[saivet]

That second half reminded me under Moyes when we got smashed by City 4-1. We did fine, but when a team is so far ahead, it was to be expected that they'd drop off.

 

[Revan]

The mega optimistic glass is half full view:

Martial looks good even when the team has a collective nightmare.
This won't paper over cracks.
Lesser teams would have imploded in the 2nd half.

Other lessons:

Our defense cannot play against strong teams without a midfield enforcer to protect the back 4.
We cannot carry 2 slow players in the team against good teams, nevermind 4.
Memphis needs time and probably competition too. But many on here are scapegoating him to fuck when our team just dropped down a few levels collectively.
Rooney was shite again, but nearing the end some of the aggression returned and it looked 1% better than what he's done so far this season.

No-one is blaming him for todays lose. What we're saying instead is that he has been awful for the majority of matches here. In fact, I would say that he has been good only against Brugge, PSV and Villa, with the other matches (including the last match when he scored) being second only to Rooney when it comes to the worst player in the pitch.

 

[No11]

Wrong set up by LVG, needed 5 in the middle with wide players that will track back and help the full backs.
Mata is wasted playing in a wide position, Depay just doesn't seem interested in tracking back.
The German and Carrick had no chance of containing Arsenals midfield and Rooney didn't seem interested until the game had already gone.
The Manager has to hold his hands up, he got it horribly wrong.

 

[RooneyLegend]

Disgraceful performance by all our outfield players. Just nothing short of pathetic.

 

[Globule]

No, no and no. 2nd half showed the difference between doing our jobs with fire in the belly and not doing our jobs like those first 20 mins

But how much weight can we really give that second half performance. The contest was over. You can't assess anything from that. Arsenal had us where they wanted us, and still could have added more gloss to the scoreline. All we did is pass it patiently around trying to work an opening. We weren't a threat and Arsenal were more than likely happy for us to have the ball.

 

[Kakeru]

That second half reminded me under Moyes when we got smashed by City 4-1. We did fine, but when a team is so far ahead, it was to be expected that they'd drop off.

What also reminds me of that particular match is that our 3 magi on the bench looked as bad as David Fecking Moyes when he had his head between his legs on that day. Can any of the 3 just stand up and start giving the 2 cents to the slackers out there?

 

[markhrad]

We were blitzed early and you have to give Arsenal credit for some neat interplay. I actually liked seeing Schweinsteiger and Carrick together but not if Mata is also playing. Mata has the ability to be creative, unfortunately he gets into the box too often and too early for my liking. He should be more involved with the creative play rather heading into the box after one short pass.
Rooney was not great but he did not look bad in playing a supportive role to Martial. He made a few of his usual simple mistakes but his work rate was back and he tried to be forward-thinking.
Despite the loss I was impressed by Martial, Smalling and Schweinsteiger

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Well, if you call unsuccessfully trying to break down a team who's happy to sit back and hit you on the counter after going 3-0 up 'imposing ourselves', sure.

They almost scored two more on the counter, and we were passing it about with leisure. saying we improved in the second half is fine. But claiming to have 'imposed ourselves'? That's ridiculous.

Claiming we didnt is what is ridiculous. People are acting like them having two chances on the break should never happen. That is exactly their game. First half we never did a single job well. We didnt pass well, press well nor play well. Second half when we did our jobs their pressing was no longer making us panic. Its a big reason they sat back. They still tried to press high but we were giving them no space everywhere. That is why they were that deep, that compact and repeatedly losing possesion easily. They took the foot off the gas excuse would be valid if they still passed and kept the ball second half like they did first half and in those first 20 mins. We quelled almost all but 2 of their second half counters. I have littlle doubt we imposed ourselves. To their credit their defending today as team was as good most of the game
as their 20 mins of stupendous attacking. Those shit first 20 mins are what has made people wrongly imagine we wete poor all game long

 

[GimmeAKitKat]

Blind has been AWOL since he was moved out to LB to cover for Shaw. Coming back into CB he's now always out of position.

Rooney was horrendous again, so called captain and i didnt see him trying to get at our players and amp them up at all. Last 15 mins he put abit of effort in but all it came to was charging into groups of arsenal players. Even Fellaini put Rooney's close control to shame and that's just pitiful.

Mata and Martial looked again like they are dying to have a decent No.10 to play with.

Needed Schneiderlin in that midfield today for extra mobility. And why take Darmian off?? Switch him to LB and push Young on. Taking Mata off was the end of the game.

 

[saivet]

What also reminds me of that particular match is that our 3 magi on the bench looked as bad as David Fecking Moyes when he had his head between his legs on that day. Can any of the 3 just stand up and start giving the 2 cents to the slackers out there?

Those sort of things, personally don't bother me

 

[Globule]

Claiming we didnt is what is ridiculous. People are acting like them having two chances on the break should never happen. That is exactly their game. First half we never did a single job well. We didnt pass well, press well nor play well. Second half when we did our jobs their pressing was no longer making us panic. Its a big reason they sat back. They still tried to press high but we were giving them no space everywhere. That is why they were that deep, that compact and repeatedly losing possesion easily. They took the foot off the gas excuse would be valid if they still passed and kept the ball second half like they did first half and in those first 20 mins. We quelled almost all but 2 of their second half counters. I have littlle doubt we imposed ourselves. To their credit their defending today as team was as good most of the game
as their 20 mins of stupendous attacking

We could have played another hour and we'd still be struggling to score. That's an issue we've had all season, where we're too slow, not penetrative enough, and too happy to play in front of the defence.

When you find yourself 3-0 up against a team that plays in this way it's a pretty good situation to be in. Nobody's denying we were better in the second half, but I don't think you can read too much into our 2nd half performance when the game was over as a contest.

Under the best Ferguson teams, opponents would expect a backlash, they'd know that they have to be wary because we're going to throw everything into getting something back, but 'imposing' ourselves on to opponents these means the exact same thing regardless of scoreline, situation, time left. Unless we resort to our Plan B, which is just lumping it into Fellaini. I'm actually quite pleased I didn't have to watch that today, if i'm honest.

 

[Kakeru]

Those sort of things, personally don't bother me

It does for me, especially when the team was in need of a kick in the ass to start playing when the match was still in its infancy despite the 0-2 deficit.

 

[GaryLifo]

I thought we bought Schneiderlin exactly for games like today. Arsenal are one strong challenge away from folding in every game they play. He'd have got amongst them a bit and stopped them playing.

I'd also prefer to see Young play LW rather than Depay. I fear Depay is another Nani... But without the 1 game in 15 man of the match performance.

His attitude stinks.

 

[antsmithmk]

I was at the game today, prawn sandwich with the home fans.

Didn't feel like a 3-0 performance or a game we deserved to lose 3-0. Crazy first 8 minutes... we were caught cold. After that it was pretty even with both teams struggling to make many chances.

Negatives
We lack urgency and someone to create something from nothing either out wide or in midfield.
Damian had a torrid time against Sanchez
Young and Valencia at full back

Positives
Martial. Watching him in the flesh he is a player and a half. The runs and positions he takes... you can't teach some of these things.
Fellani just keeps himself involved in games

 

[montpelier]

Walcott's gone for the proper full-on Arsenal gobshite mode in a big way since getting his mitts on the 14 shirt.

 

[shivab]

Yeah, just a shame the game's at Goodison Park really.

my bad. its going to be a tough one then.but we'll be up for it..esp after this performace

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Game lost in twenty minutes because our coaching staff didn't change anything at one nil. Not going on like I know everything, but at 0-0 things were not right. The pressing was awful and Arsenal were getting through us with ease. We basically said to Schweinsteiger, no matter where he goes, just press Cazorla, which as the commentators said, left a massive gap in our midfield. It meant if they beat the press, which they often did, four or five of our players were taken out the game and Arsenal could counter us.

Personally, I think we should have pressed in a 442. So instead of Rooney sticking to Coquelin (who wouldn't have been a massive threat if we give him time on the ball) we should have told him to press Mertersacker, who had bags of time to pass it out from the back, which is often how they attacks started.

Think the second half was a lot better, in terms of pressing and keeping the ball, but as Van Gaal said, it's hard to gage how much better we really were, as Arsenal most likely played at 50%.

Personally I'd like to see us stick with the 433. Its the system that we saw our best football produced at the back end of last season. Either that, or we need to sort out our pressing in a 4231 because it was all over the place today.

 

[LARulz]

Impressed by Van Gaal's interview to be honest. Admitted we were absolute crap and this was a shock. Maybe a wake up call

 

[Ixion]

They came out at 100mph and we were sleeping, jogging around like we'd see out this opening storm and eventually get the ball and pass it around. Then the game was over before we knew it. There was no urgency from anyone bar Schweinsteiger to match the effort and pace Arsenal started at and it's something we've been guilty of too often this season, starting slowly till we eventually get the ball and start passing it around.

 

[legball]

What an absolute shambles, 3 goals in 20 minutes, incredible. If this team has character, they'll bounce back hard against Everton, but that's one game I'm expecting us to lose, and it's what makes losing to Arsenal very difficult to take, there's a template to beat them, even Moyes used it with success, why did LVG start with Carrick & Schweinsteinger? I think someone to break up play like Schneiderlin would have been perfect for this game. The second half didn't matter, Arsenal had 3, dropped off etc.

 

[MrSingh2002]

• Having 3 30 year olds in cm/num 10 was a bad move
• Passing it around like we were 3 goals up was a bad move
• Not Rotating the squad was a bad move
• Not having any pace was a bad move
• Not defeding the man was a bad move
• Not settling down after the first goal for at least one fecking minute was a bad move
• Not settling down after the second goal was a bad move

Credit to arse they came out and played us off the park and we honestly we were shithouse, a shambolic performance that needs to be reviewed and lessons need to be learnt.

For next games i want to see this

• A Schniderlin, Basti, Herrera mid field
• Lingard to get some games to add pace
• Depay to be dropped for young
• Jones to cb
• Blind to LB

Changes need to be made

Good post, couldn't agree more.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Impressed by Van Gaal's interview to be honest. Admitted we were absolute crap and this was a shock. Maybe a wake up call

Yes it is nice he is honest, but did he admit that Bastian and Carrick do not work together and that if you are going to play them Morgan needed to play as well? I doubt he did.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

Have to give credit where credit is due. Arsenal got their just rewards very early on.

Darmian had a bit of a bad day at the office, but Sanchez is on fire. Young was very poor in first 30 minutes. Neither Depay or Mata helped out, yet Arsenal doubled up on our wide players. Carrick just did not play as a DM and protect the back 4.

Rooney looked better out wide on second half, but was non-existent in first half. Depay probably needs a rest. We are carrying him most games.

I thought Martial and Smalling played well, Schweinie probably did well overall, but less composed than normal.

Bad day at the office as LVG says, but Arsenal played very well at the beginning.

 

[MrSingh2002]

Maybe this spanking will help us in the long run.

*LVG can't say Blind is doing well so Jones and Rojo can come back into defence.

*LVG might realise wingers as full backs doesn't work against anyone half decent, never mind away from home against a top team.

*LVG might learn that Carricks finished and he can't play alongside BFS unless we're playing against an over 40's side.

*Depay and Rooney may actually be dropped (5 games too late).

 

[LARulz]

Yes it is nice he is honest, but did he admit that Bastian and Carrick do not work together and that if you are going to play them Morgan needed to play as well? I doubt he did.

Think he just said that we were over run and they showed more aggression and our players did nothing. The thing that pleased me most was when he admitted we may have only done better in the second half because Arsenal let us. At least he didn't believe we just got better

 

[marlowe78]

Maybe this spanking will help us in the long run.

*LVG can't say Blind is doing well so Jones and Rojo can come back into defence.

*LVG might realise wingers as full backs doesn't work against anyone half decent, never mind away from home against a top team.

*LVG might learn that Carricks finished and he can't play alongside BFS unless we're playing against an over 40's side.

*Depay and Rooney may actually be dropped (5 games too late).

In other words, he needs a feckup instead of detecting the issues before a result like this happens.

LVG looked in consternation during that interview, as if it's such a shock that having two wingers as backs and a MF equivalent of Michael Myers against Sanchez and Walcott was going to bring happy results. I've defended him in cases like this but it was really a pathetic response IMO.

 

[SirBobbysCombover]

Just got back from the Emirates, what a shambles lads, first half was embarrassing.

Carrick and Schweiny does not work against oppo who killed us with speed.

Rooney non existent, blind is not a centre back and we cannot carry on playing wingers at full back.

One of the most abject, ponderous performances I have witnessed in a while.

Only positive was the support, who sang throughout

 

[MrSingh2002]

In other words, he needs a feckup instead of detecting the issues before a result like this happens.

LVG looked in consternation during that interview, as if it's such a shock that having two wingers as backs and a MF equivalent of Michael Myers against Sanchez and Walcott was going to bring happy results. I've defended him in cases like this but it was really a pathetic response IMO.

You're right and LVG shouldn't be this rigid with his ideas but he is. He doesn't seem to act on hunches, he goes by the you're only as good as your last game model so if Blind played well in his last game at centre back then he gets the chance to play again. But we all know that doesn't always work out like that.

I think a large percentage of Caf posters could have picked a better side than he did today. But he seems to want to blame the players rather than his poor tactics and selection. All we had to do was sit back for the first 15 mins and then these Arsenal dweebs fall apart themselves. Naive is the word which describes LVG today.

 

[SirBobbysCombover]

One weird moment after the match, fellaini chauffered out of the Emirates in a clapped out Mazda?

 

[sammsky1]

I tried to remember when I last felt like this and its 2011 CL final when we were schooled by Barcelona. In a way, I'm annoyed Im a United fan today, as I would have loved watching the first 30 minutes as a neutral. I cant be objective as it was a sore thrashing, but I suspect Arsenal played sensational football which most teams in world football would have struggled with.

LVG made a fundamental error by not playing a midfield trio as well as playing both Carrick & BFS. In hindsight, BFS, Schniederlin and Fellaini should have played in tight midfield threesome with Martial And Valencia slotting in wide and Rooney up top on his own. LVG should have 'parked the bus' for the first half and then broken out in the 2nd.

However, I'm not sure that would have made any difference. Arsenals fast, accurate and forward penetrating one touch passing cut us to ribbons, it was terrifying and we were lucky to be only 3-0 down once their hurricane ended around 35 minutes. Arsenal fully deserved the win and Im happy for Wenger, that he can demonstrate that he still has it.

We were bit unlucky that Cech had a fantastic game; had Martial scored just before half time, I think Arsenal would have bolted in the 2nd half. Likewise, Rooney was unlucky due to Cech's brilliance. I was also happy to see Martial continue to demonstrate his abilty: His ball control and composure when heavily marked inside the box is first class and even aged 19, he is so strong.

Its a very bad result, but thankfully it's only 1 game out of 38. We remain very close to the top and its still a fantastic start to the season. And its good its the international break so everyone can forgot this ordeal by the time we regroup for Everton.

I hope LVG does some serious thinking during the break.. He need to work out how to rotate the full squad (i.e. Rojo, Jones, Schniederlin, Fellaini, Herrera, Pereira, Wilson) so the first XI remains fresh, whilst still maintaining quality. Most important, he needs to also establish a plan b for when the possession philosophy does not work.

In short, congrats to Arsenal for some amazing football, for us its pure rubbish, throw it in the bin and move on.

 

[MrSingh2002]

Our defence and keeper were left totally exposed by our midfield and forwards doing feck all with regards to defending.

Question is... was it the players fault or LVG's for making them play in a rigid formation which was the wrong formation choice.

 

[saivet]

In other words, he needs a feckup instead of detecting the issues before a result like this happens.

LVG looked in consternation during that interview, as if it's such a shock that having two wingers as backs and a MF equivalent of Michael Myers against Sanchez and Walcott was going to bring happy results. I've defended him in cases like this but it was really a pathetic response IMO.

That or forced into it through injury/suspension. I still wonder what would have happened if Jones didn't get injured at the start of the season.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

Maybe this spanking will help us in the long run.

*LVG can't say Blind is doing well so Jones and Rojo can come back into defence.

*LVG might realise wingers as full backs doesn't work against anyone half decent, never mind away from home against a top team.

*LVG might learn that Carricks finished and he can't play alongside BFS unless we're playing against an over 40's side.

*Depay and Rooney may actually be dropped (5 games too late).

Or maybe he won't over react and say shit happens e.g. Spurs v City, Arsenal v WHU, and find out what the cause of the bad day at the office is.

 

[marlowe78]

That or forced into it through injury/suspension. I still wonder what would have happened if Jones didn't get injured at the start of the season.

As far as playing Jones and Blind together? I don't know if he wanted to make that his starting pair or if he was just experimenting. I think he believes in Smalling, he wouldn't have him as captain in place of Rooney if he didn't. But Blind being used as a CB in matches like this, I'm really not a believer in it at all.

 

[Sandikan]

well, my whole "be in the home end off work mate's ticket" routine finally caught me out 4 seasons in.

How i wasn't spotted making absolutely no reaction to each goal, i don't know. was fearing a 4th goal where i'd finally be rumbled.

plain awful.

mad start.

No Schneiderline for a game where you know you need midfield mobility, i don't know.

Oh well, thankfully you only compete for 3 points each game, so it's just one loss.

To think most of our fans on here were laughably complacent about this one!

 

[saivet]

As far as playing Jones and Blind together? I don't know if he wanted to make that his starting pair or if he was just experimenting. I think he believes in Smalling, he wouldn't have him as captain in place of Rooney if he didn't. But Blind being used as a CB in matches like this, I'm really not a believer in it at all.

Yeah, I don't think he was just experimenting, as we went into the season playing pretty much the same line ups featured in pre season. I think now Smalling has done enough to prove himself to LVG, but not so sure he would have got that opportunity had Jones been fully fit.

 

[Striker10]

We let ourselves get bullied early on and I don't know why Giggs wasn't on the touchline telling them to stay compact - atleast until we have ridden the wave of early enthusiasm by Arsenal. It was just one of those days, where their passing was clinical as was their finishing. 3-0 after 20 minutes? Ouch. Why was no one trying to plug the gaps?

The players can all talk shit among themselves or on social media but where was the heart? Where was the fight? We were fighting for top spot apparently. Here you go Mr City sir. Can I do anything else for you sir? Very poor but most people know the truth. That we won't challenge for the league because we under spent and have a shallow squad. What a waste. Need to start better against Everton to get anything there

We've improved on last season but LVG needs to understand you cannot make excuses for a small squad and look to challenge when it's him that has a problem dealing with big squads in the first place.

 

[Stookie]

I'm on 24hr on call and was gutted about getting called in because I was missing the match. Sounds like I didn't miss much.

 

[Rich_H_1989]

What I couldn't quite believe was that Arsenal schooled us the way we've schooled them in the past.

They expected us to try and dominate the ball so they set up to hit us on the counter. And we couldn't cope! We set up the way we have all season and it was predictable. Why didn't LVG change it?

Why didn't we set up to soak and pressure? Away from home that surely made sense? Teams have had success playing Arsenal that way this season and in the past. But LVG is so stubborn and set on his philosophy that he kept it the way it was.

And leaving our best protector on the bench was a mistake. Why Schneiderlin wasn't starting is beyond me. And Schweinsteiger was found out with his lack of mobility.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

We let ourselves get bullied early on and I don't know why Giggs wasn't on the touchline telling them to stay compact - atleast until we have ridden the wave of early enthusiasm by Arsenal. It was just one of those days, where their passing was clinical as was their finishing. 3-0 after 20 minutes? Ouch. Why was no one trying to plug the gaps?

The players can all talk shit among themselves or on social media but where was the heart? Where was the fight? We were fighting for top spot apparently. Here you go Mr City sir. Can I do anything else for you sir? Very poor but most people know the truth. That we won't challenge for the league because we under spent and have a shallow squad. What a waste. Need to start better against Everton to get anything there

LVG made it clear in his interview that the team as a whole pretty much ignored what they had been working on. Whether it was complacency or just thinking on the international week who knows but it backfired big time.