Considering that this was Arsenal’s third game in six days and away in a local derby, the end result was not the disaster that some people think it is. You can’t blame Unai Emery for not being too disappointed with the result, despite our defensive frailties. When asked if has unhappy that we didn’t move closer to the League leaders, the Spanish coach said: “A little bit. I think we are in our process, in our way, and I think we are in a good position now, for continuing our objective. It’s difficult away and I think the team can improve. I think today, the draw was not bad. We want to win but it’s not easy. We look at today and they are a good team. Playing here is not easy for every team, but our challenge is to continue our process of learning in every match. It’s about learning the defensive situations and improving.”
Emery also felt that we were not at our best, while Palace were desperate to get the points as well. “The two teams are sad I think. For us the first half was not easy. When they scored it is the moment when we are on the pitch with the control, but not doing a lot of things in the attacking third. In the second half we scored two goals in two actions. They were pushing with their supporters and every player was attacking us. In this moment we needed the control because we lost our position and we needed to have scored the third goal, we needed to be calm. We cannot do a good transition from this. I wanted to push, I wanted to continue to find our moment to win the match, but we could not.”
Well to be fair 11 wins and a draw from our last 12 games is hardly a bad run, despite the disappointment. But now we can do a bit more rotation for the Carabao Cup game against Blackpool on Wednesday and hopefully have most of our players fresh again for when Liverpool come to the Emirates next Saturday. If we win that one we will only be one point below Klopp’s team.
Onwards and Upwards!
Sam P
Draw in an away match is not bad and there is the Blackpool match to practice before meeting Liverpool
If Arsenal can produce a goal galore in that League Cup match, I would be confident when they face Klopp’s team
It was a point gained when you analyse the game. If only we can play well in the first half of games. Against liverpool, we have to play well in the first half because we could go 2 or even 3 nil down before the half time. Emery should play sokratis and holding, mustafi has improved from last season but he is still a liability and finally he should not play xhaka at left back against liverpool even if none of our left backs are back.
It is no disaster, but it is a small setback in relation to the table and the fact, that we we gave away so many chances is a big worry. Especially as Liverpool is the next game.
But the Liverpool game is also an opportunity to show, we have made big improvements.
COYG
I agree. We should play 5 at the back against Liverpool for first 30 min, than we can open 🙂
Draw against 15th team in PL with clown’s like Zaha, Milivojevic, Kouyate and Townsend is a setback, and what’s more worring is: Emery was not on his highest in that game. Changes he made were wrong, and also a starting lineup with three youngsters was also a mistake.
Also, fact is that we had some luck in couple of matches this season, and worning signs were not taken seriously. We have to beat teams like Palace even when we dnt play our best 11.
3 words:
We
Were
Robbed
Three words
We
Were
Lucky
EX
AT
LY!
I agree with the fact that the result against Palace was a little disasppointing but it was our 3rd game in six days and we were lucky to get a point when one of our goals should have been disallowed for handball. Were we robbed as @Robin Van Payslip suggests ? i don’t think so.
Sorry, but the hand ball was due to the shirt pulling and foul on Lacazette; if the goal wasn’t scored Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty.
Zaha is football’s Michael Phelps. Absolute clown. The refs should’ve know this trickster by now smh.