All the Arsenal transfer rumours over the last two weeks has been about Alexis Sanchez, Aubameyang and Malcom, all attacking players, but let’s get serious and start looking at the other end of the pitch in the defence. Because Koscielny and Monreal were both out injured, we had to start our young English centre-back pairing of Chambers and Holding alongside Mustafi against Bournemouth
But somehow we managed to gift the Cherries two goals in four crazy minutes to lose yet again away from home, and Wenger made it clear that it was defensive mistakes that cost us the game. He said after the match: “We made mistakes that were not even forced by their qualities, just because we made bad decisions. Overall, it’s very frustrating that we come out down from the stand and wonder how did we lose this game. I don’t really know how. Being harsh, I would say we gave the game away today with mistakes. It was not attitude, because our attitude was spot on. The players had good focus and as well, being objective, we didn’t create enough on that front.”
He was then asked if it was our strikers or defenders that were at fault for losing and he declared: “Both boxes. I would say on the creative side we were not sharp enough. I am surprised by the kind of mistakes we made today. It’s very unusual and very difficult to explain.”
He then went on to say that reinforcing the defence was now “urgent” saying: “I think we need to give more, push ourselves even more and get some experienced players back at the back. We make too many naive mistakes. That is urgent, as well that we strengthen our offensive power. At the moment we have a lot of the ball, but we didn’t create enough in the final third.”
So he Boss was certainly not impressed with Holding and Chambers, but if he is just talking abut getting Koscielny and Monreal back he must surely know that that cannot be enough. We have already conceded 30 goals this season in just 23 games, and I think you will find that Koscielny and Monreal contributed their own fair shares of mistakes to reach those figures. I think Wenger is right that it is now “urgent” to get reinforcements in as soon as possible.
Jonny Evans, anyone? Or maybe Mavropanos will prove to be good enough to slot straight into the team, but he is surely not experienced!
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