Arsenal: 4 mistakes Mikel Arteta made vs Man City

How much lower can Arsenal go? Heading into a game nobody gave Mikel Arteta a fighting chance of securing a win from, to nonetheless see a 5-0 defeat unfold in gutless and disorganised fashion constituted another nail in a deepening coffin.

The Arsenal bingo card was out and everyone was up on their feet claiming the prize money.

Starting the game strongly in the opening five minutes, it was refreshing to see the side take the game to Manchester City. Playing high in the opposition half with Bukayo Saka joining Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in an almost two-man strike force, the speed with which any positivity dissipated was like clockwork.

Some hopeless defending from Calum Chambers in the box, coupled with a total lack of communication between goalkeeper and defender, saw Ilkay Gundogan rise highest(!) to head home. Shades of Rob Holding in the home meeting last season.

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Arsenal: 4 mistakes Mikel Arteta made against Manchester City as Granit Xhaka is sent off in a demoralising 5-0 Premier League defeat

Wheels held on with blu tack then fell off completely when Ferran Torres poked home from another dreadfully defended cross, albeit Chambers inexplicably not earning a foul for a raise hand to his face.

Granit Xhaka had everyone shouting ‘bingo!’ with a reckless lunge off the ground that saw him sent off, by which point the misery turned to despair.

A despondent Arteta was on the sidelines watching the horror unfold, much of which was of his own doing. As in the previous defeat to Chelsea, some of his decisions had catastrophic consequences on the performance.

Ignore the result, the display was abject, disheartening and derisory. He has a lot to answer for.

1. Wholesale Changes Once More

Beating West Brom 6-0 with a system that suited the players, having just two full days to prepare for the City clash, Arteta opted to bamboozle everyone but himself by switching to a 3-4-3 shape with Sead Kolasinac being joined by Rob Holding and Calum Chambers in defence and Cedric at wing-back.

It also meant a different setup in midfield as Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka partnered one another for the first time. Sort of.

This level of disruption – before even delving into the tactical side of matters which will follow – is reminiscent of what Arteta has been guilty of for large spells of his management: asking too much of individuals.

Simplicity isn’t an admittance of defeat. Taking on the Premier League champions on their own patch and not radically altering where players are and what roles they have isn’t a sign of insecurity.

You can’t have midfielders need to do multiple jobs, or a left wing-back be tasked with providing the offensive width at the same time as trying to plug the hole in between himself and a narrow back three. As a coach you need to maximise the output of the players you have, which comes from protecting their weaknesses and finding systems to let their better attributes sing.

He asks too much of his team and his players.