Match Reaction: Arsenal 0-0 Sporting Lisbon

[SMatthews]

Keown said:



He makes me laugh, a "great player" and "He will be a big loss for them", talk about overstating it, yes he's useful as a sub or to come in to do a job when we're short, but he's not a match winner and certainly not a great player or a big loss, as I said he's replaceable and we have enough in our squad that we don't need to worry too much about it, we've got some decent options in attack, the defence is much more of an issue and much more affected by losing players.

In terms of being a good squad player, adding pace and options as we head into Christmas, with cup competions and needing to rest players, it’s a big loss. Having someone who doesn’t have to settle and gel in is invaluable at the moment. Especially given the smaller resources Emery is being given to work on at the moment. He took the pressure off at the end of the game against West Ham with the third goal, ensured we progressed into the next round of the cup and won us the points against Lisbon away. In context of our current squad and where we are in terms of the season and development under Emery, Keown is right. Iwobi doesn’t score much. Neither does Mikhi. Ramsey is sporadic. Wellbeck not being around is a blow in that regard too. Can we replace him and do better for next season? Yes. But we aren’t there yet and could’ve done with him being around over the next few months at least. Squad players like Wellbeck play a fundamental role in the success of any team. Even Man City who use younger players in lesser cup competitions and latter group stages of Europe.

[Mac76]

In terms of being a good squad player, adding pace and options as we head into Christmas, with cup competions and needing to rest players, it’s a big loss. Having someone who doesn’t have to settle and gel in is invaluable at the moment. Especially given the smaller resources Emery is being given to work on at the moment. He took the pressure off at the end of the game against West Ham with the third goal, ensured we progressed into the next round of the cup and won us the points against Lisbon away. In context of our current squad and where we are in terms of the season and development under Emery, Keown is right. Iwobi doesn’t score much. Neither does Mikhi. Ramsey is sporadic. Wellbeck not being around is a blow in that regard too. Can we replace him and do better for next season? Yes. But we aren’t there yet and could’ve done with him being around over the next few months at least. Squad players like Wellbeck play a fundamental role in the success of any team. Even Man City who use younger players in lesser cup competitions and latter group stages of Europe.

I agree with that - last season I groaned every time he came on, but I think as with a lot of other players he's improved under Emery and had become very useful, so i do think it's a loss given as you say there's not a lot of goals coming from too many other players

Along with set pieces I really think Emery has to get a grip on making sure enough of our players can have a decent chance of scoring from a variety of situations