Another dismal away day capped a dreadful week for Arsenal and Unai Emery. The dismissal of Ainsley Maitland-Niles played a part, but so too did our approach to the game which was timid to the say the least.
Second half goals from Youri Tielemans and a brace from Jamie Vardy made the scoreline embarrassing, and it now leaves the Europa League as the only thing left to play for this season.
Read the Leicester 3-0 Arsenal match report and see the goals here
Here’s how the players rated this afternoon.
Ratings
The ratings are now hidden by default until you vote, but if you just want to view the ratings and the comments, flick the switch at the top above Bernd Leno. Also, give the ratings a few seconds to load.
When Mkhitaryan got subbed today, in all honesty I had completely forgotten he was on the pitch. Last few games he has been both anonymous and lightweight
That happens a lot, we should really be given a free sub in his case
Mikhi would lose a fight against a piece of lettuce
I laughed.
Last few games? I can count on one hand the games this season where he’s been anywhere near the required level. An empty shirt.
wasn’t there a point in the season not too long ago, right before he got injured, where he had a few good games? some assists and goals? the fact i don’t remember for certain if he got injured tells is all though really
I think this is our worst performance this season judging by how we play, desire, bad luck and the opposition.
Mikhi vs. Sanchez swap is one of the worst – if not the worst – swap deals in history.
Gallas for Cole?
Gallas would have scored with his knees today.
Agree. There can’t many where both sides feel short changed…
For both ……
Alexis would otherwise have left for free. He hasn’t exactly been sensational at ManU either.
I disagree. Mkhitaryan was excellent when he joined with assists and goals and unti recently this season was a key player.
I thought he played much better as emergency right back than in his more advanced position before the sending off. The very definition of damning with faint praise
I really want this PL season to be over now
Buenas noches. Mierda.
Wish we had signed Youri Tielmans on loan with an option to buy….
Strange how we wasted so much energy in getting Suarez for a position we were “covered”. Shocking decision making at all levels. No passion, no identity, clueless, shameless.
A certain bloke left along with our values last summer.
Covered?! Doesn’t Suarez play in the same position as Mkhitaryan and Iwobi, in which case the position is far from covered!!
My working theory: Suarez was signed because the club do not know how to replace Ramsey with our limited funds, but they HAD to try something. He’s a last throw of the dice before the summer. I think this would also explain why Elneny’s been playing more as of late (notwithstanding our squad depth being pretty dire). If Suarez had turned up and fulfilled all of that early promise he showed in La Liga, then we would have had a decent replacement for Ramsey’s spot. Hardly a like for like for arguably for one of the best attacking central midfielders… Read more »
Suarez was a waste of time and money. Why didn’t they look to bolster the defence in January? The club knew both Holding and Hector were out for the season. Naive, clueless.
No but we get Denis Suarez instead.
He’s like a Youri Tielemans, isn’t he?
I don’t think Emery would have played him enough.
C’mon guys….that loss was expected if we are being really honest with ourselves.
Let us focus on Europa and the transfer market to come.
I agree but, I can’t really see the club turning it around for EL based on these last two performances. What’s more, it seems we have a limited budget for the summer. The silver lining seems a bit hard to spot at the moment.
This decade, Arsenal has been, in many ways, a cup team. If Wenger left us with anything, it is a team that rarely bottles finals- when we get there. Unai also has a good record with The EL. So i am really banking on those two points to help us mount a strong challenge for the EL that will hopefully see us winning. Also, there is a lot of talk of this team not deserving champions league football, that is not my problem as an Arsenal fan. That is for fans of other teams to debate about. We need the… Read more »
“if Wenger left us with anything…”
I’d say our massive stadium and dick tonne of trophies would be more obvious!
Short memories.
I meant as far as players’ mentality Bob.
No, it’s your memory that’s very long!
We need to develop young players. We aren’t in a position to buy superstars and let’s face it, we’ve spent badly on the likes of Mustafi and Xhaka. We need more in the mold of Smith-Rowe,Willock and Nelson.
Such a gutless performance wasn’t expected. They deserve exactly what they got playing like that. All should be embarrassed to wear the shirt.
*unexpected?
I think that says it all when our supporters are now coming out with “that loss was expected”.
This mentality is fucking awful.
It is far from defeatist mentality, it is merely a recognition of trends based off years of watching us. Our self destruct patterns are all to similar, it is what it is.
Yes, I expected a loss but thought we could put in a better performance than THAT….dross
In some ways it was the best we’d played over the past three games. Horrible as that is to imagine.
We deserve Europa league ?
Unai Emery has come out and said he’s proud of the players, and that he felt we started good in the first 20 minutes. If we wanted a manager who was poor defensively and who conned fans in every post match interview and made a fool out of them, why did we replace Wenger? At least Wenger DID have a reputation of attacking football, what reputation does Emery have? Certainly isn’t a manager who excites fans. We will finish 6th this season- zero improvements whatsoever. You can blame the board for a lack of money, but wasn’t a new coach… Read more »
What he says in public might not be what he says in the locker room.
I’ve been saying that since December. I will boldly say we’ve gone down with the quality of the manager. Hate him or love him, Wenger won things here. Lots of things, too. Having said that, I don’t think neither Wenger nor Emery is the problem. The owners are the problem with Arsenal. They’ve invested exactly 0 into the club since they’ve been here. The managers can only make do what they have available.
You can’t polish a turd mate
i’m sure you can invent turd polish with a lot of money
I have always said Emery is Europa league manager. No where near champions league! Yesterday I read here where he was being praised on how he has improved Arsenal and some posts demeaning Wenger’s achievements. Surely I can’t imagine what they smoked!
Emery will not take Arsenal anywhere. He has not improved anything in my view . We still leak goals and our front line which should be sending shivers in defenses is clearly impotent despite having two lethal strikers. The team lacks creativity and yet he is obsessed with antagonizing Ozil.
Wake up and smell the coffee!
I don’t often completely agree with the ratings here, but this time, it’s pretty close. Other than Leno, every player was average or worse.
A major clear out and rebuild is necessary. However, unless we can win the Europa League, that will be tough, as players won’t want to come and we likely won’t have a lot of $.
Regardless of if we qualify for the CL or not, this squad needs heavy investment.
Life is not like championship manager, which is a great shame as we need to transfer so many players in and out this year and I have zero faith in the people at the club to facilitate recouping money for dead wood, or investing wisely in new recruits.
Sorry to be so dismal.
This team has needed investment for 15 years now. What makes you think anything will change?
Let’s face it. With KSE at the helm, running the club as a business instead of a massively expensive compensation for something, we’re not likely to win the league any time soon. Frankly, I think we’d have been at least five or six points to the good if we simply hadn’t loaned out Chambers. Injuries happen to all teams, so I’m not using Bellerin’s and Holding’s as excuses, but we will get them back sometime next season. Mikhi’s past it, Mustafi’s brain is broken, we’ll have a giant hole to fill when Ramsey leaves, Monreal and Kos are at the… Read more »
If Chambers is the answer, Im afraid youre asking the wrong question.
Chambers was our best central defender when he was stupidly loaned out and arguably has been one of Fulham’s few successes this season.
Scary to think we lost 3-0 yet Leno kept the score ‘respectable’
Emery shares the blame as any coach is responsible for his team.
But people please don’t be deluded into think we have a squad capable of top 4.
This is the third season in a row they have proved it beyond any doubt. No where near good enough for top 4 or playing in the CL.
Emery will have my backing, because he is a good coach dealt a terrible hand.
The fan base should put the pressure on KSE to back him.
Bring out the ‘Spend Spend Spend’ banners>
The back 4 we played today is, in my opinion, lower half of the table quality. Sokratis is the only decent defender in it and looks hopelessly unable to cope with Mustafi. Kolasinac is a good wingback and an appalling left back. I feel like I don’t want to criticise Ainsley too much because, well, he isn’t a right back is he? To be honest, the manager having to manage a squad where we had one actual right back is a joke in itself.
Man united and Chelsea are as bad, non of the three teams deserve it, if Wolves played well againest the bottom half they could be third.
Where are the heart and soul in this bunch of losers? Leno looked like the only one who could be bothered. So sad….
Torreira too
Somewhat, though I am growing tired of his play-acting.
Aubameyang did not work hard.
I have noticed he has “downed tools” the last month or so similar to what he did at Dortmund.
Hopefully he finds that spark again because he is a fantastic player when he applies it.
Probably just fatigue.
Bit harsh. Was he downing tools when he chased down Ben Foster for our win at Watford?
He was as much in defence today as he was up front. He cannot be accused of not working hard. Cannot understand why so many agree with you
I think Aubameyang is the type of player who flourishes only when the rest of the team are playing well – otherwise he looks lost and totally ineffective.
The days of having a top-class, lethal striker who could produce a goal himself, from nothing, are long gone. The last striker we had like that was RVP…
Well, Alexis.
I saw Aubameyang tracking back on the right fairly often after the sending-off; surely a striker/winger in a ten-man team gets tired by the end.
0 for all these clowns. Get the fuck out of my fucking club you absolute leeches. They should all be fined monthly wages. We pay AND work hard just to see the team play and these bunch of fucking dicks can’t even put effort into their job. Bunch of bottlejob, prima-donnas
0/10 for Mesut Ozil (foot, my foot).
Özil, the only player not allowed to be injured… fans…
i actually recall ozil getting a kick on the to of his foot the last game.
he was rubbing it and complaining to the ref/assailant on camera…sooo
Bonus bonus rating 0/10 for our counter attacking game. We must be the only team in the league that can’t play on the break.
So much so you know we can’t score a goal when we get a red card against a random team from league 2
Even Scholes’ Oldham? I kid, I kid
I did not want Unai Emery at Arsenal and have explained my reasons in the past. But, despite these three terrible defeats, I wish him the very best against Valencia. May he inspire our players and employ the right tactics on Thursday.
If you really support Arsenal, then now is the time to encourage Emery and our players. They need our full support.
We have given them nothing but full support and will continue to do so regardless of what’s going on. But in all honesty do they deserve it? Hell NO
You are quite right @kleinmeister. They do not deserve support. For myself, I do not care for Emery and certain players. At all.
However I do take the view that encouragement rather than blaming is needed at this important time.
Personally, I rate him highly as a manager but if the owners and Raul aren’t going to give him license to rebuild this squad in the summer we may as well sack him tomorrow
On what grounds do you rate him highly? Baffling.
He has highest win rate of any manager in his first season and despite the terrible week has improved the team.
I wanted the monaco boss Jardim who had brought through some amazing talent. Im now thinking throwing this squad together with Henry might be worth a gamble. Could two complete and total wrongs make a right?
Hey, some feedback for you to consider blogs. I hardly ever get to see the games anymore (you’re pretty much entire connection to Arsenal these days, so thanks, btw). I liked these posts as I could get a feel for how players had performed, but now I can’t see that unless I rate them myself. Seeing as I haven’t seen the game, that seems a little unfair on them.
That being said, I assume Mustafi was shit.
There is a button at the top that you can turn on (display) the ratings. You might need to wait a few seconds for it to load
How do people keep missing this? And the button which says ‘reveal Arseblog ratings’?
Wait, there’s a button?
I can’t speak for everyone else, but I missed it because of the comma “ratings are hidden by default until you vote,” I stopped reading at the comma thinking I had the information I needed. Lazy, definitely, but users are lazy. Don’t make me think! 🙂
Read the actual article text: you can flick the switch at the top to show Blogs’ rating without adding your own.
Good for you missing the games. Nothing worth watching.
Same old same old.
This was what we used to do mid-table teams a few years ago. The rate of regression is astounding. Emery had one remit this season which was to make our defense better and he’s failed miserably at it. In my opinion, next season is make or break for him and his coaching team. If we haven’t been more competitive next season, we need to look for other options.
Would agree with you… next season he is completely judged… if and only if he gets some backing in the summer market – able to get rid of what he deems dead weight (even if that means Ozil) and able to bring in at least 3 players of his choice, minimum required. But… if he has to go again with this same lot, without Ramsey and Welbeck, and barely any support in bringing in players then he may as well leave, because that would be ridiculous, and show exactly how little support this club is given. Here’s hoping
Can’t blame anyone for feeling top four is done and dusted but the way all the contenders are spitting the bit you just don’t know what’s gonna happen. So let’s hope Unai doesn’t forsake the league completely and go all in on Europa. Let’s just get behind the team, hope for the best, and let things play out.
The horrible thing is, up until two weeks ago, we were potentially going to finish third AND possibly win the Europa. Whatever happened in between.
Leicester City hahaha
Same players who let down Wenger last season doing their best to tank this season. Kolasinac can’t defend, I feel for Ainsley but he shouldn’t be our only right back option, Mustafi is atrocious, Iwobi needs to find some end product soon, Mkhitaryan is just god awful and lightweight and I’m sick to the back teeth of watching him, Xhaka is just not athletic enough for the premier league and the leicester midfield ran rings round him all day.. what he was doing on the edge of the box for the tielemams goal I do not know. The buck doesn’t… Read more »
Iwobi is useless.He has no end product and football brain.
Actually worse than Walcott.
Iwobi isn’t useless. Far from it. His presence in the team often makes the team more fluent in attack. He’s not a finished product yet but definitely an asset to the team. There’s a reason he’s the player with the most appearances under Emery (which your ignorant self cannot acknowledge). Saying Iwobi is useless is like saying Alex Hleb was useless to Arsenal. Remind me again, how many goals did Hleb score for Arsenal? Not saying Iwobi shouldn’t improve but he does put in a good shift and with better management he can became a finished product.
Well said Frank. No point changing the manager if he’s going to be stuck with this set of players. Both AW and UE are decent managers, and we are just seeing and confirming again the limits of what this squad is capable of.
Frank, I completely agree with you. At this moment I am so despairing of Arsenal that I have taken to watch Championship football and do you know what, I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of that teams at the top. Norwich has done it on a shoe-string budget, Aston Villa has lucked out getting a chap called Dean something who has managed to mold a team out of the rabble left to him by the guy with the boxers face. Leeds have Beilsa and they play fabulous attacking football. I could go on but you are probably more… Read more »
The squad is out on their feet and the failure to do any sensible business in January is now costing us dearly. When I look at the players that teams like Wolves, Leicester even Watford and the spuds seem to find, and then look at what we have, I can’t help feeling that there’s been something horrifically wrong with our recruitment for the last few years. Torreira is great, but he’s getting smashed to pieces with no protection in the Premier League, maybe we should sell him for his own good if a decent offer comes in. Why are our… Read more »
Here’s the simple question:
at 200k per week, is Mik really that much better than Willock or Reese or Baku or or or….
Let’s stop blaming the red card even before the that we were shit
With that dreadful away record over 2 seasons now, does anybody honestly think this team is worthy of a top 4 finish?
It just really hurts watching this completely f’d up team including the manager and his absurd decisions. I’m done for the season. Enough is enough. It’s a total waste of time.
I think, Auba and Laca must develop chemistry in such matches. On instagram every player is posting pics+captions as if they are going to bag 5+ goals with a cleansheet. Auba gives away the ball too much, the overlapping combination/run between iwobi+kolisnac is very well known to every team/player. Even if they succeed to do an overlap movement, I haven’t seen, for ages, a decent cross towards the box or a productive cutback pass from either of them. Just mesut is there for some creativity. What is the role of Micki if someone can make me understand? Other than this,… Read more »
How can Auba and Lacazzette produce any chemistry when there’s no functional midfield?The only two players that give Arsenal any penetration in the opposition box are Iwobi and Kolasinac.
Perhaps they should take a leaf out of the ladies book, who despite having a squad ravaged by injuries to key players never gave up and stormed to the title.
Need at least two CBs, a LB, a CM and a proper winger in the next transfer window. But first sell #Mustafi
Need more than that!
Prior to the red card, we didn’t look too convincing but once again, Oliver screws usurp bid time with some totally inconsistent refereeing. Normally he gives penalties against us on the slightest pretext. Today he booked Maitland-Nile’s for daring to challenge for the ball, then sent him off on the basis of Maddison’s scream; although there was minimal contact. At that moment, however, we should have been lining up a free kick on the edge of Leicester’s area for a clear foul on Abamayang. Also, why was the first Leicester yellow, for studs up on the shin, not a red?… Read more »
I think Mike Riley is corrupt, and we needed to lose today to give the devil worshippers a chance, so he appointed one of his most trusted referees to do the job.
So we got screwed on the red decision – and the elbow in Lucas’ face… and possibly a few other less NB ones.
BUT…
did we spit brimstone and turn that injustice into energy and anger and fight? No – we wrung our hands and capitulated or just went awol like Mik!
Think on this for a minute – how would Adams or Viera or Keown or Parlour or any of a dozen other, possibly less ‘talented’ but infinitely more loyal, committed, feisty players from our storied past, have reacted?
Even Danny Murphy on MOTD criticised Ainsley’s sending off. Said he thought Maddison was a complete tosser for feigning injury for the second yellow. And thought first yellow was harsh. Oliver is a prick. Second only to Dean in dishing out red cards and doesn’t like us. Torreira should’ve had a penalty for elbow in the face and some other Leicester prick left his boot in on him. We are bad enough on the road without the man disadvantage ffs.
Ref notwithstanding we are a deeply flawed outfit. Major overhaul needed.
Emery is not good enough for Arsenal and neither are most of these mediocre players. Kroenke ownership continues its destructive legacy and worst is yet to come I’m afraid.
I cannot think of any manager who either restrictions of funds who could have done any better than Emery. Knee jerk reactions due to a terrible week are not very sensible or helpful
1) Leno – Our best player. A string of good saves to keep us in it to no avail. Great stop for the Ndidi header and then the saves in quick succession as we let shots rifle in. Got down early several times against near post efforts too. Came out to claim the ball early. 2) AMN – Casual. Got beat early in game out wide too easily. Harsh red card and it had impact on the game. will have poorer options yet at Rback now in final two league matches. 3) Mustafi – Not sure why we were again… Read more »
Top 6 is not a challenge, it was safe a few weeks ago before our collapse
A good summation, Santori, just think we could have got Johnny Evans for a pittance and would he be useful now? I would be giving the kids a lot of game time now as there is little to lose and it would send a signal to the squad that everybody is on notice. For the summer and with our two top defenders in Kos and Monreal showing signs of wear and tear, both great guys for whom I have nothing but admiration but their days are numbered, so we must get replacements in. Xhacka would only be a bench player… Read more »
Arsenal should change its motto to: self inflicted damage concordia crescit.
Neither one a yellow. Oliver used to be one of the top refs now he’s as crap as we are.
And we are crap. Three players on this team could play for a top 4 side and Emery is letting one of those players leave for free.
This match we played a 4-2-4 until the yellow. I’m so exhausted by this team and this owner.
Garbage. All of them, except Leno. Major overhaul of players required. Most of them are simply not good enough.
Doozi is probably the biggest fraud i have seen play for arsenal. He takes 3 touches and then passes sideways, and in defence trots along besides the attacker, trips over, gets brushed off, and flops down. When he comes on, i bet not even one person thinks, “maybe he will influence the game and spark a turnaround” torreira is a sorry figure mostly, unable to do much and prone to tripping over. Sokratis looks like a defender, but apart from fouling, doesnt do much. Leno, suddenly has reverted to his level, and cant command the box. Auba never looks like… Read more »
Maybe we should ask the Arsenal women’s team to take over!
Roll on next season.
Thank goodness my internet is down and I missed what would have been a nightmare for me to watch.
As much as I love Emery, he’s definitely Peter Principle’d this run-in. Agree with Andrew here that he shares blame with the players.
Emery’s discovering how hard it is to succeed in this league. EVERY team can beat the other on any day, and you can’t switch off.
I think he might be freaking out and it’s affecting the team, and he’s rushing to prioritize Valencia.
Not much Emery can do if he has crap players.
I think a 5 for Sokratis is a bit low, when eveybody else had given up, he was still tracking back. Watch Kos for Vardy’s first goal, I love him to death, but he gives up, whereas Sokratis is still trying to get back. Not that it made any difference, but still. I saw him trying when nobody else was.
So the ref received death threat. It aint surprising because many of these guys are getting away with blunder after blunder. The MU player received a yc instead of a red with his studs impacting the Chelsea guy. Where is the consistency?Even with var I don’t trust these guys in black. A clear penalty maybe waved off unless the FA dishes out severe punishment such as docking of wages and immediate suspension. As for Arsenal,the defence has become ajoke since Wenger’s time.Hopefully Emery can restore some sanity to the defenders. Hopefully he can engage the sevices of a top defence… Read more »
Well, damn. Hasn’t this been a very embarrassing stretch of games.
I don’t understand why Arsenal has to be put into a situation where they have to play against teams with 12 members, that’s including the referee. This fuckin shit of referees bullying certain teams must be dealt with.