It was a huge disappointment for Arsenal fans to lose to Manchester United, as it always is. But the anger and frustration was heightened so much because they were there for the taking and just like last season, Arsenal let them off the hook. So I can understand the fans being furious, but I do not think we should blame Arsene Wenger for this one.
THe only way the Le Prof should be held culpable, in my book, is that we were having to play with Nacho Monreal alongside Per Mertesacker because of his failure to sign another centre back in the summer transfer window. And the injuries to Koscielny and Debuchy were simply unlucky.
After that, however, Wenger got his tactics right, while his opposite number Louis van Gaal’s decision to play two inexperienced centre backs in a back three was not a good idea. And the Dutchman should be the one under pressure today, but he probably cannot believe his luck. Instead of getting thumped they went home with an undesereved three points and in the top four.
The reason we didn’t punish them, despite controlling the game, creating plenty of chances, and never being troubled by the United attack until they scored, is simple. The players did not perform. Ramsey, Welbeck, Wilshere, Chamberlain and even Alexis were guilty of over playing and poor finishing. That is not something you can blame on Wenger and I am fairly sure that it was not his idea for Mertesacker to go high up on the right wing and leave Monreal with Rooney and Di Maria to deal with on his own.
Wenger will take the responsibility as managers do, but the players must start to help their boss out and take some responsibility of their own….