Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: 6 biggest player surprises this season

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Ainsley Maitland-Niles and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal embrace after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on November 7, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Ainsley Maitland-Niles and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal embrace after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on November 7, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Pab
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Pablo Mari of Arsenal looks on during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and AFC Wimbledon at Emirates Stadium on September 22, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

2. Pablo Mari Being as Bad as This

There has been plenty of ‘I told you so’s’ in regards to the performances of Pablo Mari this season, all of which is fairly revisionist.

He was never an elite central defender but when he had a run in the side he did his job to an acceptable degree and was guilty of far fewer mistakes than Gabriel. This was a very serviceable defender who was very much in the Rob Holding mould of being neither dreadful nor brilliant most weeks.

Wow. What happened?

Mari has gone from being ‘OK’ to ‘oh good heavens’. Pre-season was brushed off as being no more than training matches, but the signs were there. Getting the nod against Brentford he was an absolute shambles, and then with Chelsea next up on the fixture list it was utterly terrifying contemplating how he’d fare against Romelu Lukaku.

Touch tight? On Lukaku? Really?

It’s not overboard to claim that he’s looked like a Championship defender this season. While he was never great, he was never this bad.

Continued on next page…

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