Arsenal’s Veterans Showed Their Age Vs. Manchester City

Arsenal were beaten for the second time in seven days by Manchester City, and multiple star and veteran Arsenal players have only themselves to blame.

Looking back on the events of the past week generates an emotion in Arsenal fans that is not new. It is a yearly occurrence that has probably become associated with the winter for most supporters, especially younger fans, who were not around in the early 2000’s.

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The Gunners have had two important away fixtures in the past six days, and they have lost both of them, 2-1, through a second half comeback from the home side. Goodison Park was the scene for a spirited fightback from Everton and Ashley Williams, who has now scored three goals against Arsenal in his Premier League career.

This defeat was obviously an emotional one for Arsene Wenger and his players, who could not kick into gear throughout the ninety minutes. the majority of them proceeded to muster only 45 minutes of focused effort at the Etihad Stadium, seemingly as if all the energy had been drained from them after this midweek loss.

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An amazing quote that applies to the Everton loss comes from Wenger concerning Shkodran Mustafi‘s absence. In his press conference, when discussing the potency of Mustafi’s absence, Wenger stated: “…when you lose a game, the guys who are not there are the heroes.”

It is Mustafi that was sorely, sorely missed in the City game as well. In the second half, Manchester City made changes to their setup and Arsenal simply couldn’t react. The defense were matched up with different City players for the second 45 and were totally asleep when City scored an equalizer at the very beginning of the second half.

Nacho Monreal was matched up with Leroy Sane in the first-half and then faced Raheem Sterling in the second. City had moved Sterling wide and switched Sane to the left and the Spanish left-back had a torrid time coping with Sterling‘s quality. Sane, meanwhile, ran all over whoever was defending Arsenal’s right side. Space opened up for City to hold possession and run into Arsenal’s midfield, and Monreal was exposed over and over again.

This isn’t the first time Monreal has been skinned this season. Nordin Amrabat found him out, Sadio Mane has as well. The common trait among the three wingers? Pace.

And let’s not forget about Petr Cech, who, once again, has been beaten at his near post.

Yes, the shot was a fierce one. However, Cech has been known to be very slow at saving low shots. The veteran keeper has never gone this long without keeping a clean sheet – eight games and counting – and that’s not something to ignore.

Laurent Koscielny wasn’t in the picture for either of the goals conceded, which raises some questions about his ability to organize a defense. Koscielny clearly cannot communicate fluently with Gabriel Paulista, and he is not the defensive leader that a team needs against good Premier League sides.

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These Arsenal players are the ones with the most experience, and they are the ones who must drag the team through bad times if they are to find success this season. Shrinking into the shadows with performances like these will never cut it. As such, the club find themselves nine points adrift, starring into the dark abyss of yet another titleless year.