Originally Posted by
IBK
What happened last night was precisely what I was nervous about. I'm not presenting myself as an expert analyst here - because I think it was utterly predictable that PSG would come flying out of the traps, and how many times have we seen this Arsenal team sluggish and unfocussed, and concede as a result of this? It's immediately obvious when we start a game like this, and for all PSG's brilliance in the first 30 minutes, we were architects of our own downfall.
The way PSG were pinpoint crisp and energised in contrast to our waywardness in this period was plain to see. I was concerned before the game about Partey's absence in MF but I did not expect such a massive drop off with Merino there. Yes, we very much steadied the ship after 35/40, but even after we had done so, the same familiar failings - lack of finishing; ponderous build up in attack; lack of movement and off-form players were present and correct. We very nearly imploded altogether in the final period of the game.
It's easy to be wise after the event, I know, but the RM ties masked the frailties in our team that have been found out repeatedly in the league. RM's reputation masked the fact that they are a collection of individuals rather than a team now. PSG are the opposite - a finely honed machine with outstanding talent - and the nervousness our players showed in the first half in particular suggests to me that they knew this too - there was hardly the confidence that should have come from the 5-1 in our previous tie.
I was going to say that the idea PSG could be outmuscled by a more physical Arsenal side ignored their results against Liverpool and Villa, but the sad fact is that we basically had nothing else out there tonight. Leaving Nwaneri as sub until 88/89 was pointless and in my view a mistake - given how Odegard was stinking the place up, but the 2 subs we made were the only options before reverting to a bench of Academy players.
As 21GS says, at our very best, with all our players on song, I think we could have at least drawn this match. But barring MLS; Saliba; Kiwor and (for the most part, acknowledging both his mistake and his deeper role) Rice, we were nowhere near.
Who says we can't take league form into a cup comp? On paper we can turn this around in Paris, but the head says we won't. And we could be in jeopardy of a CL place next season with more dropped points against Bournemouth at the weekend, and Liverpool and Newcastle still to play in the league. Many said after the Palace game that the league is not important. Well it has made Saturday an absoulute nightmare with us having to face PSG again on Wednesday.
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