Quote Originally Posted by Delusions of Grandeur View Post
A dodgy performance and probably should have been two goals in the first half with a penalty awarded to them. We looked so stretched in the first half. The defenders were playing so wide apart with Kos and Monreal practically taking up wingback positions. Our CM's weren't much better. Elneny pushing up field too early and Xhaka not being able to find the right pass or space. We were lucky not to concede early because we were reckless in possession. With Elneny pushing so far forward early, my guess is that he's been instructed to play that in order to give Xhaka more space. Elneny never usually plays that way so it was unusual to see. But whatever the case, Xhaka can't control the midfield. Seen plenty online say we're playing him wrong and he needs to be able to sit deep and spread play but he's been given that freedom a day still looks shocking. We looks worse in fact. His passing percentages are worse this season.

Overall, not a great performance but much better in the second half. We had more control of the game and got much tighter. Good to Lacazette on the score sheet. Besides the goals, he's showing his quality. Work rate and some nice touches, flicks and a cheeky nutmeg. Need to get him involved more. Totally different performance to Chelsea and it seems like we can't defend well and attack. It's like we have two modes when approaching games. The organisation went right out of the window last night.
Yep this.

I thought we were horrible first half, a better side would have really punished us. Central Midfield is a real concern for me, with Elneny & Xhaka in there neither of them excel in anything or offer us that extra bit of quality offensively or defensively. I also thought we looked really disorganised in Central Defence in the first half, Mustafi had an absolute stinker, honestly I don't really rate him, he's way too rash. We definitely improved second half and took control of the game as we functioned better as a unit. Despite that I look at this team and think Meh, for all the money we have spent I don't actually think we have improved at all in like 3 seasons!