Arsenal: 3 damning abnormalities from diabolical Manchester City loss

2. Woeful Midfield Selection

Mikel Arteta consistently fields questionable lineups, but typically, those questions are reserved for defenders, and the rotation of forwards. You know the typical questions. “Why is Aubameyang still starting on the left wing?”, “Why did we loan out Saliba?” and “Why can’t we just sign a right-back?”

But usually, Arsenal fans have a modicum of security in their midfield selection. Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey will start, with either accompanied by Albert Sambi Lokonga if neither is fully fit. It’s a pivot that tends to work quite well, regardless of who is fielded in and around them.

So the decision to start Granit Xhaka as a lone holding midfielder, behind a pairing of Martin Ødegaard and Emile Smith Rowe who, frankly, are much better used in the opposing half. They’re not exactly in the team to defend for 90 minutes.

Furthermore, attempting to field an asymmetrical midfield four – Emile Smith Rowe can hardly be asked to play as a true left midfielder when he works best in the half-space or through the center- isolated both Bukayo Saka on the right flank going forward, and Kieran Tierney defensively, both of which came to pass. Saka was the first man withdrawn, and our first few goals were conceded from the right flank.

Finally, Xhaka simply is not mobile enough or defensive enough to play alone in the center. We’ve known that since he signed for Arsenal. Poor defensive selections didn’t help that case, but the game was lost from the moment we rendered ourselves unable to combat City through the middle. The red card didn’t help, but not starting a defensive midfielder signed Arsenal’s death warrant.