Arsenal 1-2 Sevilla: Gunners Retain Emirates Cup Despite Defeat

By The Editor
on 30th July 2017

Arsenal 1-2 Sevilla…

Arsenal retained the Emirates Cup despite losing our second game to Sevilla due to our superior goal difference following our ramping win over Benfica on Saturday.

We seemed very flat in this encounter, with Arsene Wenger ringing the changes and handing starts to players who started their pre-season training later than the rest of the group.

Hector Bellerin made his first appearance since the end of last season, and the rustiness showed when he skied a very good chance only yards from the goal.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started in the left-wing back role and looked the most dangerous player in red and white, with the Sevilla defence unable to handle his pace and power.

The serial Europa League winners kept a number of players that defeated RB Leipzig in their starting XI, and we struggled to contain the likes of Wissam Ben Yedder and Nolito.

Alexandre Lacazette scored our only goal of the game, with the Frenchman in the right place at the right time to guide the ball home, a quality you can’t teach strikers.

He’s a natural born goalscorer who smells opportunities inside the penalty area, something we’ve lacked for a number of years. The former Lyon man also displayed his hold-up play, a trait will be vital if he intends on leading the line efficiently in the Premier League.

Tactically, we haven’t actually mastered how to press the ball properly in this 3-4-3 formation after Sevilla carved us open a number of times with some simple combinations.

Our wing-backs were intent on pressing the opposition full-backs which forces the two centre-backs flanking the sweeper needing to press and mark the oncoming wingers.

It leaves an uncomfortable 1v1 situation between the centre-back and the opposition’s striker, with a huge field of space to play with.

Check out the highlights in the video above.