Arsenal: Lack of the minimum the most damning

Arsenal didn’t even try in the second half. That is the minimum expectation of any competitive team, and they couldn’t even do that. More than anything, that is the most damning indictment of this lingering regime.

Two teams want to win a football game. Only one can. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. Losing is a part of sport. We just have to get used to it. But there are different types of losses. On Sunday, Arsenal put in the worst type: The ‘I don’t care’ loss.

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Now, I am sure that Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, and his players wanted to win. They are competitive individuals playing a sport that millions of others could only dream of playing. It is ridiculous that they did not want to win. But it isn’t quite so outlandish to question whether they truly gave it their all. That is what Gary Neville was doing during his impassioned commentary.

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The former Manchester United man and Sky Sports’ pundit was openly livid with the Gunners’ display. And for good reason. He is a player who put winning above all. He overcame physical and athletic limitations to achieve remarkable victories, in large part because of his desire, his game-intelligence, and his commitment. Neville said a lot during the broadcast, but this part was especially pertinent in regards to the effort levels of what he was watching:

"“In the minute before that goal, I mentioned the walking of the Arsenal players, and then the retreating runs of Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka, ambling, jogging back – an absolute disgrace they are, an absolute disgrace. Walking on a football pitch at Wembley, giving up, spineless.”"

I must admit that I thought Neville was a little harsh in singling out Xhaka and Ramsey like he did. Neither were as bad as he would have you believe, not that that is saying that they were especially good either, mind you. But his overarching point on the effort levels of the team still stands, and that, more than being bereft of quality, more than the slouching into mediocrity, more than the financially contorted wishes of the board, more than the inability to defend, to grind out results, to manage games, is the biggest indictment of this current regime.

Losing because you didn’t play well is frustrating, but it happens. Losing because the other team is better is frustrating, but it happens. Losing because of a dodgy decision, losing because of an individual error, losing because of a tactical mistake. It’s frustrating, but it happens. Losing because of a lack of effort, a lack of fight and desire and commitment is utterly unacceptable.

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That is what Arsenal did: They lost because they gave up. That is the minimum that can be expected of any individual in any situation: effort. It was nowhere to be found on Sunday.