Arguably our worst performance this season. But we did get 3 points from it!
The team selection was worrying. A back 3 and 3 CM? I was expecting a return to the back 4, which would validate playing Torreira, Xhaka and Guendouzi. However the back 3 with those ahead always lent itself to a slog of a match.
Tiredness looked an issue today, with the team unable to step up the gears to have any real period of superiority.
It was a tough match, with a lot of bad tackles going in. The ref lost a fair bit of control and it could easily have seen a couple of red cards.
Our diving was disappointing. The Guendouzi one especially was telegraphed. Not so sure Mustafi deserved a booking, and it has to be said Huddersfield were equally guilty of diving but not equally punished - another negative of the refs performance.
*EDIT* - on seeing it on MotD, both were actually penalties. Ref has had a mare.
Huddersfield were as expected. Offered very little to the game in terms of attacking, but pushed the boundaries when it came to physicality. They came for a 0-0, time wasting from the first minute to the 83rd. Easily the worst team we have played this season - which says more about our performance than theirs!
Qarabag at home next, where Koscielny and Monreal were expected to get minutes. Whether this continues to be the plan following the suspensions of Mustafi and Sokratis remains to be seen. At least our first team get a weeks rest, much needed based on today.
And hopefully Ozil will be back by next Sunday to give us some much needed vision in midfield.
Bad performance.
posted on 9/12/18
Mustafi had a hammy. He was clutching it while walking off. So its either 10 days or 2 months. I hope its the 10 day one because he was able to walk off.
posted on 9/12/18
Gwendouzi incident was a clear dive.
The yellows for Mustafi and Xhaka for simulation were both a joke. In Mustafi's case it would have meant a pen in our favour.
Ref had a complete mare on several occasion on both sides.
Think as well that tiredness on our side played a big role in our performance and also that fact that Emery had his line-up wrong.
Knew we would struggle against a Huddersfield side who had nothing to lose and would be physical.
It wasnt a good performance from our side but we could see that teams wont rough us up anymore. In so far we see a lot of progress.
posted on 9/12/18
The yellows for Mustafi and Xhaka for simulation were both a joke
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Xhaka was a clear dive, no contact at all.
Guendouzi was fouled twice, once outside the box and then when he got into the box Mooy clearly caught him again.
posted on 9/12/18
Then we disagree. I meant the Guendouzi incident right at the end where he dived for a pen. Clear dive for me.
posted on 9/12/18
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 4 seconds ago
Then we disagree. I meant the Guendouzi incident right at the end where he dived for a pen. Clear dive for me.
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Yes, that was what I was talking about. Mooy fouled him twice in that incident.
posted on 9/12/18
https://streamable.com/if8r9
Xhaka was caught on the left calf. Little touch but he touched him. Cant see why the ref would have awarded a pen for the Guendouzi incident.
posted on 9/12/18
Buying penalties is never a good idea. Whether technically some of those could be penalties is besides the point. Next time someone takes out Aybameyang and Lacazette with genuine clear cut fouls we won't be getting a pen after yesterday's performance.
posted on 9/12/18
Can't win though sometimes. Wasn't Welbeck blatantly fouled in the area earlier this season, and because he didn't go down, the ref didn't award a penalty?
Having said that, to me it looked like Guendouzi and Xhaka went down far too easily. We'd have been fuming had that been an opposition player going to ground like that, and we'd been penalised for it.
posted on 9/12/18
comment by Lexington 125.2 (U8879)
posted 19 seconds ago
Can't win though sometimes. Wasn't Welbeck blatantly fouled in the area earlier this season, and because he didn't go down, the ref didn't award a penalty?
Having said that, to me it looked like Guendouzi and Xhaka went down far too easily. We'd have been fuming had that been an opposition player going to ground like that, and we'd been penalised for it.
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I had my heart in my mouth with Bellerin's and Sokratis's challenges in the second half. I thought the ref would give Huddersfield a pen just to outrageously prove a point. Thankfully someone must have told him abt his balls up with the pass back goal and he didn't do it. Its the type of situation where Dean would have been ready to pounce.
I thought we had got rid of that petulance after Wenger left. But obviously not. Think Emery's response to it by not complaining against the ref was top notch!
posted on 9/12/18
I want consistency from the ref. Son got a pen for less than the Mustafi incident last week.