Arsenal escape Huddersfield scarce as the Gunners were somehow having a hindrance in finding the back of the net until the 83rd minute when Lucas Torreira scored a spectacular overhead kick assuring full three points from the fixture. It was a very important fixture for Unai Emery’s men after their 2-2 draw against Manchester United at the Old Trafford. The Gunners were dominant right from the start but it was frustrating for them as their attack fizzled out every time in the final third.
The most controversial moment happened when Alexandre Lacazette went past the defenders and released a sublime strike to put the ball on the back of the net. But the goal was disallowed because the French forward was offside. The call was very harsh for the home side as the replays confirm the fact that it was a legitimate goal.
Arsenal kept on trying and fianlly were rewarded in the 83rd minute when Torreira’s overhead kick handed all three points for Arsenal, keeping top 4 hopes alive.
4. Arsenal were wasteful in front of goal
Despite getting several chances the Gunners failed to hit the target at times. The main players in attack, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang missed sitters right before the half-hour mark. The former Dortmund man struck Xhaka’s inch-perfect cross wide of goal from close range before Lacazette slipped and made a hash of the chance created by Matteo Guendouzi.
Lacazette was also denied the opening goal which was judged offside when replays suggested otherwise. The Gunners wasted loads of opportunities in their last fixture against Manchester United. Unai Emery should be more careful with the team’s finishing, creating loads of chances will not help if they can’t score in crunch fixtures.
3. Arsenal’s defensive woes continues
The issues in the Arsenal back-line are increasing every match-day, last time at Old Trafford it was Rob Holding who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee and will be sidelined for six months. Today again Skrodran Mustafi pulled his hamstring in the second half increasing concern for the Spanish tactician. Emery looked worried when Mustafi couldn’t continue. With Laurent Koscielny slowly getting back in shape after a long injury lay-off, it will be a huge role for the Frenchman to guide the Gunners’ back-line right after he returns from a long-term injury and the pressure can get him if he does not handles the situation gracefully
Emery was forced to make a substitution for the injured Mustafi and deployed Nacho Monreal as a centre-back. If the Gunners want to fight for the UEFA Champions League spot then they will desperately need some defensive additions to this side in the January winter transfer window.
2. Is Lucas Torreira the signing of the season?
The Uruguay international has been sensational since his arrival at the Emirates. Works very hard to restore ball when not in possession of the ball and tries to thread through to the flanks when with it. Torreira has been a pillar in the Arsenal midfield and has bailed out shaky Arsenal defence time and again.
Not only in defence and in midfield creating chances the Uruguayan also believes in scoring some of them himself. It was his spectacular overhead kick which broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute and kept Arsenal’s hopes alive.
Torreira has been a stalwart in midfield and has bailed out the side in difficult scenarios and his passion for the club and hunger for success is evident in his eyes. Unai Emery brought him from Sampdoria for a fee of around £26.4m and in this inflated market, this is a steal for the club to get a player of his value, hence making him a top contender for the best signing of the season.
1. Can Huddersfield avoid relegation?
Torreira has been a stalwart in midfield and has bailed out the side in difficult scenarios and his passion for the club and hunger for success is evident in his eyes. Unai Emery brought him from Sampdoria for a fee of around £26.4m and in this inflated market, this is a steal for the club to get a player of his value, hence making him a top contender for the best signing of the season. C
The Terriers are currently in the relegation zone with 9 points they are sitting in 18th position. Huddersfield have struggled throughout the season to find momentum in their play as the German tactician also fiddling too much with the combinations not allowing the side to settle. Their last win came against Wolves in a close 2-0 affair, recording the latest of their two wins this season the other one was against Wodden Spooners Fulham.
David Wagner’s side today played well in patches and that’s what they do, they are not terrible any time but they are inconsistent with their good work and often the defence is found dozing as opponent players take full advantage of it. The main problem lies in the other half of the field, with only 10 goals scored the Terriers are lowest currently in the league. Wagner has not found a proper player who would put his hand up and take responsibility of scoring goals at a regular basis. Forwards like Steve Mounie and Laurent Delpoitre who are suppose to score the goals for the side have both failing to register a single goal until now.
