Austrian Struber has mountain to climb with Tykes
NEW Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber has swapped the Europa League for a struggle to avoid relegation.
The Austrian guided Wolfsberger to third in his country’s top tier last season but has his hands full trying to lift the Tykes off the foot of the Championship.
It’s now 17 games without a win in all competitions, with May’s promotion seeming a distant memory.
And after watching his side twice come from behind, the sight of Bradley Dack bundling the ball home at the second attempt with five minutes left was too much.
Struber, 42, said: “I’m really disappointed with the result. We had a clear plan to win. One point was the minimum we deserved.
“But I have seen enough to believe that we will stay up. The situation is difficult but
I am not a dreamer. I think we have a good chance of winning enough games.”
Dack had opened the scoring in the 24th minute, side-footing home after Adam Armstrong had taken advantage of a sloppy attempted clearance from Ben Williams.
A half-time substitution had pumped energy and danger into Struber’s basement side, Conor Chaplin deservedly levelling within three minutes of coming on, firing past Christian Walton following a pass from Jacob Brown.
But Rovers manager Tony Mowbray’s own masterstroke of bringing on veteran winger Stewart Downing off the bench paid off.
The former England and Liverpool man took advantage of a spirited run from the impressive Joe Rothwell to steer his first league goal since arriving from Middlesbrough past Sami Radlinger.
Barnsley came again and there had been plenty of near-misses before Cauley Woodrow glanced in a cross from Chaplin with Rovers players furiously claiming there had been a handball.
Now looking the most likely side to snatch the victory, Barnsley finally had to play second fiddle to Dack. His first effort following Darragh Lenihan’s headed cross was brilliantly kept out by Radlinger only for the maverick Rovers forward to force the rebound home.
And Mowbray was relieved at the final whistle.
He said: “It was all about getting the three points. It wasn’t about performance.
“It was a dangerous game for us.
“I watched Barnsley go 2-0 up recently against West Brom.
“The perception is that they are a bottom of the league side who should be beaten. Thankfully we did.
“I love watching Dack when he’s at it.
“He has so much talent and his goals have won us the game.”
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE saved a point for the sorry Gunners but Unai Emery looks even more like a lame duck with lame excuses.
The Spaniard had already lost the backing of the majority of the fans before this dismal display.
And being played off the park by a Saints team that remains stuck in the drop zone has seen his stock drop even lower.
Emery has been given a vote of confidence from a Gunners hierarchy that sees itself as too classy to fire managers willy-nilly.
But Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Tottenham has upped the ante. The Special One already has a stalled Spurs side rolling again and the Gunners are now just a point ahead of their rivals – thanks to two-goal Lacazette.
Without his leveller deep into stoppage time Arsenal would now be behind their neighbours.
They have zero chance of returning to the Champions League on this showing – unless they bite the bullet and end the Emery era sooner rather than later.
A club with ambition would try to tempt Mauricio Pochettino to The Emirates.
He wouldn’t be the first to boss both clubs and history says those who do find greater success at Arsenal. Emery said: “I know I can do better and I’m going to try to do so. I understand the supporters, we didn’t deserve any more. We lost a big opportunity to connect with our fans.
“The supporters are frustrated and the players feel the same.
“My job is to work, analyse and find the solution to improve. I know the key is here.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl, on the other hand, has only to ask his players for more of the same next week.
The dozy Gunners paid an early price with Danny Ings’ goal in the ninth minute.
Calum Chambers fouled Nathan Redmond, who was still on the deck when Ryan Bertrand slipped the free-kick forward to the striker.
The Arsenal back-line was napping – David Luiz wasn’t even watching – and Ings strode forward on the left to slot home off a post.
The boos were inevitable but the chants of ‘Come On Arsenal’ were louder.
And that led to an 18th-minute equaliser through Lacazette. Mesut Ozil, back in
Emery’s good books, found Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in space in the box.
Bertrand flung himself in the way of the shot but the rebound fell to the France striker for his third Gunners goal of the season.
Emery switched to a back four for the second half with Nicolas Pepe replacing Chambers and it was end-to-end stuff.
Emery will still be having nightmares about Sokratis’ moment of madness in his own box that saw Cedric Soares rob him but fail to set up Michael Obafemi for a tap-in.
Obafemi then delivered a ball into the box that saw Kieran Tierney panic and push Ings over. Referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot and James Ward-Prowse made it 2-1 on the rebound after Bernd Leno saved his weak penalty.
Saints sub Moussa Djenepo missed two chances to wrap up victory before teenager Gabriel Martinelli crossed for Lacazette to level deep in stoppage-time.
Emery was a lucky man indeed – but the Arsenal fans still let him have it
Hasenhuttl said: “We always thought we could win this game. We could have won by four or five goals but we didn’t.
“I’m happy with this point but it could have been more. It was a big chance to win here.
“It’s the only way to stay in this league.”