Dan Ferguson’s match notes
Arsenal 1 Ostersund 2
This match began with a stark warning.
Within 20 seconds Bellerin had to rescue Arsenal and give away a corner. It was a sign of what was to come.
First 5 minutes were disjointed, rudderless and naive, (yet arrogant as always).
The empty stadium didn’t help things, but what can the club expect in a season of such mediocrity?
First 10. Crap still. Everyone in the side is incapable of making decisions. Caught on the ball time and time again, napping, out of position and just woeful organisation. No talking, no hustle, no harry. Ostersund are stroking the ball really well.
Ragged. 18 mins and Arsenal have been shocking in their lack of midfield and defensive protection, but also their recycling of the ball. I’m running out of insults here. I have to say, the players are not prepared for this game and Ostersund can smell blood.
21, I’ve been following Kolasinac and every single thing he has done today has been awful. He hasn’t managed to complete a pass, defend or attack at all. He playing like a jumper in a windy park that has blown on to the pitch and no one bothers to move it. And there is Kolasinac screwing up for the first goal! I feel quite pleased for the scorer Aiesh. He is the first Palestinian player ever in the competition. Good on him.
Immediately, Arsenal give the ball away. Wow! The second goal was brilliant. God knows where Ospina was standing, but what a turn and strike. That was like the best striker in the playground showing no mercy to a defender just happy to be playing. Have to be happy for Ostersund but this is as bad as anything Arsenal has turned out against Barca or Bayern. Make no mistake, this is not a weak team Arsenal has fielded.
Totally embarrassing. The only thing that has stopped Mkhitaryan being as bad as Kolasinac is his anonymity. On 35 a Welbeck header caused the first problem for Östersund. 41 still bugger-all and then Wilshere skies from 10 yards. AMN has been unsteady and Wilshere has been ropey. Both are poor today.
Questions must be asked about how Arsenal has prepared for this game. Also when Wenger says that he always picks a side to win a game, we shows he misguided he can be. From 41-47 Ostersund plated with 10 men and were just as dominant. A shocking first half.
2nd half. AMN replaced by Xhaka. I cannot see this going well. On 46, Kolasinac remembered that he is a footballer and decided to employ a useful combination of coordination and awareness to break, pass, and get into position. Goal.
On 48 Welbeck is a selfish so-and-so and dreadfully off-form. Pass it man, you will not score today. Mark my words. On 53 should be 1-3. Brave by Ospina but he didn’t know much about it. But that was an easy chance to poke the ball in.
The game is boring now. Wilshere looks totally miserable and is running like it too. I don’t know what’s wrong but his verve has gone. He seems heavy, but that might just be the weight of his bottom lip.
Ostersund knock the ball around really well. Have I said that already? On 67 Welbeck should have scored. Cut inside, and had the keeper all over the place, yet still missed. All day Danny. You aren’t scoring I’m telling you!
To a man Arsenal has been crap in possession. It hasn’t really improved in the second half, and the comedic pairing of Rob Holding and Jack Whitehall is terrifying. Neither can defend with consistency. Both look so error prone.
Ostersund had another great chance to score. Very unlucky. A better side… etc. Arsenal is so lucky.
Welbeck should have scored at the death. He didn’t and that is no surprise. Arsenal were shocking by their own poor standards. Here is an excuse to use.
What is the point of providing excuses and reasons for the appalling football, when nothing is ever done to address the ills? Surely we should just stop asking for reasons and accept that it just is. Arsenal just is. They are flirting with mid-table Terry Neill standards.
Sunday against Manchester City will be a totally different side, but will still be a mauling.