Fortunately, supersub Rudy Gestede didn't ruin my day by heading in a late goal. The game raised a few questions:
1) What was with the back three? I can see Monreal as a wingback, but Ox? This system didn't work today, in my opinion, probably because it was sprung on a cast of characters who never played it.
2) What is Ozil thinking about when on the field? It sure isn't football. Nice goal, though, Mesut!
3) How can three center backs look so vulnerable on free kicks?
4) Why do we give away so many stupid free kicks?
5) When is someone on the coaching staff going to tell players like Sanchez and Giroud to stop whining like babies when they don't get the call they want from the ref?
6) Who is responsible for alerting Wenger that he hasn't used any substitutes yet?
OK, those were mostly rhetorical. But then so was Arsenal's performance today. They made the lowest-scoring team in the Premiership look quite dangerous. It was too easy for Boro to pass our midfielders. On offense, we got some chances. Had Atkinson called an obvious PK early on a bearhug of Giroud, this might have been more comfortable. Nevertheless, Arsenal had just four shots on goal, one fewer than Boro. This is not the sort of form that is going to scare anyone higher in the table.
Cech earned his money today; nice work. Holding was decent, Kos wonderful, and Gabriel fine at the back. Monreal looked a bit confused about where he should be playing. Ox tries hard on defense but it's not his thing; making dangerous runs is his thing and he did a lot of it today. Ramsey and Xhaka could have been stronger on defense, but Aaron had a nice assist on the winner, and I appreciated Granit's not getting a card. Ozil needs to be motivated. Alexis is always motivated; used properly he'd have us in the top four now. Giroud did well but this wasn't the sort of game he was going to star in.
Please, Arsene, announce your retirement now. They'll establish a chair at the Sorbonne for you in philosophy, I swear.
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