Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal Vs FK Ostersunds: 5 things we learned – Peak Gunners

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Fans of Ostersunds FK cheer during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Arsenal and Ostersunds FK at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Fans of Ostersunds FK cheer during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Arsenal and Ostersunds FK at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Arsenal and Ostersunds FK at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Arsenal and Ostersunds FK at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

2. Defensive frailties surface again

Give credit to Potter and his Ostersunds team. Tactically, they knew how to exploit this Arsenal defence. In two quick, powerful, direct wingers, they stretched the pitch as wide as possible, meaning that both centre-halves and central midfielders had vast spaces to cover, isolating the two full backs time and time again.

But that does not excuse the defensive fragilities that relentlessly undermine this team. Hector Bellerin was run ragged by Ken Sema; Sead Kolasinac did not fare much better on the opposite flank; Rob Holding was directly at fault for the first goal, scampering into midfield without the required speed or conviction to ever intercept the loose ball; Calum Chambers was directly at fault for the second goal, falling for Sema’s stop, spin and go move.

It would be unfair to solely blame one more than the other. Their respective issues had ramifications for those around them, and none were helped by a passive midfield that allowed time for Ostersunds to pick passes and surge from deep. Ultimately, Arsenal cannot defend. Not the senior players, not the reserve players. This was just another of a growing number of examples of that point.