Arsenal: The most un-Arsenal player makes only response

The only player who responded to the capitulation against Wolves on Wednesday night was Sokratis. It is no coincidence that he is the most un-Arsenal player.

The first 28 minutes of the trip to Molineux were actually rather encouraging. Arsenal, armed with their troubled away form, controlled the early goings with some smart, calm periods of possession. They did not create all that much, but they enjoyed full command of the match. An ideal start to a tricky away tie.

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Then Rueben Neves does what Reuben Neves does. He whipped a delicious freekick up and over a rather limp wall and into the corner of the goal. Suddenly, 1-0 down. Not what the Gunners would have wanted, but still not the end of the world. Not yet, anyway. But fast forward 18 minutes and you would Diogo Jota collect Granit Xhaka’s loose pass, skip past two defenders, and smash a shot under the once more limp arm of Bernd Leno. 3-0. Game over.

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The problem was not the performance. It was the response. Arsenal faced a sucker-punch. They then conceded again nine minutes later. And then again nine minutes after that. And during this disastrous 20-minute period, not once did they look composed, resilient, committed, able of withstanding adversity.

Once the second goal went in, most of the players turned, heads drooping, shoulders slouching, and trudged back to their positions for the kickoff while Wolves wheeled away in raucous celebration, joyous in part at their lead and disbelief in part at the vulnerability of their opponents.

The only player who enacted any sort of rallying cry was Sokratis. It is not surprising that he was bellowing instructions and trying to incite a response from his teammates. That is his character and he has played in that manner all season. It is also not surprising that he is the most un-Arsenal player in the squad.

After the match, Sokratis was asked about taking responsibility. This is what he said:

"“All the players take responsibility. We are not stupid. We know that we didn’t play good. We have to win all the games and be there.”"

He is towing the company line here, not wanting to publicly call out any of his teammates. But there is a big difference between not being stupid and knowing that the performance was lacking and then actually making steps to change that and acting in a manner that takes responsibility. It is not hard to know that Wednesday night was not good enough; it is a different proposition altogether to do something about it.

Sokratis, I am sure, is eager to enact change. But it should not go unnoticed that the culture of the club, especially the soft Arsene Wenger years, are distinct to the Greek defender. Not only did he not endure those periods of pathetic play, but his character and style is completely different. He is hard-nosed, dogged, vicious, wily and experienced, all of the things that Arsenal are not.

It took an un-Arsenal player to make a response on against Wolves. And that is extremely troubling indeed.