Winners and Losers: Manchester City (a)

10 years ago to the day, Arsenal traveled to Old Trafford and suffered an immensely heavy defeat. So heavy, in fact, that they were inspired to make a trolley dash to the transfer market in the dying days of the summer window. Among the flurry of signings they made was Everton midfielder and dead ball specialist, Mikel Arteta. A decade after the match that spurred his arrival at the club as a player, Arteta managed Arsenal during another massive clobbering in Manchester. City’s stroll to 5-0 against the Gunners leaves the north London club heading into the international break with no points, no goals, and a goal difference of -9. They also currently sit in dead last in the Premier League. At Arsenal, there are devastatingly few winners this week. But there are plenty of losers. So, here are five losers and only two winners from a putrid, embarrassing, and totally expected disaster at the Etihad.

Losers

Calum Chambers

Yes, he was Arsenal’s leading passer. He was also awful. For City’s first goal, he allowed Ilkay Gundogan to beat him to a header at the back post. For City’s second, he went down in an attempt to earn a foul call instead of fighting like a center-back should be. Is that harsh? Perhaps a little. But would Tony Adams or Martin Keown or Sol Campbell or even Laurent Koscielny have gone down holding their faces while defending a set piece? Chambers’ start to the season has been far from convincing, and the case for being a half-season wonder is quickly becoming conclusive.

Granit Xhaka

For years, one of the sticks the Arsenal faithful have used to beat Xhaka with is his recklessness on the pitch. For much of the time he has been at the club, the Swiss midfielder has been prone to boneheaded mistakes and rash challenges. But after a rather reliable season and a good showing at Euro 2020, Arsenal seem to have purposefully forgotten the concerning elements of Xhaka’s past performances. But those tendencies are still there, as evidenced by him diving in on a City player with a two-footed, studs-up challenge. He rightly received a red card for his trouble. The man Arsenal proudly paraded as team captain to start the season took the easy way out, and that’s what Arsenal get for holding onto him instead of making the hard decision of moving on.

Pablo Mari

Mari spent the day riding the bench. In his stead, Seas Kolasinac started at left center-back. Yes, THAT Sead Kolasinac. The man who is now our third-string left-back, whom Arsenal are seemingly desperate to get rid of to the point that they are reportedly willing to pay him to leave, started over Mari. This will be Mari’s last appearance in the “Losers” column, because how do you come back from that? How does your stock get any lower than the manager preferring the worst left-back the club have signed since Andre Santos to you in your natural position? At one point, Mari looked like an astute acquisition to serve as a backup center-back. Now, he’s just more deadwood.

Arsenal’s recruitment policy

Chambers. Xhaka. Mari. Cedric. Willian. Bellerin. Maitland-Niles. Holding. Kolasinac. All those players are still in the squad. In fact, eight of today’s starting XI were there when Arsene Wenger was manager. At this point, the only reason those players are there is because Arsenal chose to keep them. Cedric, Mari, and Willian were signed against better judgment. Xhaka was extended because it was easier than acquiring a better midfielder. Chambers, Bellerin, Maitland-Niles, and Holding were kept because they were warm bodies. But this is the Premier League; just having a guy in a position doesn’t cut it. For years now, Arsenal have consistently signed and kept players who are clearly not good enough. And those chickens came home to roost a long time ago. The fact that City ripped Arsenal apart with most of those players on the pitch should be no surprise. The fact of the matter is, last in the Premier League is about where most of those players belong.

Mikel Arteta

The loss isn’t the concerning part about today. This team is nowhere near City, and no one could seriously have thought a victory possible on Saturday. The concerning part is how little of a fight Arsenal put up yet again. Arsenal have repeatedly failed to get touches in the opposition box, let alone fire some shots on goal. There is barely any midfield presence. The back line is an utter circus. That all is on the manager. But what is most damning is how often this team plays like a pair of saloon doors under Arteta. City walked right through Arsenal today. Chelsea did it last week. Brentford thought they could beat Arteta’s men, and they proved themselves right. Not having all of his starters does not account for how listless his charges look on the pitch. This team has the components to land at least a couple punches in any matchup. If Arteta keeps putting out sides that can’t even lift their gloves up, he should not be long for the Arsenal job.

Winner

The Sambi-Thomas partnership

With Xhaka suspended for three games, Arsenal have an opportunity to roll out a potentially superior midfield duo. That is rather sad to say out loud, but Partey appears on track to be able to play soon, and Sambi is the only stomachable option to serve as his partner in the middle of the park. If that does happen during Xhaka’s suspension, we will be able to get a look at a pair of mobile midfielders who can progress the ball through both passing and dribbling. Many Arsenal fans would agree that Partey and Sambi is an enticing combination. If that is the case, perhaps Xhaka’s sending off is a blessing in disguise.

Amazon Prime Video

The executives in charge of “All or Nothing” must be rubbing their hands together with glee. They have certainly gotten their money’s worth with this season. Arsenal are the preeminent crisis club in the league right now. No matter how this season pans out, Amazon have already established themselves as massive winners. They have captured a spectacle on camera more hilarious than a James Acaster special that everyone will soon turn into memes and clips. And if this is what we’re seeing on the pitch, imagine what is going on behind the scenes.

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