Sloppy passing. Missing players. Fatigue. It could have been worse. Much worse. But you can’t be mad at the players for this one. A game that featured two top teams lived up to it in the first half but after fatigue crept in, followed by a lack of attacking options, it was no surprise to see our boys fall to the Sheik’s money squad. Yes, I could complain (and I will, don’t worry) but this game was destined to see us drop a point or two (yeah… three). We started out ok and looked to hold on after closing a bit of the early gap but that is all we could manage as City just held us at our own game (there is something to be said about their home record this year).

From the get go you could tell this was not going to be Arsenal’s game. The pep we normally played with was absent; the attacking mindset, lock down D, crafty passes (oh there were still a few as we do have some serious quality in the square regardless of our exhaustion). And we limp away from this one too.

Kols is out with a cut (hopefully not too serious). Sagna was back in but Gibbs was out in place of Monreal (I think this had a larger impact than most would admit). Giroud was left on attacking island as we struggled to manage any sort of rhythm or possession game. The lack of crispness to our passing just wreaked of jelly legs as the game saw us provide one bad pass after another. Just when one could hope we would start the counter we did nothing more than gift the ball back into City’s midfield attackers. I give City some credit, but Arsenal did themselves no favors with this one and I have to cry foul on Arsene’s early season “rotation”. Ozil needs a rest, Rambo could use a real breather and Giroud can’t get much more overworked. With the midfield depth we allegedly have it is a wonder that we haven’t run ourselves into the ground with the lineups we have put out there.

The lone bright spot in the game was none other than Theo. His double was pure quality (even if he didn’t quite put that one away with authority) and you have to be excited that he should be playing in his true winger role (as opposed to the constant placement of a midfielder up top). Additionally, Gnabry gave some late game pace that has me thinking a young Theo without the ego (sheesh, that rhymed… I must be reading too many children’s books). In any event, Theo’s pace, coupled with Ozil’s vision should be something to behold in the next few weeks as Theo stakes his claim to a starting role again. You just have to hope we continue to cycle through the right combination of MFs to support it all.

I know this isn’t much a re-hash of the game so much as a what can we take from it and move forward post. Maybe I was just pissed about giving up so many goals. Maybe I was frustrated to see Kols go out with a gash. Or could it be I am getting nervous about our fixture list and dwindling lead on the points chase? Yeah…

At any rate, I have to say I just want to see the following at some point: Poldi Giroud Theo – Rambo Ozil Flamini – Gibbs BFG Kols Sagna… I could easily be just as happy with swapping Poldi and Flamini with Cazorla and Arteta (which is a strong possibility with Santi) but Flammini’s tenacity has been an awesome display this season (an enforcer of sorts). Poldi coming back is really going to be nice as are really starting to miss another striking option to Giroud (although a much different style). All in all, you just have to write this one off. We lost fair and square. Didn’t deserve to win and we need to move on and take all the points we can from games we should absolutely win. This isn’t a race so much as a marathon and we still have a long way to go… COYG!