Arsenal sealed top spot in their group and ensured a more favourable draw for the knock-out round of the Europa League, but it was not pretty. Here are some of the main things I noticed, when I was paying attention.
1Freddie has made Arsenal so good we now give teams a lead just to mess with them
How else do you explain the last two games?
2Stuart Robson must have loved Emeryball
3The first half was very missable
My mate called unexpectedly. I sat in his car and had a chat for five minutes during the first half and never for a minute thought I’d miss anything.
I didn’t.
4If Arsenal were a horse, they’d shoot it
5Arsenal might not be very good at football
People asked when I first noticed. I began to suspect when I realised we hadn’t been able to attack or defend and had no midfield for at least 18 months in a row.
6We blew our plan
Finish second in the group, get knocked out against Ajax, not have to endure more matches watching this team ultimately disappoint. It was a plan I could get on board with.
Alas, events conspired against us and we will have to watch Arsenal try to play more football as we topped the group with 11 points.
7When your centrebacks are the worst members of your squad…
Why would you play an extra one?
8Arsenal are special
Name me another side that could handball two deflections into their own net.
You can’t, can you?
9There’s always another layer of sh**
At times, watching Arsenal you think, ‘OK, this has to be rock bottom.’ But it never is. There’s always something else that comes along.
109 minute FC
Is that who we are now?
11Saka is back
The brightest spark by far on the night, Bukayo Saka has now been directly involved in six Europa League goals this season (2 goals, 4 assists), and that’s more than any other Premier League player this campaign.
Gabriel Martinelli also added another assist to his tally for the season.