23 Oct 2016 12:16:44
I mentioned my concern going into the last two matches in respect of the impact of playing a CL and PL match, following a heavy international schedule. I believed we needed to rotate and that has proved to be true, with a very tired display against Boro.
I felt we should have started Xhaka in the CL match, as he was suspended for 3 PL matches. I also believe we should have played Gibbs yesterday, as Monreal's lack of pace has been even more obvious this season. I also felt that Gabrie should have played one of the two matches and yesterday there were signs that Mustafi was starting to suffer from fatigue.
Yesterday, it was obvious that Boro would defend deep, with two banks of players close together and space would be difficult to find. Hence, I would have started Ox instead of Theo who tends to suffer when there isn't space to get in behind. In addition Iwobi looked fatigued having played for Nigeria.
It was time to start Perez and possible play Sanchez on the left, with Perez up top. We lacked creativity from either of the DM players, but in the absence of Xhaka, Santi and Ramsey, there was little option. Bellerin looked fatigued as well and possibly Debuchy could have played in the CL and Bellerin yesterday.
25 Oct 2016 17:29:46
Jesus it wasn't that bad, we just didn't create enough or score enough and probably should have defended a bit better at times. It's easy to say that stuff after the match but, for example, if we hadn't have played Walcott and the match ended 0-0, Wenger would have been absolutely battered for not playing someone who has scored so many times in the last handful of matches.
Definitely 2 points dropped though but we go again.