It’s all about the Europa league by Konstantin Mitov
Arsenal raised their game for the last tournament that matters this season and we got a decent 4:1 win over CSKA Moscow and to be honest it could have been more!
But this scoreline should be good enough and if we manage to not concede early and score at some point in Moscow we’ll be safely through to the next round.
We had a flying start to the game with a disallowed goal, but moments later, a similar situation was converted in by Ramsey and it was the perfect start!
Then in typical Arsenal fashion we made a collection of defensive errors, leading to a completely unnecessary foul by Koscielny which resulted in a free kick brilliantly put in the top corner.
In the post Sol Campbell era, our defense has always been our weakest spot, but I must say this is the worst defending I can remember across an entire season. There is massive need for rebuilding in that Area, if we are going to compete again next season.
Koscielny’s age is getting the better of him, Mustafi doesn’t look like he’s good enough, Bellerin cares more about his speeches and looks rather than his playing, and you’re left with Monreal, who’s been the one good thing about this defense for a long time now, but his age is also a concern.
We have to address this, because we could’ve been 2:1 down in 2 minutes time, but the moment they missed their chance, we took ours and we scored 3 more goals, some being of real class!
You have to acknowledge that their 3 defenders combined age was 108! We have all the tools to destroy such a defense and I must say Ozil made the best of it. He just dominates opposition who allow him space. Ramsey was also excellent.
Comapre his performances to Wilshere. Take the stats of goals and assists and Ramsey is miles ahead. It’s difficult to understand what our plan for midfield is if both will leave. But if Wilshere doesn’t want a pay as you play contract, then I’d offer that money to Rambo as he’s at least giving us something.
Now moving on; Alex Lacazzete was excellent! That decision to give him the penalty against Stoke was excellent and you can see that everyone realises the Europa league is all we’ve got.
Even if Chelsea continue their downfall it’s unlikely we’re catching up with them and 5th or 6th matters little compared to winning a tournament that puts you in the Champions League!
And winning this will be a typical Wenger trap card. How many seasons in a row have we bottled the big one and been left fighting for something to salvage the season? Winning the Europa league will be the biggest papering over the cracks! It would be like Wenger’s dream of a top 4 trophy as you do get an actual trophy and you play with the elite next season.
That ain’t fooling nobody though. Wenger can blame it on Easter, the weather, Thursday and everything else, but the attendance was shocking again! When I was watching Liverpool and City I was honestly jealous of the atmosphere. Anfield was a hell hole for City that ate them alive.
Compare this to the Emirates and we look like a ghost town. And I cannot blame anybody who has had enough of this. But I hope that if we get to the next round, we’ll fill the ground up, because it will be a much better opposition.
But the message has been loud and clear. This season was awful and we need change. Wenger hasn’t won the Europa league yet and even he does it will be nothing more than a nice way to leave!
Konstantin