn’t.
Agree for the most part, but I will say this:
6. If this were fully true, no way Xhaka and Mhkitayran would have started today. I hope it eventually is the case.
7. I thought he was poor through the second half and I was hoping to see him taken off in the first before his goal and assist. Made me eat my words there, but hey, wht do I know?
Mkhitaryan is an impact player, he produces end product, if we get 15 goals? and 15 assists Out of him? Then I think we’ll have to look past his shortcomings.
I think with a fixed position he’ll improve defensively, and get some rely good numbers out of him.
Ozil on the other hand is finished, we should stick him on the market for £10mill now, and hope someone bites
When this team will be balanced then maybe the results will follow. A team needs a solid base to attack from. We dont have that at the moment
Upvote if you think Emery will get grey hair by December
75% of our team played badly but we scored 2 goals and could have scored 3 more away from home away to a top six club?thats progress if you ask me. It’s gonna look real good once everyone is on the same page
Exactly! Too many people are hung up on the big picture and aren’t looking at the small details that show we are in a better place as a team than last season, even if the League position doesn’t currently agree.
Yes we created chances, but I think that’s more to do with Chelski being a bit of a work in progress, under a new manager themselves. Generally, that was a poor performance with big players either not turning up, or making basic errors. It’s early days and drawing City and Chelski in the first two fixtures was very unfortunate, but so far I’m afraid I’ve seen more to worry about, than take encouragement from.
If nothing else, I hope that will be Aubameyang’s worse game in an Arsenal shirt, finishing-wise anyway.
If AW is still the manager and we started disastrously lile we have…2 defeats in opening 2 games….he would have been slaughtered!!!
So whats the difference now? Not much
And I think we are playing worst now than ever before.
Good point on the average age of our centre-midfielders.
This makes me sound callous but I was delighted that we subbed Xhaka and Ozil early on. Nobody is excused from being lightweight or a liability. It makes it about the team again and I think that is enormously important.
Seriously guys, what’s with the doom and gloom here? He’s the new head coach, we have a new set up working in the back room, this is a massive cultural change the club is witnessing after 22 years. Give Unai a chance to find his best 11 and 25. It took Pep and Klopp some time as well…
I, for one, am seeing more fight in the team. This was a tough start but I can see things only getting better from here on.
Its work in progress. And he is working with largely for the moment what is given to him. This is still an ill balance team clearly lacking in certain areas. Iwobi made a difference today but he is about the only player (next to young Nelson) that is a wide option and that isn’t even his strength IMO. Where is our winger? Cback also an issue but we know all about that. General awareness was lacking tracking players first half running into the box, was better second half but Emery you can see why he has been a bit hesitant… Read more »
I think we played better than last week. Only that it wasn’t our lucky day and the boys are slow learners at the same time not sharp. Look at the three missed chances! Auba! Mhky and Iwobi! Unbelievable! On defending, I saw it from last season where Bellerin is Arsenal’s problem. Yes he looks dangerous when attacking but his major role is to defend and Xhaka knows his role very well but how to do it, i mean his tackles are not professional that’s why every time they turn into fauls accompanied with yellow or red cards. I guess thats… Read more »
operation successful
patient dead.