- Confirmed line-ups: Crystal Palace vs Arsenal – Havertz & Saka start for Gunners
- Arsenal predicted line-up against Crystal Palace
- Arsenal remain keen on signing Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko
- Arsenal urged to sign Omar Marmoush and Ademola Lookman
- Arsenal plot swoop to sign Atalanta ace Charles De Ketelaere
- Arsenal reach agreement to sign Alberto Moleiro
- Arsenal lead race to sign Chelsea star Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
- Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace – Tierney & Nwaneri start for Gunners
- Arsenal predicted line-up against Crystal Palace
- Arsenal keen on signing Barcelona forward Raphinha
[Ratings] Arsenal 1-2 Frankfurt: Emery must be sacked after latest shambles
Unai Emery’s crisis deepened as Arsenal threw away another lead to lose 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt at the Emirates on Thursday night.
Emery went into the game knowing he needed a win to ease the pressure and things looked to be going his way when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Arsenal ahead with a smart finish just before half-time.
However, we lost all control of the game after the break and the players looked like they had totally given up. Frankfurt smelt blood and equalised via a superb strike from Diachi Kamada in the 55th minute before the Japanese star lashed home a second 10 minutes later.
Arsenal had no response and we slumped to a 2-1 defeat after failing to muster even a single shot on target throughout the second half as we chased a goal that would guarantee our place in the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Here are my ratings:
Martinez 6/10 | Could do very little about both goals as they were excellent strikes. Made a couple of decent saves.
Tierney 5/10 | Not really at fault defensively but wasn’t as influential going forward as I’d have liked.
Mustafi 6.5/10 | A solid enough display from the German. Did very little wrong before being forced off with a knock.
Sokratis 5/10 | Another worryingly bad performance from Sokratis, who’s decline this season has been sharp. Sloppy in possession and all over the place at times.
Chambers 5/10 | Had a tough time down the right flank. Poor in possession and offered very little going forward as his crossing was woeful. Missed a great chance to make it 2-0.
David Luiz 5/10 | Deployed in midfield and made a reasonable start before limping off injured.
Xhaka 6/10 | Back in the side and got a good reception from the crowd. Tidy on the ball but that’s about it. Same old, same old.
Willock 6.5/10 | Bright performance in the first half when he was involved in everything. Faded after the break.
Martinelli 6.5/10 | Worked hard in the first forty-five minutes. Had two shots saved early on and was involved in the goal. Surprisingly subbed in the second half.
Saka 5/10 | Poor form continued. He showed a few glimpses early on but got progressively worse as the game went on. Did nothing in the second half.
Aubameyang 6/10 | On the scoresheet again to open the scoring but starved of service for most of the game. Forced out with for much of the second half. Looked like he was playing on his own at times.
Subs:
Guendouzi 5/10 | Covered plenty of ground in midfield but not up to his best.
Ozil 5/10 | No real impact after replacing Martinelli.
Torreira 5/10 | We’re 2-1 down, need a goal, we have Lacazette and Pepe on the bench and Emery brings on Torreira?!
Manager
Emery 1/10 | It’s time. In fact it’s long overdue. The board HAVE to act now and sack Emery immediately. This nonsense can’t go on any longer. The players have given up. The fans have given up caring. And Emery knows his time is done, so the board need to put him out his misery. The fact Emery decided to bring on Torreira as his last sub instead of Lacazette or Pepe when we were 2-1 down tells you everything. An outrageous decision which could only have been made by a man actively trying to get sacked. Norwich away up next on Sunday. I’d be gobsmacked if Emery is still in charge.
***This was written on Thursday night after the game. Hopefully Emery has gone by the time it’s published on Friday morning. ***