I think he should have made some of the changes he did a bit earlier when Sokratis was red carded, but the thing is, once you're down to 10 men with over 45 minutes to play, the truth is you are always going to be up against it. Especially when you have a highly motivated Ben Arfa keen to show Emery why he was wrong to mistreat him, and Ismailia Sarr, who is one of the most sought after forwards in Europe, that wants to grasp the opportunity to showcase his talents to the rest of Europe. The truth is though, and you mentioned it in your post, we had a lack of leadership. There was no defensive organisation or cohesion at all. No player out there was telling the others to get back into shape or barking instructions. The players do have to take responsibility for that too as, like I said, we were playing straight into their hands. We were playing a high line and pushing forwards in the last 20 minutes when there was no need. A 2-1 loss, though not ideal, would have been a lot easier to swallow than the 3rd goal that may well have killed the tie off.
Imho their pace was only evident because you gave them so much time and space on the ball. Technically they weren't great. You lacked any pressing and that just gave them the time to grow in confidence. They should never have got near your defence all game, they really weren't that good. Press them in the second tie (as you did very well against spurs and may well do against us on sunday) and along with the quality you have, they will crumble. The arsenal players just didn't look up for it today, and sadly that comes from the manager so he really needs to get that across to them (though hopefully after Sunday ). Taking Aubameyang off also sends the wrong message out to the players on the pitch as well as being a strange decision in itself tactically. The only positive in all this is that arsenal are more than capable of beating that Rennes side despite the result tonight.
Second time we've been battered once Sokratis has had to come off the pitch. Monreal and Mustafi were soo soo bad. I genuinely hope we sell our entire defence this summer save Sokratis and Bellerin. Aubameyang was having a poor game but regardless he needs to stay on the pitch. He's one of the only players we have who can make a goal out of nothing. Emery needs to find his best 11 - all this chopping and changing is not helping anyone.
Some excellent news going into the second leg of the Rennes game. UEFA only partially upheld Lacazette's ban, so he will now be available for the second leg against them https://www.arsenal.com/news/alex-lacazette-now-eligible-rennes-clash
Kind of glad there's a break after this before the next EPL game. This game (however it goes) is going to be quite taxing and we cant afford to be fatigued for any of our remaining EPL fixtures.
Shame Sokratis wont be available. Mhki looks unlikey as well. Personally I hope he goes for.. --------------------------Leno----------------------------- ----------Mustafi-------Kos---------Monreal----------- AMN--------Ramsey-------Xhaka--------Kolasinac --------------------------Ozil------------------------------- -----------Lacazette---------Aubameyang----------- or.. --------------------------Leno----------------------------- AMN------------Mustafi-------Kos----------Monreal ------Guendouzi-----Xhaka----Ramsey------------- --------------------------Ozil------------------------------- -----------Lacazette---------Aubameyang-----------
I'd go 3 at the back with the two wing backs making a 5 when needed. That worked really well against Utd and I think we play better with that width.
Team news Arsenal v Rennes (20:00 GMT - agg: 1-3) Unai Emery makes just two changes to the Arsenal side who beat Manchester United 2-0 at the weekend. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has to settle for a place on the bench but Alexander Lacazette is in the starting line-up after his ban was reduced to two matches. In comes keeper Petr Cech for Bernd Leno and Shkodran Mustafi replaces Sead Kolasinac. Lucas Torreira, who started the defeat at Rennes, is on the bench. Arsenal XI: Cech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang There are two changes to the Rennes side who beat Arsenal 3-1 in the first leg. Mehdi Zeffane and Adrien Hunou drop to the bench, while M'Baye Niang and Hamari Traore come into the team. Goalscorers Ismaila Sarr and Benjamin Bourigeaud are also in the starting XI. Rennes XI: Koubek, da Silva, Mexer, Sarr, Grenier, Niang, Bourigeaud, Bensebaini, Ben Arfa, Andre, Traore
Looks like you got your wish when you see tonight's starting line up Arsenal XI: Cech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Decent bench too all be it without a back up out and out CF, but some okay options to bring on if we're chasing the extra goal (Iwobi & Miki).
The crowd will be up for it tonight too. Hoping to see an early goal which should set this tie alight.
They've got some serious pace in their front line so we will need to be very careful defensively. I don't want to see any stupid, rash moments from Mustafi (he says out of hope rather than expectation).
