Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis | Europa League 2019/20
Eintracht Frankfurt produced a dazzling comeback in the second half to floor Arsenal 2-1 and consign the Gunners to another defeat. The North Londoners required a draw to ensure qualification to the knock-out stages but the defeat means that they now have to get something out of their final encounter against Standard Liege on match-day 6 of the UEFA Europa League.
The hosts started off sluggishly and rarely clicked into gear in a lethargic first-half display. However, they surged ahead just on the stroke of half time when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made the net bulge.
After the break though, the Gunners took their foot off the pedal and that set the platform for Frankfurt to mount an improbable recovery. In the 55th minute, Daichi Kamada pegged the home side back before he added another in the 64th minute to hand the German outfit the lead.
Arsenal tried to muster an equaliser but their efforts fell short as they were jeered off the pitch at full-time.
Here is a look at the talking points from the contest.
#5 Arsenal do little to lift the mood at the Emirates in the first half
Arsenal began the game against Eintracht Frankfurt in front of a sparsely populated Emirates Stadium, with the arena just about half-full (or half-empty). Thus, the supporters had tried their utmost to add another layer of gloom to the murk surrounding the club.
Inevitably, the onus fell on the players to enthral the few in attendance and send a message to those careless enough to not turn up. And, though Arsenal eventually edged ahead in first-half stoppage time, they were largely uninspiring before it, thereby slightly compounding their on-field and off-field woes.
For large swathes of the opening period, the Gunners’ attacking play looked devoid of ideas as they ran into several blind alleys. Aubameyang seemed a touch off the pace whereas their much-maligned build-up play at the back was also lacklustre.
Moreover, they weren’t helped by a makeshift midfield arrangement comprising David Luiz and Granit Xhaka.
Hence, Arsenal, despite enjoying the majority of possession, sluggishly passed the ball around without any real intent, thereby allowing Frankfurt a bit of breathing space.
However, the Gunners were fortunate as the visitors also seemed intent on retreating into their shell and foregoing any sort of attacking impetus. Additionally, the German outfit also committed elementary errors at the back, mistakes that enabled the hosts to get a few shots on target.
Over the past couple of months, the situation in and around Arsenal has reached dire proportions, a fact embodied by the countless empty seats at the Emirates on Thursday.
And, a drab and dreary first-half display only set the tone for another dreadful outing.
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