First things first: the better side won, unfortunately.
I was one of those before the game advocating a Liverpool win. I thought that although Arsenal are both technically and physically superior in midfield, that we had enough quality in both 18 yard boxes to make the difference in the areas where it really counts. I thought we set up with the right shape, with the right personnel and that our game plan was to squeeze the space around our D defensively, trying to force them wide and that we would play quickly and directly through the midfield on the counter, looking to get Suarez and Sturridge on the ball as early as possible and take advantage of the fact they may have overloaded in the final third.
For the first 20 minutes, we executed the plan pretty well I thought. We dropped off and then hassled them relentlessly 30/40 yards from goal, as Suarez and Sturridge peeled wide to provide outlets which we found every so often and Henderson in particular was quick to go and offer supporting depth from deep. His early chance was only a half hance due to the challenge, but I thought he was a little hesitant to drive into the massive space infront of him initially and this allowed the Arsenal defenders to get a little closer to him and affect him. He almost took time to think, when it should have been a natural instinct to drive into that gaping hole as soon as he received the ball – his hesitation gave him half a chance, when without it, it would have been a clear one.
Then of course the goal came from Arsenal first real chance of the game. Cissosko again hesitated between playing ball or man and then couldn’t make the ground up on Sagna as he whipped a cross into the box. It is a little difficult to tell exactly where Carzola came from watching the replay but I’m pretty certain he passed a strolling Steven Gerrard and then reacted quicker than a sluggish Lucas after his initial free header rebounded off the post. That was my take on it, but due to the huge amount of space Carzola had found I’ve had to re-watch several videos to determine exactly who failed where, and that in itself is not a good sign. I am very disappointed with this goal more so than any other we have conceded this season. How you let a player of Santi’s quality waltz passed you without even thinking ‘I should track him’ or not at least attempting to; very poor indeed.
As they say, goals change games, and it changed this one alright. From then on in the first half we looked on the ropes and didn’t seem to be able to stay with the Arsenal midfielders as they started to knock it around with more authority and at a pace that suited them. I’m not one for slagging off players, especially two of my favourites ever, but Lucas and in particular Gerrard looked out paced, out run, out thought and out fought in the middle - utterly immobile. Yes, Arsenal are a good side with a fluid, technically gifted midfield, but that is all the more reason to concentrate, work, track, harass and hurry when they get into your half. They simply didn’t do this and as a result Jordan Henderson was left chasing shadows as the Arsenal midfield began to run riot.
A change at half time half made sense and half didn’t. Cissokho had indeed been that poor that a substitution was required and we needed the spark Coutinho provides to try and get ourselves back into the game. However the change in shape was bemusing. Having struggled even with the midfield overload of the 3412 we became even more stretched taking a man out and playing a 442, and it was doomed to fail. People post match have been exclaiming ‘it’s time to play four at the back’ but I honestly think that Gerrard and Lucas need 3 in behind them and a man in front in most games, particularly one like this. The only time we had any control was whilst playing 3412, and we looked most out of it playing 442. Personally, I’d have kept the shape, bought Agger on for Cissokho, Coutinho for Flanno (though he did well despite people’s delirium when the team sheet came out) shifting Henderson to RWB and straight swap Stevie for Allen. Not necessarily all at once, but they were the subs I was asking for at the time. Going 442 absolutely killed any chance we had in the game and badly performing players stayed on the park.
Of course, the second goal could also be accountable for our crumble as it killed spirits, but players of the experience and quality of Gerrard, Toure, and Lucas shouldn’t allow themselves to lose enthusiasm and make fundamental errors. Talking of fundamental errors, what was Kolo doing for a 5/10 minutes period when they scored? First the sloppy pass inside, then the horrific touch under pressure, and as for turning your back on a shot? C’mon, that’s not what this guy is about, surely? Aaron Ramsey drifted through a big midfield gap between Lucas and Henderson without being noticed, took a touch to steady himself and hit a cracking effort into the top corner as Sakho rightly threw himself at the ball and Toure, wrongly, turned his back and winced. Good goal, but another avoidable long distance effort where we have failed to first track the man then shut him down effectively; fundamentals.
We could pick this apart all day, but we weren’t horrific or embarrassed. We did enough to save face but we could and should have done more to get a result. A loss here by no means dashes our hopes of top four or anything like that but we need to have a think about our big game decisions and who plays, no matter who they are, and do what is best for the set up and the team. Saturday we were hindered by individual defensive errors, poor energy and application in midfield, and Suarez and Sturridge scoring all those goals last week rather than averaging them out. Heyho.
Oh, and we’ll fucking smash Fulham.
