Arsenal were let down by 5/10 star who lost the ball 27x

Arsenal got here into their FA Cup third-round conflict with previous rivals Manchester United realizing not all the things was of their favour.

This time period has been one in all dangerous luck. From these pink playing cards towards Brighton, Bournemouth and Manchester Metropolis to Martin Odegaard‘s ankle damage in September and Bukayo Saka’s heartbreaking hamstring damage.

Mikel Arteta has coached some sensible video games this time period however because of various circumstances have not been capable of recover from the road in a number of cases.

Properly, in soccer, you may also make your individual luck and the Gunners have not taken it throughout their two cup matches in latest days. Towards Newcastle United, the Londoners created a succession of probabilities with Kai Havertz most notably lacking a header from a matter of yards out.

Towards United because the Crimson Devils gained on penalties on Sunday, it was the identical previous story; Arsenal could not rating some gilt-edged probabilities.

It was Bruno Fernandes who opened the scoring towards the run of play however following Diogo Dalot’s pink card, Gabriel acquired the hosts again into the tie. Arteta’s facet could not discover the web from that second onwards and have been made to pay for his or her wasteful ending, shedding 5-3 on penalties.

The aforementioned Havertz was maybe the largest wrongdoer on the Emirates Stadium.

Kai Havertz’s efficiency in numbers vs Man United

Arsenal got here into final January needing a striker. Havertz in the end went on to score eight goals and supply seven assists as a centre ahead within the again finish of 2023/24.

But, the Gunners got here into the summer season window needing a centre ahead once more. They didn’t get one and as a substitute put their religion within the German once more.

Scoring four times in his opening seven matches of the league marketing campaign, that call regarded vindicated.

Nevertheless, a 12 months on from when their woes in entrance of purpose actually regarded dangerous, Arsenal aren’t any higher off. The truth is, this time, they appear even worse.

Make no mistake, the board merely need to strengthen the squad this month or this crop of gamers might be in for a very bumpy finish to the season.

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That is as a result of Havertz is beginning to present as soon as once more why so many questioned his £65m acquisition in the summer of 2023. For probably the most half, the previous Chelsea man has defied his critics however within the final two matches, he has proven why he can’t be trusted to guide the road long-term.

If his miss towards the Toon a number of days in the past was dangerous, his efforts towards Ruben Amorim’s males have been even worse.

Certainly, he sliced an effort vast from only a matter of yards earlier than it acquired even worse in direction of the top of the match when the ball fortuitously fell to the Germany worldwide from close to point-blank vary. Did he rating? After all not. Remarkably he fired over the bar.

Coming into the penalty shoot-out with a insecurity, it was maybe unsurprising to see him miss his penalty. He was the one participant to overlook. It was decisive.

Because it occurs, one other participant missed a penalty, simply in regular time. That was the skipper.

Martin Odegaard’s efficiency in numbers vs Man United

Final time period Odegaard was a merely phenomenal a part of this Arsenal staff. He was a key part, registering 11 goals and 11 assists in all competitions. Along with Saka, they ran riot on the right-hand facet, unlocking groups and making certain opposition defenders begged them for mercy.

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Performance in Numbers

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Properly, this day out it has been a bit totally different. The truth is, it has been very totally different. Odegaard is but to attain from open play in 2024/25 and has been a way off his finest since getting back from that 12-game lay-off courtesy of an ankle damage.

His poor enjoyable of kind confirmed no signal of slowing down towards United on Sunday and it was his missed penalty that prevented Arsenal from operating away with issues in regular time.

After Harry Maguire was adjudged to have tripped Havertz, the Norwegian stepped up however was denied by an incredible cease by stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. It was the primary penalty Odegaard has missed in his profession up to now.

These issues can occur however he as The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid noted during the game, his set-pieces have been largely “woeful”. Now, residing as much as Saka’s nook taking from the right-hand facet will take some doing however from his a number of deliveries into the field, not many got here off.

Whereas the captain performed a outstanding ten key passes, eight greater than another participant on the sphere, not lots of them actually amounted to a lot however for Declan Rice’s header within the second half that he ought to have scored from.

To make issues worse, Odegaard gave away the ball 27 instances, greater than any outfield participant, and his lack of ability to take a shot actually left the Emirates Stadium crowd feeling pissed off.

He had three photographs within the recreation with just one on track however on a number of events, the 26-year-old acquired the ball on the sting of the realm and selected to put it off to a teammate fairly than take a shot. It was hardly a shock to see him handed a low post-match participant score by GOAL who dished out a 5/10 to the previous Madrid man.

It is evident the Norway worldwide, like lots of his teammates, is affected by a insecurity.

Two cup defeats within the house of some days will not assist however some new signings actually will do. If Arsenal are to rescue something from this season then the squad wants bolstering and it wants bolstering rapidly. Over to you Stan Kroenke.

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