From shame to lame
LENO BLUNDER COMPLETES DISMAL WEEK FOR ARSENAL
SHAMED by the Kroenkes, played like the Krankies.
Embarrassed by owner Stan Kroenke signing up to Super League avarice, and serenaded by locked-out fans unimpressed by the American billionaire’s apology and crocodile tears after a hasty U-turn, Arsenal demonstrated why they no longer belong to Europe’s elite.
And when blundering goalkeeper Bernd Leno fumbled Richarlison’s weak cross into his own net, the Gunners’ wretched week took another turn for the worse.
Super League quality? You’re having a laugh.
Snouts in the trough are no substitute for class, Stan.
Not even the noise from a sizeable picket banked on the steps around the Emirates’ exterior concourses could lift the Gunners beyond their mid-table orbit.
With a police helicopter buzzing overhead, there was more atmosphere among the protesters outside than they normally generated inside the stadium on matchdays before lockdown.
Arsenal are going to fail to finish in the top four – again – even if they win their last five on the spin.
To regain Champions League altitude next season, all Arsenal’s eggs are in one basket.
But the Gunners’ path to salvation in the Europa League is blocked by their old manager Unai Emery at Villareal, and Thursday’s semi-final first leg in Spain will be manager Mikel Arteta’s sliding doors moment.
In his programme notes, Arteta admitted: “We are in the position that we are in the league because we have not managed to be consistent enough and put some wins together. ”
As close to full strength as injuries would allow, Arsenal flattered to deceive for 45 minutes.
Their good intentions promised much but delivered little – all fur coat and no knickers – and Everton carried more threat on the break. Leno was forced into a sharp save by
Richarlison, while former Tottenham midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson’s freekick clipped the bar, but for intensity the contest was like breakfast after a hen night.
Arteta thought his luck had changed when referee Jon Moss awarded the softest of penalties for Richarlison’s minimalist foul on Dani Ceballos, only for Nicolas Pepe to be pulled up for offside in the build-up byVAR nitpicker David Coote.
And Arsenal improved after the break, Ceballos extending England keeper Jordan Pickford, until Leno’s nightmare 14 minutes from time.
Richarlison’s tame cross-shot was going nowhere until the German keeper fumbled the bar of soap and it squirmed over the line.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Leno 6; Chambers 7 (Willian 83), Holding 7, Pablo Mari 7, Xhaka 6; Partey 6, Ceballos 7; Saka 7, SmithRowe 7, Pepe 6 (Odegaard 74); Nketiah 6 (Martinelli 74) EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford 7; Coleman 7, Holgate 7, Godfrey 7, Digne 7; Gomes 6 (Delph 66, 6), Allan 6; Rodriguez 5 (Davies 86), Sigurdsson 7, Richarlison 6 (Mina 89); CalvertLewin 6. Goal: Leno 76 og.