Arsenal: 3 damning abnormalities from diabolical Manchester City loss

Arsenal got thumped against Manchester City. They wiped the floor with us. And the worst part about the entire debacle? It was mostly to be expected.

We’ve always been pretty diabolical away at the Etihad, and against the Citizens in general. Arsenal haven’t won away at Manchester City since January 18, 2015, and have conceded fewer than two goals just twice against Pep’s men since 2017. It truly is not a pretty sight.

They’re league champions. We’ve just slumped to our second consecutive eighth-place in the league. And the less said about our league start, the better. It’s difficult to imagine a scenario where this COVID-ridden Arsenal side, bereft of confidence, comes away from the match with anything other than another black mark on our record. But this loss was so, so much worse than this writer, or any of us could have expected.

It’s not just the scoreline that has our collective heads hanging low. Nor is it the rash of so-called  “normal” issues – lack of intensity, apathetic defending, the lack of a right-back, etc – currently plaguing the Gunners. No, this match was cause for much greater concern.

Arsenal: 3 damning abnormalities from diabolical Manchester City loss as Mikel Arteta sees pressure mount on him after 5-0 humbling

Despite our run of poor results, and lack of general success in the league over the past few seasons, we Arsenal fans still possess a few weekly comforts that tide us over to the next match without entirely allowing us to fall into despair. The imminent departure of Willian aside, we were missing nearly all of those little comforts against City, and it left us all feeling rather empty.

Here are three abnormalities Arsenal suffered in their 5-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City.

3. Kieran Tierney Lacking Fizz

It’s a bit of an odd statement, given he’s not a soft drink, but the way I can best describe Kieran Tierney’s mannerisms on the football pitch is that he’s full of fizz. He’s constantly bubbling under the surface, looking for the right time to boil over and make somebody’s day.

Okay, so maybe the analogy needs some work. Regardless.

The Scotsman’s normal ‘pashun and desiyah’ was completely absent. Despite plenty of opportunities to get stuck into the opposition, and the stiff type of competition that tends to ignite a fire in a player of his quality, he did not look his usual self.

Frankly, he looked a bit of a vampire victim: pale, wan, and mostly lifeless, all the verve sucked out of him.

Of course, it didn’t help his case that he was constantly isolated against multiple players out on the left flank, or that he was forced to cover for the blatantly inept Sead Kolasinac, who should never grace the field for Arsenal again – how many times have we said that? – but even despite that, we’re used to unending effort from the Isle of Man-born defender, and we received much the opposite.