The Aftermath: Europa Final Review and Arsenal Player Ratings

FT: CHELSEA 4-1 ARSENAL by Alfie

It’s time to talk about Wednesday night. A traumatic, heartbreaking, infuriating and agonising night. The consequences of this defeat for the club are huge, and we knew that prior to the game. Now we must face them.

The big debate over the line-up was all centred around who would play in goal. This debate almost overshadowed the rest of the side, and we seemed to lose sight of how important the outfield players performances were. We began brightly, limiting Chelsea’s threat as Xhaka and Torreira dominated the midfield battle. We looked expansive in possession, although not moving the ball with particular intensity, we were positive and seemed relatively up for it (as we obviously should’ve been). Our out-ball to Kolasinac in behind Chelsea’s defence seemed our most likely route to an opener, but the wing-back’s continually poor cut-backs and deliveries ultimately meant we wasted several good opportunities to go in front. Towards the end of the half our authority over the game faded, and Chelsea began to grow in confidence, threatening once or twice. It was a strange first period, with the atmosphere and venue effectively giving the game a pre-season feel, the pre-match tension dissipated by the ambience of Baku.

Whilst the first period could well be described as encouraging, the second could not have been more different. Once Chelsea opened the scoring out of nowhere, we fell apart. Heads dropped, nerves took over and we began to play frantically. We lost the ball in key areas, lost all defensive shape and structure and made it easy for Chelsea to carve through us time and time again. The introduction of Iwobi provided some temporary relief but this was indeed short lived as Hazard swept in to compound our misery, ending any hope of an astonishing comeback. A dark day for Arsenal football club, and one that looks set to haunt us in our immediate future endeavours. We have to believe that somewhere along the line there is hope, because without hope and optimism as a fan, you have nothing.

PLAYER RATINGS vs CHELSEA:

0️⃣1️⃣ Cech 7

0️⃣5️⃣ Sokratis 6

0️⃣6️⃣ Koscielny 4

1️⃣8️⃣ Monreal 4

1️⃣5️⃣ Maitland-Niles 6

3️⃣4️⃣ Xhaka 7

1️⃣1️⃣ Torreira 6

3️⃣1️⃣ Kolasinac 3

1️⃣0️⃣ Ozil 4

1️⃣4️⃣ Aubameyang 5

0️⃣9️⃣ Lacazette 5 –

Subs
1️⃣7️⃣ Iwobi 8

2️⃣9️⃣ Guendouzi 6

5️⃣9️⃣ Willock 7 –

Tell me your thoughts below, and if you don’t understand some of my ratings, ask below and I’ll give some justification