The lessons from Europa failure.

by .

A not so happy Friday for most of us, the loss last night was hard to stomach. Olympiacos were not elite opposition and we’d already done the hard job in Greece, we really should have been able to drive that victory home and keep our Champions League hopes alive.

So where do we start on this one?  For me, the key issue was fatigue. The players looked leggy and tired and that filtered into the stands. That was our 4th game in 11 days, which is a lot, but it’s something we knew about and unfortunately, we didn’t seem prepared for the realities of it.

The starting 11 should have been rotated. I understand that Arteta would have been critiqued whatever happened if a loss came out the back end, but I think he pushed the starting 11 too far in this one and the output was inviting for the Greeks.

That said, I don’t this was an effort issue. We weren’t witnessing players not giving a fuck, they just weren’t at the races physically. They still fought until the 2 minute of added-on time in extra time. The cost of fatigued players came in the form of a key injury to the freshly rejuvenated Mustafi. It’ll also now have a knock-on effect mentally. Tired legs after a soul-destroying loss will feel heavier.

The second criticism would have to centre around the subs. Ceballos for Torreira didn’t really do much for our attacking threat, LT just isn’t very good at penetrating the lines and when he’s pushing forward it takes him longer to get back. Joe Willock proved ineffectual when he joined the program, he’s just not there yet, he must be doing something incredible in training because we’re not really getting enough from him on the pitch.

The big one that we waited and waited for was the introduction of Gabriel through the middle. I really like Lacazette, he’s a good guy, offers great vibes in training, but he really, really struggles against powerhouse centre backs. Last night he was in the main totally neutralised by the Greeks hulking centre back pairing. I thought he’d turned the corner, that wasn’t clear last night. I thought the moment that summed up his season was a delicious fake from Ozil that fell to him in space, his shot blazed out of the stadium. 2 years ago he’s finding the net.

Arteta didn’t sub him until the second half of injury time. Now, I can see the idea here, the Greeks were fading badly, Gabriel is a hand-grenade on the pitch, and sure enough, he was, his nodded head in the box setup the Auba scissor kick. The game stays the same and it’s a celebrated substitute timed really well.

Football is a beast though, a Bernd Leno mistake started a domino effect of fuck ups that let them back in. Then, last gasp, Auba puts wide a chance he’d score 9 times out of 10.

Overall, we lost because of a lack of quality in the final third combined with customary defensive errors we’ve been making for 10 years (so, errr, everything). The attacking issues are of more concern. We had 19 shots and only found the target 4 times. This wasn’t a case of ‘well, we were reduced to poor quality chances’, this was bad misses (xG 1.5 (Ars) – 1 (Oly)).

The Greeks gave us possession and we didn’t know how to use it. We really struggled with the deep block and we didn’t have the confidence to invite them on. We chased the second goal because we knew that’s what we had to do. Imagine if that game was reversed, do you think the Greeks would have played like? Doubtful. They’d have sat back, invited us to attack, then spring a counter-attack.

… but we have to move on.

The ghouls will be out for the new manager, that’s just par the course these days. If you only come out of your box for the losses, you have to ask yourself some serious questions. The path to a brighter future was never going to be perfect, the damage to this season was set in motion 18 months ago. You don’t undo the problems in two months. Also, find me a single manager in the world of football that would pick up this group of players in this moment and breeze the season. You wouldn’t. All managers make mistakes, it’s how you find out what your squad is made of, it’s how you learn where the limits are. We are barely 2.5 months into this new chapter.

What did we really learn from last night? There is still a lot of work to do on the defence. We are terrible from setpieces. There are still a lot of individual errors that you can’t afford at the highest level. There are some players that don’t look capable physically at this current moment. Bukayo Saka still looks the business, but even he had his bad moments last night as the panic set in. Next season, it’ll be a different mix. Saliba will join, we’ll probably buy a player like Upemacano, and if Mari is any good, he might be a fixture. We’ll also be looking at right back.

It is also very clear that our midfield needs work. We need better athletes. I think this has been an agenda item for years. We need to look towards power and pace. Players like Denis Zakaria and Wilfred Ndidi never seem to find their way towards Arsenal. Even Bruno Guimarães, a huge fave in the comments here, looked brilliant in the Champions League in the week. Arsenal need to go young and really make sure our midfield represents what the league looks like in 2020.

On the positives, the squad is still working for the cause. You couldn’t put that game down to a lack of effort. The players powered through the redzone in a game they were clearly finding very tough. I’m not here feeling disgusted, I’m just burned by the way things went down. The Auba chance at the end said it all about the new mindset, even if it didn’t come off.

Success is very rarely a straight line, if that’s what you were expecting from the new regime picking up this bag of shit season, then you were setting yourself up for a failure. This was always going to be a long preseason. There is plenty to do right now and there will be big changes in the summer as the squad is reshaped in the vision of someone that actually has a vision. The manager has found out that he pushed his squad too far last night, now he has to deal with the mess. In his press conference after he was very focused on the idea that he has to lift the players for Monday’s game against Brighton. That was our first loss of 2020, the next test is the character of the squad and the power of the managers leadership to get them back winning and making themselves a nuisance in the race for top 5.

A huge challenge, so let’s see where he goes. Onwards people, onwards. Podcast below and the prezzer from Arteta.

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Marc

Leftside

If they “salvage” this I’ll fill the fucking hole in!

Major_Jeneral

TAA is a good attacker. Defence? Not sure.

RodneyKing

Long live the Invincibles!!! Surely, it can’t be too early to celebrate.

Dissenter

Thomas
Eff off
It’s obvious you’re not a gooner

TR7

Wow wow wow

Our record lives on

Dissenter

Don’t you all live this game
Whoever coined that “beautiful game” metaphor should get laid tonight.

Marc

I used to know a ManU supporter who was always looking to try and write off the achievement of going unbeaten for a season.

Samesong

Thomas Unbeaten mean unbeaten. Liverpool can get 200 point for all we care.

Thomas

Several teams have done better than the invincibles. That team had too many draws. Getting more points is more impressive than if you went undefeated or not.

Graham

Troy Deeney is an Arsenal legend

Never thought I would type that … and be happy about it.

Marc

As the banner in the stadium says “Is yours Gold?”

Sid

If mustafinovs, xhakalson and ozil are in the team next season everytime the show up on the field Arteta should go through the skullbreaker challenge, to be done by Per & Mari

Ishola70

Good old Watford

Always liked them.

Salt of the earth Hertfordshire pikeys

Leftside

Didn’t your team draw today Thomas jog on you mug

Leftside

Hair on Marc keep the faith

Marc

Graham

You might want to go and take a shower after that!

Major_Jeneral

The last Liverpool lost to Watford, it was by the same current scoreline. And they just hired Klopp at the time(2 months in).
Skirtel was their main defender

Chris

Only ours is Gold!

I should think Liverpool will regroup from this and redouble their efforts in the CL and FA Cup. They haven’t been at their very best recently so this has been in the post for a little while. The defeat actually might stoke a reaction from them for the rest of their season.

Graham

Maybe Thomas is Michael Thomas. Gooner turned Liverpool fan.

Thomas

The invincibles team had two many draws. Should really have reached the 100 point mark.

Marc

Thomas will be telling all the girls later that size doesn’t matter.

They’ll all think he’s a cunt as well.

Marko

Whoever coined that “beautiful game” metaphor should get laid tonight.

What is wrong with you

Marc

Should’ve been 4!

Thomas

“I used to know a ManU supporter who was always looking to try and write off the achievement of going unbeaten for a season.”

___

Winning the treble is more impressive. Getting dumped out of two competitions in space of one week. Some ‘invincibles” that.

Samesong

Thomas is upset his team couldn’t beat Bournemouth today.

Josip Skoblar

We’ll remain the only INVINCIBLES!!!

Fire

Football god’s trying to make amends for their error on Thursday.
I knew there was a reason behind that loss

Dissenter

Marko
It was just banter, maybe it didn’t go down well with you.
Lighten up or just ignore my post and move on.

Marc

“Winning the treble is more impressive.”

Your team hasn’t done that either.

Thorough

Shit. I always bet against Liverpool. Immediately West Ham went ahead the other day I cashed out nearly 3ce of my bet. Today I cashed out almost thrice too, shit that could have been x7 if I had balls.

Marko

Whoever first called it the beautiful game is probably long dead so there’s that

Samesong

This is a battering. Could of been 4-0

Leftside

What weirdo spends time on the forum of a team he supposedly supports trashing everything about them? Pick up another pasttime.

Dissenter

Liverpool have to be at their best against Atletico
Klopp won’t be happy with this.

Good for Watford, hope they use this result to step up and stay in the division.

Tom

The invincibles team had two many draws. Should really have reached the 100 point mark.
———
Exactly my point
Liverpool just lost and people still feel compelled to compare them to invincibles.
No one ever wins these silly debates.

Marc

Pedro

Not sure Liverpool showing any more signs of fatigue than other matches, their last match was Monday night. They’ve haven’t been outstanding in more than a few matches they’ve got results in.

Dissenter

For a while, I thought it was Marko that coined that term “a beautiful game”.
Anyway I will stay off humorless banter for now

Sid

The burnout has come for liverpool had expected it as early as Dec but congratulations to their fitness team
Liverpool will be out of the CL soon

You heard it here 1st!

Champagne Charlie

Watford have a better squad than Liverpool confirmed

Marko

Anyway I will stay off humorless banter for now

Not on my account you won’t

Samesong

Tom

The record says unbeaten who cares about draws. The other teams couldn’t beat us. Something you fail to understand l. Not an easy achievement for the premier league. Who cares if Liverpool break the 100 mark they still have 1 loss under their name.

Nelson

WOW! Just checked the score. Long live Watford!

Dissenter

Pedro
I think it’s best not to draw any connections to our limp display on Thursday.
Let’s see is Klopp will cite fatigue as an excuse.

UTarse

Thomas you are one sad numpty.

Graham62 will be gutted, he’s got a soft spot for scousers.

Sid

Pedro Attwood, give it a rest!

Marc

So the collapse starts today. Liverpool lose to Chelsea midweek and go out of the CL next week.

#Kloppout!

Olumide

Invincibles! Invincibles!! Invincibles!!!

Marc

Where’s CG he would have loved this!

Gentlebris

‘Why should Aubameyang be feeling responsible for Thursday?’ RH, It’s clear Auba wants to stay but he feels he can only stay if we play CL next year. He saw Europa as the most viable route. I think Auba would rather be a legend here but he can’t stomach another year not playing CL, especially after the insult from Dortmund president. Arteta is a fine man, a rookie coach who shouldn’t have been appointed but he is a fine fella. I now have to believe yesterday was a honest mistake because I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard him… Read more »

Marc

Sid

So it’s Le Untold from now on eh

Dissenter

Liverpool have had many games where they were just as lifeless but they were bailed out by Manes diving (to get penalties) and defensive errors,
They’ve had some luck I;their unbeaten run.

Losing takes the back to earth from the stratospheric heights they were operating in before.
Atletico will love this result.

Tom

Pedro
Liverpool aren’t fatigued , well , not more than most anyway.
They have clearly lost some of their edge and haven’t played well in some time.
It’s a typical loss of form most clubs experience during a season.
It could also be psychological knowing the league is theirs.

Arsenal started slow but picked up as the game wore on.
Your agenda is blinding your judgment.
It’s quite amusing.

Receding Hairline

We heard you the first one thousand times Pedro

Fatigue is why we lost to Olympiakos, whose responsibility is it again to rotate the squad and keep players fresh in the face of a congested fixture list?

MidwestGun

And somewhere the Liverpool 2020 Invincibles video production and associated Merch. comes to a screeching halt.

Watford fans chanting can we play you every week.. hahaha Classic.

I agree Marc, breakup Liverpool they are done.. #Kloppout

TR7

Liverpool haven’t looked good for a while now. They have been very lucky too with referee decisions and poor form of rival teams.

Samesong

Tyson Fury is still unbeaten
Joshua has lost a fight

Not about how many knockout Joshua has?

RodneyKing

Ironically, if TAA and Robertson were good defenders, they wouldn’t be so effective going forward.

Marc

In breaking news the Government has announced that all PL matches will be cancelled for the next 3 months due to the Corona virus outbreak therefore this season will be struck from the record.

Sorry Scousers.

Kay

Love you Alex cutter 😀😀

Dissenter

I wouldn’t want to share that invincibles tag with Liverpool They would have appropriated it in unbelievable fashion.
Thank goodness

Marko

Fatigue probably has been a factor in that Liverpool performance today given they’ve put so much into the season so far. Not really an excuse for our lot is it. Anyway maybe we should have rotated more recently

Leedsgunner

Liverpool beaten..

Yes!

That’ll be all.

Samesong

Awe my little nephew bawling his eyes out. Oh well Little glory hunter 😭😭😭

Redtruth

Congratulation Watford for stopping Liverpool’s unbeaten run and beating the 49 game record.

Dissenter

The league should just award Watford a “ get out relegation jail” card
What a performance.

rollen

Fuck yeah . Watford to the rescue!

Champagne Charlie

Arsenal fans on Twitter are hilarious.

Man wrote “*laughs in invincibles*” on the official Liverpool account update for the Deeney goal.

😂

Leedsgunner

Watford, thank you!

Marc

Samesong

Punch the little fuck

Thomas

That Invincibles team underachieved. Should’ve done the treble that season.

Moe

Halle fuckin lujah ………..about time.

CazOnARola

Liverpool have been playing longer this for a long time.

Some great hits and Var aside, they would have lost long back.

This is some consolation this week after losing to Olympiakos in that manner.

I know trying to get joy in liverpool s misery, but hey i wouldn’t have it any other way.

Long live The Invincibles!

Receding Hairline

We had a hectic end to last season, didn’t hear anyone cite fatigue when we collapsed. But Arteta mismanaged one game and fatigue gets rolled out…. Watford beating Liverpool apparently confirms that

Redtruth

Tom

This isn’t about Wenger, it’s about the club.

Marc

Receding

Give it a fucking rest.

Receding Hairline

Anyone watching Liverpool over the last few weeks always knew a loss was on the cards, the only surprise is it coming at Watford. Never worried they were going to finish the season unbeaten.

Champagne Charlie

Lmaooooo

receding wants to claim fatigue for us failing to secure a win in 7 games.

Kay

Red is happy too…. Lol

Receding Hairline

What am I giving a rest Marc?

In case you didn’t notice Pedro name dropped me in his post, only right I point out how wrong it is to use today’s result justify what happened on Thursday

You can always skip a post you know

Champagne Charlie

Liverpool were unbeaten when we had Emery, they lose soon after we appoint Arteta.

Case closed.

Bob N16

Watford…we salute you! Slightly hoping that we would take out Liverpool but more than happy that our trophy is the only one entitled to a gold top.

First time I could face going on Legrove since Thursday.

Receding Hairline

No Charles I am not

The author of the blog wants to use it as an excuse to explain what happened on Thursday against a team who have played two more games than we have of late

Keep up

TR7

I just want.to ravel in the myseries of Liverpool. We can debate Arteta vs Emery next week.

Bob N16

Even Redtruth….

CG

I did say, Nigel Pearson was the Equal of Klopp.

Got laughed at the time…( and banned temporarily)
No ones laughing now.

Truly Sensational management from Pearson.

Once again showing why having an experienced inspirational manager will ALWAYS be better than having this Head Coach/Teck Deck /DOF concocted nonsense.

Nelson

The mood of the fan base has been saved by Watford. Last year our team was caught in two minds, the League or the Europa Cup. Now the problem is solved.

Marko

I did say, Nigel Pearson was the Equal of Klopp.

Well there’s that

Dissenter

Let’s just take this time to wax in nostalgia and laugh at Liverpool
Wenger’s record is is still celestial
Liverpool will finally get some negative press and their annoying commentators can just shut it for one second.

UTarse

As an Arsenal fan if you aren’t enjoying this moment of consolation, then you aren’t really a fan.

Poor old receding is full of bitterness and Thomas supports a small club in Fulham.

Marko

Hard to believe Liverpool are about to win the league in record fashion a season after the Champions League. One would assume they’re garbage going by some of the comments here

CG

The two biggest tournaments in English soccer are The League Championship and FA Cup.

No one will ever match Our Wengers unique records in both:

The Unbeaten Season
X 7 FA Cups.

Wengerism will always be alive and kicking.

It will never fade.
And His achievements will become even greater as the years pass.

Marc

Death to Scousers!

Champagne Charlie

The admin of our Twitter account just congratulated Liverpool for a formidable unbeaten run 😂😂😂

We’re smug as fuck and petty as it comes even on official club platforms, love to see it.

Valentin

For 72 million, I would exchange 1 Pepe for 1 Ismaila Sarr + 1 Doucoure.

Marko

Anyone who shows displeasure in the NORWICH result tonight has no place on a gooner blog

What did Leicester do?

Bob N16

Smell the roses Marko, don’t shit on them!

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