I can’t fault the players’ effort today. Still, Pep and his staff’s team selection and in-game adjustments were... not good.
Starting Walker when he’s been a genuine liability since last year and somehow even more shambolic in the games he’s played thus far this season is inexcusable for me. Lewis has defended against better and quicker wingers all season while being ten times the player as Walker on the ball. Even then, admit the mistake and bring on Lewis at halftime. Especially when you know they’re going to put all ten behind the ball. To that point, why not also bring on goal-scorers/players who are better on the ball? Foden should have come on far sooner, and players like McAtee and Nunes with strong shots should have been considered as well. Why Gundo and Bernardo stayed on is beyond me. We had Kovacic, Akanji, Walker and Dias all around the penalty box until the 70th minute. Why would that worry Arsenal? Just go for it, Pep. Nonetheless, happy to grab a point from that, obviously.
Also, did we prepare for their corner-kick routines? Surely, the plan to counter them wasn’t just to allow three players to surround Ederson unimpeded. However, I do think the FA has to crack down on these things.
The biggest concern is obviously Rodri. That did not look good, and if he’s out long-term, it would be a hammer blow to the season.
