18% of ball possession and no shots on target. That was Arsenal’s statistics after the heavy defeat against Manchester City (5-0). It was not good enough for winning against youth section of League 2 Forest Green, yet alone the current Premier League champions. And the biggest problem for the Gunners right now is that even their own fans expected this defeat. It was expected before the match. Arsenal currently don’t have any chemistry between the players and the coach, they don’t have any tactics, and they looked like they played their first preseason game, not a Premier League derby. If Arteta somehow survives Monday, he will be looking forward to the international break, and will try desperately to change something. Good luck to him!🤯 Arsenal have conceded more goals (9) than they have registered shots on target (6) in the Premier League this season🥴 Heading in to the international break with three defeats from three, no goals scored and bottom of the table #MCIARS— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) August 28, 2021 It was ugly after only 12 minutes. But soon it was even worse. From the first minute, City attacked and pressed Arsenal, who looked totally powerless to prevent the hosts. The Citizens were practically camping inside Leno’s goal, and they were soon rewarded. First it was not so tall Gundogan, who was the tallest in the penalty area and scored the leading goal, before Torres scored another. 12th minute of the match, and it was already 2-0. Arsenal players looked like they already accepted defeat, and Arteta’s body languague on the bench was not good at all. The only chance the visitors had in the first half was when City’s keeper Ederson was reckless, and Smith-Rowe nearly scored from 2 meters.
And it the performance was not bad enought, Arsenal’s captain Granit Xhaka (remember, he got a new contract and a bigger wage) made a two leg challenge and received a straigh red card. It was only 35th minute, and some away fans already started to leave the stadium. Off course, with such a strong City squad, it was expected that a 10-men Arsenal will be on the receiving end, and Gabriel Jesus added another one for the hosts just before the half time whistle.4 – Since the start of the 2016-17 season, no player has been sent off more often in the Premier League than Granit Xhaka (4, level with Fernandinho and David Luiz). Reckless. pic.twitter.com/oG2sscv9tD— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 28, 2021 Both coaches had a different plan for the second half. For Guardiola, it was just a case of doing various national managers a favor by replacing his stars like Bernando Silva and Gabriel Jesus early on, and for Arteta it was just a simple „try to allow as less goals as possible“ tactics. Again, Arsenal players were easily overmatched by City footballers, who were definitely not giving their 100% but still looked too strong. And when Rodri scored the fourth goal for the hosts, even the rest of Arsenal fans started to jeer ironically. They just couldn’t do anything else. Fifth goal (second for Torres) from the hosts finished this horrible game for the Gunners, who are already in problems and in the relegation zone after three games.PREMIER LEAGUE – Round 3SaturdayMan.City – Arsenal 5:0 (3-0)/Gundogan 7. Torres 12, 85 Jesus 43, Rodri 53/17.00: (2.65) Newcastle (3.25) Southampton (2.70)17.00: (4.10) Norwich (3.50) Leicester (1.90)17.00: (2.10) Aston Villa (3.30) Brentford (3.70)17.00: (1.57) West Ham (4.00) Crystal Palace (6.00)17.00: (2.50) Brighton (3.10) Everton (3.00)19.30: (2.65) Liverpool (3.20) Chelsea (2.75)Sunday16.00: (1.50) Tottenham (4.10) Watford (7.00)16.00: (2.95) Burnley (3.35) Leeds (2.40)18.30: (4.40) Wolverhampton (3.50) Man.Utd. (1.85)***odds are subject to change