4 Talking Points from Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Following the international break, it’s never easy to come out and put up a 5-star performance. Regardless, Arsenal put up a poor performance, leaving much to be desired. Here are some of the biggest talking points from the game.

If we are so attacking, why can’t we attack?

This isn’t the most clear subtitle but hear me out. Arteta set up in what I believed to be a 4231, which was to be expected. However, the team consisted of 2 CAMs (Smith-Rowe and Odegaard), 1 ST (Aubameyang) and 2 wingers (Saka and Pepe), making it obvious that Arteta wanted to attack from the first whistle. Arteta has done this before, yet it often results in the same result. Arsenal failed to really create today. Two goals combining for around 10 yards, both off of rebounds – we have to be doing better. As soon as Aubameyang scored the first (8th minute), the team dropped off and sat back: why? If the formation is attacking, let’s attack.

Who starts at ST?

Almost anyone would’ve said Aubameyang due to his constant role in the Starting XI this season as well as his quality performances as of late. He got on the score sheet as well, boasting his quick reactions as he was able to turn in and parried shot from a tough angle. However, Lacazette came on in the 67th minute and completely changed the game. Arsenal were able to hold the ball better, there was much better link up play in the final third and of course (with some luck) the Frenchman was able to bag himself the crucial goal to savour a point in the 95th minute. Playing Villa next week, one of the biggest questions is whether to start or Aubameyang or Lacazette. Or perhaps play them both? The two showed some great link up play in and around the box, yet the choice to play both will mean another attacker will have to miss out.

Who would you start?

Why is it so easy to play against us?

Arteta has his tactics and when they work, they work well. A prime example is the way he dismantled Nuno and the Spurs. However, it has become increasingly evident about how easy it is to supress Arteta’s style of play. The reason the Gunners thrived against Tottenham was because the Spurs allowed them an abnormal amount of space to play through the middle. On the contrary, the play style is thrown into disarray when it faces a high press. This suffocates the middle, minimising the ability of Partey and the other CDM to control possession and pull the strings. As a result, the ball is forced wide or lost in the middle of the pitch. When it is forced wide, the players are forced to send in a cross to a box which lacks height in red shirts. Burnley did it. Palace have now done it. At the moment is doesn’t seem like Arteta has an effective alternative.

Is VAR ok?

At first I was watching that James McArthur kick on Bukayo Saka and thought ‘Yeah, he was going for a volley, that’s fair’. Then they showed a replay. In what world is that not a red card?

Going for a volley or not, Bukayo Saka is positioned right in front of him. I’m pretty sure it’s anatomically impossible to not see him. There was plenty of time to withdraw from the kick, yet he absolutely clobbers Saka’s standing leg… which was about 4 feet from the height of the ball. The referees ruled it as “a high-end yellow card”.

Ian Wright, with the support of the other 2 panellists on Optus Sport’s coverage (including the ex-Palace man himself), stated that the referees are “just making things up” to support their judgements, and I couldn’t agree more.

As an Arsenal fan, you can’t help but think: if that were Granit Xhaka making that challenge, he’d have been arrested and suspended from the Premier League.