Two games in four days against Manchester Utd produced very contrasting performances. Our first was energetic and well-executed. Sakho was excellent, as were several others, and we fought back from a slow start to deliver a commendable performance. Our second was the polar opposite.
Something was missing on Wednesday. Several players were out of form and we struggled from the start. Utd pressed high up the pitch, pinning our wing backs deep and funnelling our play centrally. We lacked the energy, discipline and imagination to overcome their tactics and intensity and collapsed to a morale-damaging defeat.
Injuries to Cresswell and Antonio rubbed salt into our wounds and we can only hope that neither are serious. The loss of Sakho for six weeks is a devastating blow and robs us of a crucial skill set, invaluable to the style of football we want to play. Fletcher and Carroll are very different players to Sakho and we will miss his energy, defending from the front and use of the channels.
Tweeking the existing system
According to reports, Ayew missed the midweek game to continue an intensive training programme, designed to get him up to full fitness. I think he’s the player that offers a similar threat to Sakho. He performed well when brought on in our first game against Utd and showed glimpses of his talent. He could be played in a front two with Fletcher, using a 3-2-3-2 formation – retaining the wing-backs as we don’t have cover for a four at the back formation unless Arbeloa returns – which would allow Payet a more central role where he could roam freely, covered by Obiang and Noble/Lanzini. Ayew and Fletcher would drop into midfield when defending and press their central midfielders, creating an overload in midfield when we don’t have the ball. Ayew and Fletcher are both energetic, quick players and capable of performing this role.
With news that Antonio and Cresswell will miss the Arsenal game – and potentially the Liverpool game too – we will need to bring Masuaku in for Cresswell and Fernandes in for Antonio. Neither player will offer the same threat going forward, but both are well equipped defensively. Masuaku appears to be a very solid defensive full back and I’ve been impressed with his performances since he joined us. He’s far from the finished article but to come to one of the toughest leagues in the world and hold your own is admirable. However, he is not an attacking full back/wing back, and Fernandes isn’t even a full back or wing back, so we need to be aware of this and adjust accordingly.
Playing a system with three at the back and two wing backs is normally reliant on those wing backs providing the width and an attacking threat. Failing that we face a situation similar to our cup match; getting funnelled centrally. This isn’t necessarily a problem if our central players can transition quicker and use one and two touch football – which we were not doing on Wednesday. That’s why, for me, a holding pair of Obiang and Lanzini/Noble with Payet ahead of them is perfectly suited. Having two up front won’t allow Arsenal to press us so high, as long as they put in a shift, and unlike Utd, Arsenal’s plan A won’t be to get down the wings and pump balls into the box. They may surprise us and try this with Giroud, but our defence should be well equipped to deal with it. If we get it right then we will congest the midfield and there we can use our superior strength and aggression to unsettle Arsenal and slow the tempo of the game to the level we desire.
We were very sloppy against Utd, probably the most complacent I’ve seen us this season, and I’d be surprised if Bilic allowed this to happen again. One positive to take from the game was Ashley Fletcher’s performance and his first goal for the club. It was an excellent and instinctual finish from a very promising player and it must have meant a lot coming against his old club. May this be the first of many.
Onwards and upwards
We face a difficult challenge against Arsenal on Saturday but one we can win if we execute our game plan correctly. Arsenal will be looking to bounce back after a shock cup exit against Southampton and it’s up to us to use that to our advantage. We have got the better of them before under Bilic and he’ll be desperate to do so again. We have our injury problems which won’t help, but we have the ability to pull results from the jaws of obscurity, so I’m remaining positive.
Regardless of the result, I think we’d all be happy as long as we see the effort, commitment and passion that were all lacking on Wednesday. It’s time for the players to start taking responsibility and turn our season around.
COYI